That device exists. Sort of. It’s called the GPD Win, I’ve been using one for a while, and it’s kind of amazing. And a better version is on the way, so I thought I should write about my experience.
GPD — the name stands for GamePad Digital — is a small company based out of Shenzhen, and their inventive, niche products are a testament to what can be achieved when you’re in the heart of the Chinese supply chain. The GPD XD is a clamshell Android gaming machine, for example, while the GPD Pocket is basically a 7-inch Windows 10 laptop.
But the Win is GPD’s most ambitious device, occupying the space between those two. It’s only about the size of a 3DS XL, but it’s a full Windows 10 laptop with a QWERTY keyboard and Xbox controller built right into the bottom panel. It has an excellent 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen and runs on the same Intel Atom x7 processor that Microsoft used in 2015’s Surface 3. Right now it sells for $339.15 through GPD’s AliExpress store.
Build quality isn’t amazing, but it’s solid enough. The version of the Win I’ve been testing is a more recent revision with an aluminum top panel, which feels very sturdy, although the rest of the device is mostly plastic. There are useful dedicated switches for activating different fan speeds and changing between controller and mouse modes, and the rear of the machine has a wide array of ports including USB-C for charging, USB-A, a microSD slot, a headphone jack, and Mini HDMI. It’s comfortable to hold, and the quality of the analog sticks, D-pad, and face buttons are pretty good, though the shoulder buttons feel a little flimsy. The 6,700 mAh battery delivers dramatically different levels of endurance depending on what you’re doing, but I’d say generally you can expect to get five or six hours of game time out of the Win, which is better than I expected.
Overall I think the current GPD Win is pretty good value for what it is, but I don’t think I could recommend it at this point to anyone who wants it as a high-performance portable machine to run games on natively. Although it’s not really the same thing, most people would get better results from a $299.99 Nintendo Switch.
If you are sold on the GPD Win concept, though, you should keep your eye out for the GPD Win 2, which is set to launch on Indiegogo on January 15th. It has a larger 6-inch screen, a more powerful Intel Core m3 processor, shuffled controls, a bigger battery, vibration motors, and a new design. GPD’s figures suggest that it’ll be able to play Grand Theft Auto V in 720p at over 30fps, for example, which is definitely well beyond the current model’s capabilities. The Win 2 is also likely to be a lot more expensive than the original Win, though, so bear that in mind.
The GPD Win clearly isn’t a mainstream consumer product, but if you’re into the idea and are willing to put in the time, it’s a wonderful device without parallel. It ranks alongside the PSP, the PS Vita, and yes, the Nintendo Switch in its ability to make you doubt what you’re seeing in your hands. And, while it doesn’t deliver anywhere near as slick an experience as any of those portable consoles, the fact that it truly is a full-on PC means that its capabilities are much broader.
If the GPD Win 2 can deliver on its performance promises, it could be something really special.
