GPD Win Max 2 evaluation: a surprisingly competent tiny laptop computer that doubles as a gaming handheld

Since Neuromancer took the sci-fi world by storm in 1984, computing nerds have pined for a “cyberdeck” — the final word in private, moveable PCs for browsing and hacking the world. Normally, they’re DIY affairs. However the 10-inch GPD Win Max 2 is the closest I’ve seen to an off-the-shelf cyberdeck price shopping for.

It’s removed from one of the best laptop computer or gaming handheld. It’s an ergonomic compromise in 5 methods, and the webcam is trash! It’s additionally a conveyable computing dream. It doubles as a gaming handheld, with joysticks and buttons smuggled away in hidden compartments. It optionally triples as a desktop gaming PC, with a uncommon Oculink port that permits you to plug in a beefy eGPU. It has extra full-size ports than most small laptops can dream of, twin SSD slots, and a minimal 32GB of RAM.

Maybe most significantly, it has probably the most competent keyboard I’ve used on a pc this small, with near-zero studying curve. I’m writing each phrase you’re studying proper now, at my regular pace, on the Win Max 2. I’ve spent many full days working from this 10-inch pocket book, and it’s tackled the whole lot. I even edited a current In the present day I’m Toying With video on this tiny PC.

GPD’s been constructing tiny laptops for round a decade, and this one’s tantalizingly near one thing I’d truly pay for — if I might solely persuade the corporate to vary just a few key issues.

On paper, the GPD Win Max 2 looks like it ought to be within the higher echelon of handhelds. You get your alternative of AMD’s HX 370 “Strix Level” or its Ryzen 7 8840U chip, as much as 64GB of reminiscence, as much as 4TB of storage, a high-res 2,560 x 1,600 IPS display lined in Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5 for sturdiness, and a larger-than-average 67 watt-hour battery to energy the entire thing.

However utilizing it on the sofa, in mattress, and on flights to and from Japan, gaming was extra awkward than I anticipated.

For as soon as, I’m not speaking about how horrible Home windows could be! With a big 10.1-inch touchscreen and a full keyboard, it’s the uncommon handheld the place Microsoft’s OS is simple to handle, simple to faucet touchscreen buttons and drag home windows round. (It does nonetheless battle with sleep.)

Nor am I speaking in regards to the 2.2-pound weight — whereas my arms do get drained holding it like a Nintendo Swap, I can often simply open the laptop computer’s hinge, prop it up on my chest, or plop it on my lap for a bit.

Even the sport pad controls are respectable, as awkward as they could look! You get two analog sticks that really feel nigh-identical to Nintendo Swap, save the drift-resistant Corridor impact sensors beneath. The PSP-style translucent D-pad is responsive, as are the tiny ABXY face buttons. You get clicky microswitches beneath every bumper. Solely the triggers really feel a bit of weak.

No, the primary downside is that to carry these sport pad controls, you must grip the laptop computer’s inflexible aluminum and resin chassis, which has no actual dampening to isolate my palms from the hand held’s grumbling guts. I can really feel each fan vibration touring by means of my fingers, up into my wrists. It feels indescribably bizarre and dangerous! I’ve requested GPD, however the firm’s recommended fan changes haven’t fastened it. A substitute unit had the identical problem.

The second ache level is the display. 2560×1600 is much too many pixels for AMD’s moveable chips to push in even reasonably intensive video games — and since GPD selected a set 60Hz display nothing feels as easy as on 90Hz and 120Hz VRR handhelds just like the Steam Deck OLED, Asus ROG Ally X, or Ayaneo 3. It’s show for productiveness or watching motion pictures, notably contemplating the Win Max 2’s respectable DTS:X digital sound enhancements, however I’ll now not purchase a gaming handheld with a 60Hz fastened refresh display.

And, at the very least with the $1,100 AMD 8840U and 32GB mannequin I examined, it’s not all the time sooner in video games than the $800 Asus ROG Ally X. Whereas it does appear to have a efficiency benefit at 15W, battery life continues to be meh, because it has a smaller battery inside.

With the Ally X, I obtained over eight hours of magic poker sport Balatro, my best-case-scenario check for these handhelds because it’s non-intensive; the Win Max 2 managed solely 5 hours and 22 minutes on a cost. I additionally noticed simply two hours of Armored Core 6, on par with the Steam Deck, however the Ally X can get practically three hours. Plus, you possibly can drain the Win Max 2’s battery in an hour and a half with extra intense video games in case you attempt.

In contrast to different handhelds, although, you possibly can play flat on a tray desk, like I did on my flights. The joysticks and buttons are nonetheless accessible, plus an entire keyboard. Over the previous month, I’ve practically crushed Lorelei and the Laser Eyes enjoying completely on the Win Max 2, transitioning between laptop computer and handheld, cordless and corded modes.

And that’s earlier than you think about that you would be able to genuinely plug an RTX 5090 exterior graphics card dock into this factor. Simply know that Oculink merchandise, not like USB-C ones, aren’t made to be hot-swapped. They need to be totally powered down earlier than you yank the cable, otherwise you danger injury.

In order that’s the Win Max 2 as a gaming machine. As a laptop computer, it’s largely the identical story: uniquely intriguing till you stumble upon ugly shortcomings.

Don’t even take into consideration shopping for a Win Max 2 to your Zoom and Groups calls, because it has one of many worst webcams I’ve had the displeasure of utilizing — and I say that having suffered years with the nosehair webcam on a Dell XPS 15. (We wrote a whole story when Dell fastened that mistake.) The Win Max 2’s hinge-cam is angled so low that typing seems to your colleagues as GIANT SPIDER FINGERS invading the convention name.

Plus, the digital camera’s optics are simply dangerous. “You’re a beautiful particular person, however it’s actively disagreeable to view you thru this webcam,” mentioned one colleague; one other referred to as the microphone “shit.”

When you plan to repair that with an exterior webcam, you may also add a journey mouse to repair the opposite large shortcoming. The touchpad is simply 2.7 inches (70mm) huge and 1.6 inches (40mm) deep, and awkwardly positioned above the keyboard moderately than beneath, making me stretch for it each time. It does bodily click on, but it surely’s horrible at click-and-drag. I’ve by no means met a laptop computer that wanted a ThinkPad nub extra.

The excellent news: the Win Max 2 has loads of ports for virtually any peripheral you’d care so as to add.

Ought to GPD have sacrificed a few of these ports to make the stout Win Max 2 thinner? I don’t assume so, although it is best to realize it gained’t match neatly into many laptop computer sleeves. However GPD might ditch the modular SSD and modem bays for additional battery capability. I’m solely getting 5–6 hours of labor accomplished on a cost, not sufficient for a full workday, however a bigger battery feels potential with some design tweaks.

So: Battery, webcam, higher mousing, vibration dampening, and a variable refresh charge display. Then, GPD may need a tiny pc I can wholeheartedly advocate.

Images and videography by Sean Hollister / The Verge