GPD Win Max 2 Review: Big Handheld, or Small Laptop?

Today we are going to review the GPD Win Max 2, and get a feel for what it's like to actually own the device.
More info here: www.indiegogo.com/projects/gp...
Big thanks to ‪@ThePhawx‬ for loaning me his Win Max 2 to review, check out his channel and please consider subscribing.
Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
01:33 tech specs and pricing
04:04 hardware impressions and size
12:28 screen and sound
13:41 ergonomics discussion
17:38 performance and emulation
19:19 summary (likes and dislikes)
22:39 conclusion
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This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only.
#GPDWinMax2 #GPD #PCgaming

[@ryanbane]

GPD shipped me a faulty device (the original Win Max) I reached out immediately, they made ME pay to ship it to China ($120) then refused to fix it. As tantalizing as their products are, I can’t do business with someone like that. Besides, all 3 of the GPD devices I’ve ordered over the past several years have had major QC issues. I’ll stick to Valve or literally anyone else.

[@0525ohhwell]

Good to know. I have been hemming and hawing over that Win Max 2. That seals it as a no from me. I do end up seeing a lot of complaints about failures.

[@7ctony]

I won’t do these Chinese handheld due to this. I love them all but valves price and support is the main selling point for me.

[@0525ohhwell]

@@7ctony I wish Valve had a steamdeck mini or something though. Had to dip into the china stuff for a retroid pocket 3+ but I will say, so far so good with that device.

[@DoYouHaveTheBallz]

Thank you, now I don’t have to feel tempted anymore!

[@m.l.9385]

Well, you could order through one of their reputable resellers. I.e. DragonBox for Germany or DroiX for UK/US - you get a (local) warranty and local services etc.

[@Roosader]

I honestly love mine so darn much. Probably my favorite device I've ever owned. And I can even use it at work thanks to those covers lol.

[@RetroGameCorps]

Those covers are great! Now nobody at work knows you’re secretly a gamer 😎

[@Roosader]

@@RetroGameCorps hell yeah brother 😎

[@obvious_giraffe8386]

@@RetroGameCorps except for the upside down trackpad

[@stemdeckesupreme164]

* power failure at work. Networks down, no work can be done. "What will we do?" a coworker cries in boredom and disbelief

[@MerrickCamo520]

@@RetroGameCorps Retro I need you help Please!! I'm trying to find the best power bank for the onexplayer like 100watt power bank but I can't find any good ones what's your best recommend???? Please help!!!

[@HardcoreTanoshii]

Win Max 2 is the ultimate swiss army knife handheld gaming PC. Amazing for traveling, especially with the LTE port.

[@Mantenner]

You are literally the only reviewer I've seen talk about the ergonomics, which IMO is a massive deciding factor of this device. That's why you're my favourite channel.

[@Slystral]

I have a MAX 2021, and while its my most powerful handheld computer i ONLY use it for heavy games that none of my other handheld computers can run, if the MAX 2021 can run a game that the WIN 2 can also run, i choose the WIN 2 everytime. The ergonomics of the MAX 2 look even worse than the MAX 2021 so im content getting a EGPU enclosure and settling with the MAX 2021 for awhile, its not the best, but with a EGPU the performance wont be an issue at least.

[@andrewmcgrane3308]

The phawx talked about the ergonomics months ago, he's the best gaming handheld channel by a longshot

[@Mantenner]

@@andrewmcgrane3308 he barely talked about it and nowhere near the extent that it was talked about here, same with ETA

[@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude]

Dosnt matter when u can play on a xbox or ps5 controller

[@Slystral]

@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude then why have built-in gaming controls?

[@defective1up]

I love mine. Not sure why everyone else seems to hate the controls, but it feels like playing a PS Vita. There's nothing quite like this on the market right now and I do how AYA or similar makes a similar type of device, but this is great quality from GPD, and I've owned a few of their devices over the years. It's absolutely amazing for Wii, GC, and PS2 as well.

[@lumeronswift]

I adore mine as well - the only thing I dislike about it is that to reach the analogs and triggers simultaneously I need to hold it at quite a specific (and a tiny bit uncomfortable) angle. It's really such a great device, though! I've seen so many people saying they replaced their PC with a Deck, but this thing can actually do it.

[@DamnRightDamien]

I just don't trust GPD to make a product that doesn't fall apart

[@defective1up]

I use a pin

[@S3MTX]

How can it possibly feel like a Vita? Edit for grammar*

[@defective1up]

@@S3MTX very similar d-pad and buttons

[@nobody_vi3312]

I have had my win max 2 since December and I absolutely love it! There are some small compromises but what you get in return is totally worth it. There is also a great discord community that have created tools to really push the 6800u to the limit.

[@mdwm1981]

Love mine as well but I got one negative. I'm constantly hitting the shoulder and bottom buttons when I'm not gaming and just holding it or using it on my couch. Other than that, this little laptop/console is an absolute beast.

[@chinise33]

Can connect a USB mouse and keyboard without any problem???

[@Cereal.Fidgeter]

I never considered these types of machines, but this video makes it easier to digest information. Thanks for the videos and your thoughts.

[@a_shuchu_601]

I've come mostly for the Steam Deck tutorials and tips but stayed for the great quality content! Love your stuff

[@denirio]

Im here for the retro handhelds mostly vertical form factor but the quality and presentation is so good how you could you NOT get hype when he reviews anything. Shit if he reviews a Butterfinger I'd stop what im doing. xD

[@antlove2k3]

Ive had this since December and this is my favorite device. Perfect for my emulation needs. So versatile.

[@Dudebrush4pwood]

It always amazes me how weirdly comfortable it is to hold and play this 2lb+ mini laptop monstrosity, even for hours at a time. GPD really worked some magic with balancing the weight of the Win Max series devices. My only real complaint is the battery drain and heat generated by pushing the APU. Playing low spec and retro games and using it as a normal laptop all feel great to me.

[@heysunnysideup2754]

i must say GPD WIN MAX 2 IS THE ULTIMATE ALL IN ONE after having pc, laptop, steamdeck, switch, aya neo 2,oxp mini, nintendo switch oled, series x, ps5 now everything is dead to me i found the one will never trade again my adiction to trading units has stopped

[@GameTechTalk]

Very excited to see your take on this device, happy to see this video pop in my feed! And so, I'll wish this to myself though I already know I will: "Enjoy!" 😂

[@rope435]

Max is a jack of all trades and master of none, and thats exactly how I like it. Want a high resolution experience for older titles with a screen big enough to save your eyes, max 2 has got you. Want to play any current game at 30-60fps low 800p? Max 2 has got you. Want to get office , rendering , 3d modeling, writing, and audio mixing work done? Max 2 has got you. While the max 2 doesn't excel in each area it tries to tackle, it does each one great enough to be a versatile top tier machine, one thing that the typical candybar handhelds (even the win4) will never have. As a retro gamer used to smaller machines, this may not appeal to everyone, especially those only looking to retro game, however it most certainly has captured my heart, and I enjoy using it every day

[@jcarr1]

I love mine. It's the NetBook I always wanted. I have (still working!) an Acer 10" NetBook I used to play RPGs like Baldurs Gate on, and this fills that gap perfectly. Being able to pick it up and spend a bit on some GBA games is just a bonus.

[@yokayoksven]

I was considering saving up to get one of these, but after thinking about it for awhile I've decided that a 13 inch laptop and a nice small handheld would do me better, instead of trying to combine them into one device. I do appreciate GPD for making this kind of device though. It's different then anything else on the market, and while it's not for me, but it is for someone out there and they are really happy with it.

[@Randomness662]

exactly what i decided too. have the gpd win 4 “preordered” and i also bought a used surface book 3

[@bluebird8004]

Yep. Laptop with a nice controller (currently loving the gulikit king kong pro 2-GREAT value) and a handheld is all I need right now👍

[@jetvigamingtv496]

Neither ideal for gaming nor laptopping. You can't serve two masters at the same time, as they say. Thank you for doing this review

[@AntiPseudo]

I do think this might be perfect for indie devs that travel a lot. It has controls for when they need to test stuff, but they never test stuff for more than a few minutes at a time so the bad ergonomics don't end up mattering all that much. Plus you can run Unity, Visual Studio, and probably Unreal on it.

[@ArtisChronicles]

Now there's a practical use of a device like this.

[@MarkTengPhoto]

One thing that is undeniable is that the Win Max 2 is one of the smallest laptops you can buy currently that you can still reasonably game with, even completely ignoring the fact it has those controllers (you could still use a bluetooth controller with the Win Max 2). This is great for putting into a handbag for instance, as a regular laptop would not fit. GPD does make another ultra small laptop called the Pocket 3, but it's much pricier and also less powerful.

[@patchesguerrero5599]

Thank you for reviewing this. I am THIS close to impulse buying but I needed a pro-review!

[@JackOusley]

I’m m glad you finally did a video on this, I’ve been eyeing it for quite some time. I’d really like something with a larger higher res screen than the steam deck and with good battery life. That big one with the detachable controllers is the closes I’ve seen to what I want, but that thing seems like it has too many odd issues for me to choose it. Will keep waiting.

[@I4get42]

Hi Russ! I LOVE mine for a vacations. I wanted a PC with some easy gaming. And for couch time. That sd-card slot and screen were awesome for backing up and tweaking photos. The only thing I really want is a quieter fan and a better native software solution for tweaking things.

[@lumeronswift]

I don't mind the fan too much, and it does have a quiet mode... but yeah it can be a little noisier than others.

[@I4get42]

@Lumeron Swift hello there! You are right. And I usually leave it in quiet mode, but when I don't, it ramps up fast in games. If it isn't in quiet mode, then if my wife is on the other end of the couch it is too loud for her.

[@briangarvin8867]

Complete, thorough, insightful review. GLAD YOU FOUND YOUR MARBLES BY THE END

[@ro0kie42]

i have small hands and i love mine a lot and use it every day. if you buy this, you also have to commit to figuring out how to make those ergonomics work for you. all i did was add some grip tape to the back and detachable analog caps (that i take off when i have to store the device) and it is seriously so fun to use. 10" screen goodness in my hands and everything looks so gorgeous at arm's length, too.

[@typingcat1814]

Respect. Thank you for the excellent review. I've owned one since October. I opted for the Win Max 2 because I am a "one device" guy--I don't have nor do I want a separate laptop. I agree overall with your ergonomic observations. Generally I have two use-cases for the Win Max 2, first is reclining on the couch or sitting in my car, where usually it is resting in my lap--or else my elbows are resting on something, so I don't feel the weight very much. The second is riding my stationary bike, where I sit upright and hold the Win Max 2 up. This is the only time I lift it fully up in the air and it's heavy but hey I'm exercising anyway right? Also I have found that while using the gamepad it's not comfortable to hold the keyboard portion horizontally because it bends my hands downward. Instead I flip the screen to 180 degrees (it actually goes a little past that) and hold it vertically. Much nicer on my wrists. However this is dangerous while exercising because I get sweaty and it could slip out of my hands while holding it vertically.

[@jacobnobles8453]

I'm not sure how, but I always seem to take my bathroom break around the time the RGC video drops. And then I get weird looks when I go back to the office (we have a brown room in a separate space) 20 minutes later. Sometimes 40 minutes, depending on how far Russ goes down the rabbit hole.

[@frooglepete]

OMG RUSS!! WTF. I ordered one of these for my birthday in a few weeks. It arrived this morning. My Wife won't let me even see the box since it's a birthday present. THANK YOU for this video. I've devoured pretty much every other WM2 video out there, even the ones in complete foreign-eze

[@Goalier95]

Love my WIN Max 2 since getting it late last year! It's an awesome little mini laptop that you can definitely AAA game on. Most games I have to run it at 1080p instead of the highest resolution and it is just amazing getting sucked in playing with the beautiful 10" screen. For the next version I would love to see a higher refresh screen (OLED perhaps?) and slightly larger face buttons but otherwise, GPD really did a bang up job with this "handheld pc". Playing the Steam Deck is more comfy and is cheaper but oh that display is such a joy to look at. Oh and one final thought: Steam Deck feels cheap and plasticky and the WIN Max 2 is so very premium feeling but after a bit of time, it does get a bit warm but it's not unbearable. Take breaks kids.

[@WMARUoriginal]

Yes! Been waiting for you to review this since launch because you would address in detail the most pressing point for this device which is the ergonomics and size of buttons. I'm very glad I passed on this device. Great job as always Russ!

[@RemTilak]

The keyboard is pretty awesome imo. Since I own a WM2, I don't use other devices anymore tbh. It's such a good handheld laptop. :-)

[@ExtremalMetal]

the most honest talk of ergonomics i've seen compared to other reviews

[@goldsilvergm]

After having mine for a few months, it's been my go to for everything but high powered gaming and rendering. It's the best to travel with if you are a carry on only type of person. When at home, it's docked in my office with a full setup. I have a separate gaming PC for everything high powered but this is a really good all in one device. Not perfect, but really good.

[@Opebin]

the shock on my face when you opened it up lol interested to see how you actually play this thing

[@johnsducks9816]

Seems they come out with a new revision of the GPD Win Max every year, it is definitely one of the devices I am most interested in, but I feel it is too late in it's lifespan to get the most out of it, definitely very interested in the Win Max 3 when that comes probably within a year

[@tdata545]

I'm interested in it since it seriously has way better ports than most laptops with two usb cs and like 3 USB A ports and two independent SD card slots plus two expansion bays. Thing's kind of crazy. But I'd probably get this and the tiny GPD for an actual portable emulation experience.

[@johnsducks9816]

One of the things I have realized since getting my steam deck is that it is a lot to carry with a big ol steam deck AND a 15 inch laptop. I am really interested in something like this simply because there are no other laptops on the market under 13 inches that have any power at all, every other 11 inch laptop only has a celeron or pentium. I really wish there were a lot more small laptops in general like this that just have a ryzen 3 or i3, even without the built in controller.

[@battman505]

I have one, it’s great and the battery is amazing.

[@PM-xc8oo]

I have the late 2020 model of this and I find the size to be pretty perfect so I was definitely concerned that this one is a bit bigger. I'd be curious to see the two sizes compared side by side.

[@NicoSensei]

It's indeed a tad bigger, but still good. I enjoyed the Win Max very much once I got it setup with Manjaro Linux. The Max 2 is a nice upgrade, I set it up with Nobara Linux and it's a beast 😎

[@cyb]

This + Nreal Air = amazing. You can see the keyboard/gamepad just by peeping down.

[@lexnotayoutuber1001]

I've been waiting for this

[@intricate24]

Hi russ, hope you can add some tablets reviews with emulation in the future probably when snapdragon 8 gen 2 chips are available. Shifted from retro gaming handhelds to tablets with 8 bitdo and Im having a blast. Most emulators on android runs great on snapdragon 870 and above. Thanks love your videos.

[@richardkenan2891]

I have the GPD Win 2. Much smaller, same basic concept, and it's been a lot of fun. I can't recommend it as a regular use laptop, but it does the job in a pinch, while having tons of gaming potential on the go. I think the Win Max 2 wouldn't suit my desires, but if I wanted something a bit more laptop and a bit less handheld gaming system, it would be great.

[@thecryingsoul]

So THIS is where the win 4's hall sensor sticks went!

[@afreestone101]

I'm probably one of the very few people out there who actually liked the novel compactness of mid 2000's netbooks, while also wishing for something with slightly higher specs than netbooks offered at the time. This looks like it fits that nostalgic desire and is probably a fantastic little DOSBox machine to boot. I'd pay the premium price simply for it's compactness... the gaming controls being a bonus feature. I quite like the slightly chunky thickness as it compliments the diminutive width and height rather well. Most modern laptops, being large but thin at the same time, end up feeling fragile and awkward to handle.

[@andrewmalhotra]

Thank you!! This is exactly my thought as well. I love those early 2000 netbooks, but they were essentially hunks of junk. Because they were so underpowered. This is super small, yet I can actually do some heavy computing on it. Plus with the game controls on occasion I can game. For reference, I travel a lot for work, so something super small like this is the best of all worlds. Powerful for when I’m at home and it’s hooked up to a screen, but small enough that it’s super easily, portable..

[@wahidpawana424]

Yeah, I don't mind gaming decently at 720p on a met book size laptop. I'm already used to playing games on the switch so I am definitely OK with this form factor.

[@nfriedly]

I love my Win Max 2, it's my "do everything" machine. I do hope that GPD builds a smaller clamshell again sometime soon, the Win 2 was fantastic and it actually fit in some of my pants pockets.

[@maxgladiator-re8xy]

Dude, what KIND of giant are you for that to fir in your pocket?!!!

[@seydoumestrekone3143]

@@maxgladiator-re8xy He's talking about the GPD Win 2, which is a small device, not the GPD Win MAX 2

[@BonusCrook]

Is it still going 4 months later?

[@nfriedly]

@@BonusCrook my Win Max 2 is still going strong. GPD is working on a new small-er clamshell that's been nicknamed the "Win Min", although apparently it's going to have a 7 inch screen and be a little bit bigger than the Win 2 was, which is kind of a disappointment. Liliputing has an article with some prototype photos and a summary of what we know so far. I'm interested, but I might just stick with my Max 2 if I'm not going to be able to fit in a pocket either way.

[@ahuman4013]

Comment has aged great, considering the mini is now about to ship

[@handsguy5298]

What a good buddy the phawx

[@ryans3199]

I want to say thank you for this review, it's highly detailed compared to the Linus Tech Tips one. I think what interests me about this device is just packing so much muscle into such a small "laptop," yet it still qualifies as such. I think it would be better if the screen was just a _tiny_ bit bigger, like 11.5" at the most. Just for the sake of getting the keyboard up to spec.

[@Drivenby]

I love mine Russ . I needed a laptop for work and having essentially a great performing laptop + built in controls , it’s been amazing . I use mine every chance I get . I can play it for hours . Also the battery and cooling on the wm2 is the best out of any 6800u device I know of

[@darthvader5996]

i Love my GPD win Max 2, but im a Harcore Nerd. You have to love this kind of Small Devices. I Play Games, watch Movies and Coding on this device.

[@FS-zt6tm]

I agree, it's honestly my favourite device but I acknowledge that not everyone would like it's form factor. To me it's perfect

[@OceanofStarsVR]

I love my GPD WM2. It's the perfect size, & best for on the go gaming, whether you're on a flight or on a train. Or just vhibing at home. You can do some quick edits while your at it. & best of all! You can play Skyrim VR at a stable 40fps on lo a settings but such s wonderful concept The 6800u is a pretty powerful chip, so I can't wait until the 7800u series come out

[@CanThinkCanDo]

love the opening music

[@tomaslukacs]

As a win Max 2 user i do understand perfectly your ergonomic opinions. I had the same feeling when i firstly used. I wasn’t able to find the comfortable way of playing with it. But to be honest after a month of using it i couldn’t be more happy. I don’t know if i got used to the wheight or musle memorized somewhat to balance it. But now i can not go back to smaller screens. Everything looks amazing in it, also the 10:9 prportions feel perfect for the screen size and resolution. Of course it’s a personal opinion but having owned a pandora, win 1 i got tired of small texts and looking at games too small to really enjoy it’s art and sense of movement….

[@lexx555]

I definitely agree with you. I own the Win 1, Win 2 and Win Max 1 and the screen size on this is perfect. It basically rectified all the issues of the Win Max 1. I travel a bit for work and this is great for me.

[@austintse5719]

I've got one and a steam deck. I use it every day. The deck I rarely use so it's way more useful for my use case. It's a perfect size for me and I use it with a foldable laptop stand I got from Amazon so it's more comfortable to play games on. The keyboard and larger screen make it more useful as a daily computer than the Steam deck.

[@CaioHungria]

hey, which fodable laptop stand is that?

[@austintse5719]

@@CaioHungria search for laptop riser for desk. It's a aluminium one.

[@lumeronswift]

Yeah, I've seen a lot of KZbin videos saying "I replaced my PC with a Steam Deck", but I can't see that as remotely viable... the Deck is great as a handheld device, but its TDP limit is pretty low, meaning that you can't really amp up its performance much when you plug it in... and you have to carry a keyboard with you at all times.

[@tomoprime217]

@RetroGameCorps I heard you mention on a group chat that you were not a fan of recessed sticks on the GPD Win Mini. Were these different than the Win Max 2 in this video? I only ask as the Win Mini has the buttons and right Stick placement swapped as you would have wished was done in this video. So both analogs are symmetrical on the outter sides. So I wanted to know your honest opinion on its ergonomics. I hoping the Mini was a bigger improvement in that regard for the clamshell design. Isnt the case also a little less flat with some rubber on the sides to help holding it? Also can you say if the mini includes a blue wd nvme as opposed to the bad BWin drive I hear about? Sorry for all the fuss I wanted to own my 1st handheld and I have a laptop and desktop so getting a small windows portable with 32G ram to future proof seemed more ideal to me as I dont collect many purchases. I know you're a busy guy so I don't expect you to reply but I do love your channel with an honest perspective so keep up the good work. 👍

[@AdamPatrickMurray]

Thank you for doing this! Always curious about this form factor, and I don't think it's for me.

[@novelezra]

Im going through your old handheld PC videos to kind of get up to date on all the alts from steam deck (which I own and adore) and honestly this is the only one ive seen that I would get purely due to the absolute ridiculousness of it. Honestly, if someone said this was made in early 2000s id believe them. This screams 'early 2000s' text to me. Its like something LGR would review

[@ShaniAce]

18:48 Please elaborate, what's the problem about the comfort of the UI on the Win 4?

[@samueltsang9386]

Hey I got a question I just ordered a 128 gb anything i need to know? do i need to update the bios or anything? I heard the old bios had no tdp cap is this true?

[@ssbm04]

I usually lay my win max 2 on my lap. It makes your hands less tired. Great review as always. I’ve been using the win max 1 and I think it’s the same design with a better keyboard

[@obvious_giraffe8386]

On top of your lap?

[@MrMagicAmmo]

Yea that's called a laptop lol

[@briankeenan1456]

For the first time since I been watching your channel, I totally disagree with almost everything on your review. But it's to each there own. I enjoy playing mine and I don't find it to be too big or bad to hold in the hands. I had the first one and could not wait until this one came out and I was not disappointed. Still enjoy your vids and keep coming back to watch more.

[@heysunnysideup2754]

gpd ergonomics on this device is a master piece wierd i so comfortable maybe because i have big hands...loving this device playing competitive games i always have high kill so cool

[@grafvinestarry]

It's a gaming Laptophandheld. Hope I can buy it after finish my exam this spring

[@USBMEDICMalcolmScole]

When you hold the device and it hurts or aches its meant too thats you learning to build your gaming body ...I traveled with a early ibm laptop that weighed about 4/5 k ....That kept me fit . . . I been messing with rcp3 the emu and trying driverSF I wonder what it would be like on the gpw2 ? Thanks for your very good effort .hug

[@mcgrog]

Helps if you dont hold it wrong sitting down, fold it flat like a gameboy colour, then it sits on your lap vertically while sitting on a couch and the controls are in a perfect spot and the screen is raised as well as large and clear and avoids neck and eye strain

[@Belgarathe]

Agree with your conclusion. I suspect this device is more for individuals who have jobs that is more computer centric such as IT. This way they can justify buying it for work but also can use it for gaming.

[@dark_mode]

The dual m.2 slot is sweet!

[@exodous02]

When I was a kid I asked and asked for one of those eeepc tiny notebooks and finally got one and . . . it sucked. The Winmax2 is the same size and is the fastest notebook I have ever owned an it has game a controller as a bonus! I have loved mine so far and if they release a new one I'll probably get it depending on how powerful it is.

[@FishyFelix]

I got the Steam Deck and I find myself bringing along an external larger screen, Xbox controller and a Bluetooth keyboard. The portable factor of the Steam Deck isn't portable anymore. I hope the GPD Win Max 2 fills that void that I have been experiencing with my on the go gaming setup. One device with everything included.

[@BonusCrook]

Same, keyboard and mouse are really a requirement for pc gaming

[@joeoreo2498]

I just bought a used one in great condition for 300 cash. Feeling really good about my purchase specially cause of the gorgeous screen. It also came with 32gig ram. 😉

[@gregyance9901]

Is there any significant increase in performance due to the high clock in the ram compared with other handhelds , and what would be the limitation of the hardware of the other companies that that let it at 6400 mhz I think

[@deflash]

plus💯 Love my 1/32/LTE unit so much. P.s. no single intel unit was sold, it's was dead from the beginning.

[@martymcintosh5026]

welcome surprise you reviewed this

[@ItWasAllPartOfMyPlan]

Maaaaaaaan this is my dream handheld,so wish I could afford it 😔

[@lumeronswift]

The screen size is actually slightly misleading - due to the pixel density, I was able to competently play a large game of Age of Empires 2 without being hugely concerned about my screen. But even so, I much prefer the small form factor that can fit comfortably in a messenger bag (mine fit in my Switch bag with room to spare) with a strong enough iGPU to handle a decent external monitor for productivity apps. And you don't need to carry peripherals with you... just a HDMI cable and your AC adapter.

[@bohdaniatsenko8428]

This thing is so cool, I'd love to own it, but at the same time I fully understand that I don't need it and it won't fully replace neither my laptop nor my steam Deck 😅

[@AdmiralBison]

I want a handheld gaming PC with the 10' screen size of the WinMax 2. Give users different sized options, I would definitely for the "max" or "ultra" versions of handheld gaming PCs.

[@DigitalNomadOnFIRE]

I travel globally 6 months a year, something this small but still powerful is epic. When I'm at home I'll plug into an eGPU for PCVR. One machine to rule them all...

[@wordsmith451]

You did say you'd give an update after your trip.. any updates?

[@chasemartin4450]

Am I wrong that this is the only netbook-sized laptop on the market today with anything other than bottom-of-the-barrel specs? A device with this form factor is incredibly appealing to me, but given that gaming on it is an afterthought compared to other power-intensive uses like CAD modeling, I have serious doubts about the backwards trackpad placement being viable. Thoughts?

[@davidfgranger]

"Let's see how those speakers sound" while I'm watching this on my Win Max 2, lol.

[@GYTCommnts]

I would like a design that combines this with the 4: controls at the sides, good keyboard in the middle, and the screen as here, not sliding. In my humble experience, sliding systems fail sooner than a good and proven lid.

[@bdawgsohawt]

Dumb question how do you long press and select texts?

[@KrashFries]

if this kind of form factor had mass market adaption and were widely available a few years down the line (like most business laptops), i’d totally get it if only for how cool it is. too bad that its kind of a niche application so thats not going to happen.

[@Nexus71c]

You know, I'm kind of considering selling my current laptop for something like this. Might be much more worth it. Not sure how much it'll be once I did so, but hopefully enough to be able to

[@enriques22]

I would like to have a GPD Win 4 in a clamshell design. I love my GPD Win 1. I wouldn't mind if it would be a little bit larger, But the Max 2 is too large. I was also very interest in the Aya Neo Flip. But it looks like that this version will not release soon...... if ever ;-(

[@balls2bone]

The size is in the territory of my laptop anyhow (Iit's a little smalled). I'd personally prefer to have a laptop (with a decent sized keyboard), need to code and CAD more often than I need to game when not at home!

[@MathieuCruzel]

Like you said in your review, I just can't seem to figure out the use for such a device. I mean at 10" you are in iPad/Android tablet territory, the controls you use in a pinch but for the price range, you can get a laptop with a bigger screen, same performance and for the 50$ you save you can get a Xbox controller. I mean the "only" benefit I see here is the fact that it's a laptop at 10" and since the disappearance of all these eeePCs you only get Microsoft Surface tablets or iPads at these screen sizes but maybe that's the point....

[@usafballer79]

Max 2 has my vote because of that reclined position. Screen is more eye level, all the weight is resting largely on your chest - it looks insanely comfortable compared suspending any device in thin air for extended periods - one can't even hold your arms with nothing in your hand up for long without it being tiresome or tingling in the elbows and probably leading to carpal tunnel syndrome. Watch those repetitive motions folks, and keep your neck straight. The other feature that's nice is the fact it can sit on a flat surface with the screen up when you want that. Really Max 2 feels far more versatile than a true handheld, but I get it's large.

[@robotninja530]

I really wanted to see how comfortable mouse and keyboard gaming on this would be with that tiny keyboard. The cramped WASD was the only thing holding me back from picking it up.

[@DamnRightDamien]

Gaming on a chiclet keyboard? Lol

[@RoundPi]

You can actually map the WASD keys to the dpad or analog stick.

[@robotninja530]

@Round Pi the point was to play with mouse and keyboard.

[@parabellum8506]

I love my Win Max 2. Just finished Persona 5 Royal, and now I'm having a great time with Octopath Traveler 2. The 10 inch screen is perfect for laying in bed at night burning through my RPG backlog. So far no QC issues.

[@CHETM02]

So, obviously, the steam deck has the better ergonomics, but what surprised me, was having a better time with emulation on WM2. Older titles, just don't have the button complexity like newer titles, so WM2 controls are more than adequate. They feel like a giant DS, given the rectangular shape. Additionally, being able to angle the screen feels generally better than hunching over and getting gameboy neck. And, since your already in windows, it's much easier to tweak emu settings on the WM2 compared to the SD where you have to enter desktop mode every time. Overall, I'd say less button demanding games like strategy or RPG are good for the WM2. If you're playing a fast paced shooter or action, probably the SD. Back in the day of dedicated portables, developers probably realized this, which explains the simplified controls of the PSP, DS, etc., not just the hardware limitations. Now that hardware can support the AAA titles, ergonomics that is also portable has become sort of a "new" problem. Now personally for me, the ergonomics of an SD are better than the WM2, but not by alot. I think the main issue is the stick configuration location. It makes hitting the L and R triggers really nice, but I struggle to hit the R bumper in conjunction with right thumb stick. With the WM2 since its so flat, it's almost the reverse issue where the bumpers are easier to hit than the triggers. If you can 3d print a grip for the WM2, that can also help. The most ergonomic controller for me is the PS, because it hasnt change much since the 90s. I also personally think, the wm2 is actually more portable than the SD, though objectively theyre in the same size category, where the WM2 is narrower, but taller. And man, it's hard to leave that 10" screen. So every time I look at my first world problem choice of marginally better controls, or much better and larger screen. If you ever loved the old netbook era but wished for a real PC, WM2 is the portable to get! Dream come true 20 yrs later.

[@MarcusJ79]

I love mine and I'm very happy with it and I agree with this 100%. I'm terrible with buying these so the GPD is my windows machine for games my steam deck can't run.

[@saiyanraoh5109]

The best of these 6800U devices in my opinion. All the power of the rest of them, the ports and utility of a laptop and those awesome Vita buttons and dpad. And you can still hold it for gaming. This and the Steam Deck are my daily drivers.

[@RenshoYT]

I always thought that these were a bit weird. Im sure its a good device, but it feels like its in a no-mans land between handhelds and laptops. You get all of the compromises of a handheld (price, lack of dedicated GPU, smaller screen) without many of the benefits (comfort, design, etc). For the price of this, I don't understand how to justify it vs something like the Win 4, or on the other end, a similar priced laptop with better specs that will be more comfortable to use for computing (or spend less money for comparable specs). Again, I don't think its a bad device at all, I'm just not sure who this is for.

[@sal5440]

Who was designing this and thought "we need our handheld gaming unit to be massive and not very portable".

[@CuriousTinkering]

IT World: Probably one of the reason why Phawx (and a lot of others) loves the Max line. I wish it still had the LAN port like in the Max 1.

[@choboutube]

I had the GPD Win or Win 2, I don't remember which. I never really used it, screen and keyboard were just a bit too small. I already had a GPD XD for casual emulation gaming.

[@choboutube]

Back here after getting a Win Mini 2023 (with oculink) and impressed with it. I like the design of this one too, like hiding the joystick covers and the easy access to the storage and LTE

[@Setapartanoited]

What is price and where purchase

[@dopesheepify]

Has anyone been able to buy the intel version? Is it for sale somewhere?

[@Ryfibi]

I will pass this one. Thank you for using European weight units

[@taliefer16]

controls are somewhat subjective, (i love the control layout) but why are you trying to hold the bottom of the laptop flat/level when you are sitting? hold it at an angle, flip the screen back a bit, and its much more natural to hold. trying to keep it flat, I can understand why youd find it so uncomfortable.

[@martymcintosh5026]

that segment was a bit awkward, I'd slouch on the couch playing it

[@timecrash85]

I can take this to work, for work and meetings.