GPD Win Max 2 (2023) Review: How I Ruined My Eyesight!
The GPD Win Max 2 (2023) is an upgraded version of the popular mini-laptop designed specifically for gaming and general-purpose computing. With its compact size, versatile features, and upgraded performance, the GPD Win Max 2 (2023) caters to gamers and general users who seek a portable yet powerful computing solution. Whether you’re gaming on the go or handling productivity tasks, this mini-laptop offers a unique blend of convenience and performance.
The Win Max 2 (2023) has been upgraded from its predecessors. The previous options of Intel Core i7-1260P and AMD Ryzen 7 6800U have been phased out, and the new model now offers AMD Ryzen 7040U “Phoenix” processor options. This upgrade brings improved processing power and efficiency, ensuring smoother gameplay and faster computing tasks.
The Win Max 2 (2023) is currently available for pre-order through an Indiegogo InDemand campaign, with prices starting at $799. This crowdfunding approach allows interested users to secure their units before the official release. Shipping to backers is expected to begin in August, providing an opportunity for early adopters to experience the latest features and enhancements.
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GPD Win Max 2 (2023): Video Review
Design
The GPD Win Max 2 (2023) is a compact and feature-packed mini-laptop that offers versatility and convenience for gaming and general computing tasks. Let’s delve into its specifications and design details.
Weighing only 1005 grams, the GPD Win Max 2 is designed to be lightweight and portable. When folded, it measures 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches (22.7 x 16.0 x 2.3 cm), making it easy to carry around in a backpack or bag.
The device sports an all-metal Apple-style iron black unibody design, constructed with 6061 aluminum-magnesium alloy. The bottom shell is made of aviation-grade ABS synthetic resin, providing a comfortable grip while keeping the device cool during extended gaming sessions.
The GPD Win Max 2 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with a native resolution of 1920 ×1200 pixels. However, it supports up to 2560×1600 resolution, offering sharp and detailed visuals for both gaming and multimedia purposes. Below the display, you’ll find a 2MP high refresh rate camera, suitable for video calls and capturing moments on the go. Additionally, a clickable touchpad is available for convenient mouse-style navigation.
The QWERTY keyboard is located below the display and features two levels of backlight control, allowing you to customize the lighting according to your preferences and environment. The keyboard also has two detachable covers that hide the gaming controls, making it possible to use the GPD Win Max 2 as a regular mini laptop for work or other tasks.
On the back of the device, you’ll find Left and Right shoulder and trigger buttons, providing additional control options during gaming sessions. The GPD Win Max 2 is equipped with various ports, including a 3.5mm headphone jack, an Oculink (SFF-8612) port, and an HDMI port for connecting to external displays.
It also offers two USB Type-C ports, with one supporting USB 4 for connecting an external GPU (eGPU), expanding the gaming capabilities of the device. Above these ports are two slots where the controller covers can be conveniently stored.
The left side of the device houses Micro and SD Card slots for expandable storage options, while the right side features two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports for connecting peripherals and transferring data at high speeds. The front of the device features a power button that integrates a built-in fingerprint scanner, enabling fast and secure login into Windows 11 Home.
Keyboard, Touchpad and Gamepad
The GPD Win Max 2 (2023) not only boasts impressive specifications but also focuses on usability and ergonomics, making it a versatile machine for both gaming and productivity tasks. One of its standout features is the keyboard, which offers a seamless transition for users accustomed to smaller keyboards like the Keychron K2.
The keyboard on the Win Max 2 provides consistent inputs, ensuring a smooth typing experience. It features adjustable backlighting with two brightness levels, allowing users to customize the illumination according to their preferences and lighting conditions.
In handheld gaming devices, the quality of the built-in game-pad controllers is crucial, and GPD has not compromised on this aspect in the Max 2. The hall-sense sticks, although smaller in size, resemble Nintendo’s Joy-Cons and offer a comfortable grip. Additionally, these sticks incorporate magnet technology to prevent stick drift issues, ensuring long-term reliability.
The buttons on the Win Max 2, including ABXY, are clicky and responsive, enhancing the gaming experience. However, some users may find them slightly smaller, leading to difficulties in executing complex moves in games like Street Fighter or other fighting games. The Start, Select, and Menu buttons are positioned at a slight angle for ease of access.
The analog triggers, L2 and R2, also feature magnetic hall sensors, providing enhanced sensitivity for precise control. Compared to controllers like Sony’s DualSense and Microsoft’s Xbox controllers, the resistance in the Win Max 2’s triggers is lower, offering a smoother and more sensitive gaming experience.
The D-pad adopts a PS Vita-style design and excels in fighting games, providing accurate inputs and responsiveness. The device also includes a switch that toggles the game-pad from XInput to mouse input mode, allowing for seamless navigation during browsing or other tasks that require mouse input.
To further enhance customization options, the Win Max 2 features two additional buttons on the back of the device. All buttons on the device can be mapped and configured using GPD’s dedicated software, providing flexibility to adapt the controls according to individual preferences.
Performance
The GPD Win Max 2 (2023) brings notable upgrades to its hardware, including the introduction of AMD Ryzen 7040U series processors (Ryzen 5 7640U and Ryzen 7 7840U), support for faster LPDDR5x-7500 RAM, and an Oculink port for high-speed connections to an external GPU like the GPD G1.
The Ryzen 5 7640U features 6 Zen 4 CPU cores clocked between 3.5 GHz and 4.9 GHz, along with 12 threads and a 15 W TDP. The APU incorporates the Radeon 760M, which includes 8 Compute Units (CUs), equivalent to 512 shaders, and a boost clock speed of 2.8 GHz. On the other hand, the Ryzen 7 7840U offers 2 additional CPU cores, lower base and higher boost CPU clock speeds, and an extra 4 threads, along with increased L1 and L2 caches. Furthermore, AMD integrates a more powerful iGPU with the Radeon 780M, which features 12 CUs.
To enhance the gaming experience further, GPD offers bundles that include a GPD G1 external graphics dock. These bundles come with an AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT GPU, boasting 32 RDNA 3 compute units and 8GB of GDDR6 memory. This combination provides significant graphics performance improvements.
The Radeon 780M, the integrated GPU, can emulate PS3 games at full speed, offering 60 FPS gameplay in titles like God of War 3. Similarly, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time often achieves 60 FPS, although occasional drops into 40 FPS territory may occur.
Additionally, the Radeon 780M delivers nearly twice the performance compared to the Radeon 680M in Red Dead Redemption. This improvement elevates the game from an unplayable state to a more enjoyable experience, running at approximately 30 FPS.
With these upgrades, the GPD Win Max 2 (2023) offers improved processing power and graphics performance, making it a capable device for gaming and emulation. The integration of AMD Ryzen processors and powerful Radeon GPUs enhance the overall gaming experience, ensuring smoother gameplay and better graphics quality.
The GPD Win Max 2 (2023) capable of running modern games smoothly and efficiently.
Forza Horizon 5, one of the most popular racing games, runs seamlessly on the GPD Win Max 2. Players can enjoy the stunning graphics and immersive gameplay of this title with stable 60+ frames per second (fps), ensuring a smooth and enjoyable racing experience on the device.
Red Dead Redemption 2, a critically acclaimed open-world game, is another title that the GPD Win Max 2 handles effortlessly. Players can explore the vast landscapes and engage in intense gunfights within the game, all while maintaining a stable 60+ fps on the device.
GPD Win Max 2 (2023): Battery
The GPD Win Max 2 (2023) is equipped with a 67Wh battery, providing users with extended battery life for their gaming and productivity needs. The device demonstrates impressive battery performance in different usage scenarios.
The device can last for approximately 10 hours and 50 minutes. It’s worth noting that the battery saver feature kicks in after around 7 hours and 30 minutes, optimizing power consumption and further extending the battery life. This ensures that users can utilize the device for an extended period of time without needing to recharge.
These results demonstrate the GPD Win Max 2’s efficiency in balancing performance and battery consumption. Users can enjoy extended gaming sessions or complete productivity tasks without worrying about running out of power quickly.
GPD Win Max 2 (2023): Conclusion
In conclusion, the GPD Win Max 2 (2023) is a highly capable mini-laptop designed for gaming and general-purpose computing. With its compact size and powerful hardware, it offers an impressive gaming experience on the go.
The device features a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with a high native resolution and support for up to 2560×1600, ensuring crisp visuals and immersive gameplay. The inclusion of a backlit QWERTY keyboard with large keys facilitates comfortable typing and enhances usability.
One of the standout features of the GPD Win Max 2 is its upgraded hardware. The shift to AMD Ryzen processors, specifically the Ryzen 5 7640U and Ryzen 7 7840U, provides enhanced processing power and efficiency. The inclusion of faster LPDDR5x-7500 RAM and an Oculink port for external GPU connectivity further expands the device’s capabilities.
The built-in gamepad controllers, including hall-sense sticks and clicky, responsive buttons, contribute to an enjoyable gaming experience. The addition of a PS Vita-style D-pad and configurable buttons adds versatility and customization options.
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