This is an excellent example that the Win4's form factor makes it a consideration when comparing to other handhelds. As I mentioned, I think devices like the Win4 are needed to stand out against devices like the SD and Ally.
Yea, the Ally and SD really have set the expectations differently because of their competitive pricing. I do think that something like the Win4 and Win Max 2 are interesting enough to consider if you're looking for something that isn't just strictly a candy bar style handheld. 🙏
@bondjamesbond All about preference. I think it looks cool. But if you are going yo use it as a computer, that tiny keyboard is too small. Rather, plug it into a monitor and use an actual external keyboard and mouse. And it's more expensive with outdated hardware.
I had this for a few months. I loved the machine- it ran my games like a dream, and that keyboard and optical mouse nub was super useful to me as I like to mod my games. But the form factor, as much as I loved it’s nostalgia power, was quite uncomfortable in my hands for extended sessions, like anything over 2 hours and my hands would cramp up pretty bad. Had to sell it 😢
Ahhh I finally get to sit back, relax, and enjoy this excellent In-Depth Look! Loved that teardown! Did you end up putting fresh thermal paste on, what would you recommend?
The Win4 really hits a nice blend of aesthetic, compactness and features as well as that nostalgia spot I have for my og PSP-1001 that I still use every now and then. I still have an original GPD Pocket because the concept of having a full-fledged windows/linux PC that I can pack with me and charge off my phone adapter was very appealing. Plus it had a very clean aesthetic. I'm very much a fan of the idea of having a single all-in-one computing device. Something like this that you can take with you, game, watch anime or w/e, then when you get home dock to a monitor, keyboard+mouse and possibly an eGPU. My only problem is that the games I enjoy playing are not very playable on mobile platforms (RTS, strategy like Starcraft, total war, stronghold, etc), or I still have my original retro systems like the GB, SP, PSP, DS-lite and would just play on those instead. It's one of those, "if money were not a thing" I'd get it immediately situations. For $900, it would end up being a mobile Morrowind/Oblivion/Skyrim and maybe Halo system for me lol. Though I am still very tempted...
Thanks for this content! I've recently got the Win Max 2 and gradually tricking it out to have 15tb onboard memory. One thing I'm really glad about the company GPD is that it's very niche and that not many people know about it. It makes me using this more exclusive.. Keep up the good work,
*The* *inferior* *and* *cheaper* *hardware* *usually* *won* *their* *generation.* VHS over Betamax NES over Master System PlayStation over Nintendo 64 PlayStation 2 over Xbox and GameCube Wii over PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 Game Boys always won (from OG to GBA) DS over PSP 3DS over PS Vita *Teraflops* Xbox Series X: 12.1 PlayStation 5: 10.3 *ROG* *Ally* *(Z1* *Extreme):* *8.6* Xbox One X: 6 PlayStation 4 Pro: 4.2 Xbox Series S: 4 ROG Ally (Z1): 2.8 PlayStation 4: 1.843 *Steam* *Deck:* *1.6* Xbox One S: 1.4 Xbox One: 1.310 Switch: 0.3932 *Gigaflops* Switch: 393.2 Wii U: 352 Xbox 360: 240 PlayStation 3: 230.4 PS Vita: 28.8 Xbox: 20 Wii: 12 GameCube: 9.4 PlayStation 2: 6.2 3DS: 4.8 PSP: 2.6 Dreamcast: 1.4 Get Steam Deck if you want something closer to a console experience. Has touchpads and better sleep/wake feature. Get a ROG Ally if you want a Windows PC handheld. Most of these gigantic handhelds do have terrible battery life. My favorite video game generation? The 6th gen followed closely by the 4th. The 5th gen is close to my heart since PS1 remains my favorite console I've owned. It was the most progressive but aged the worse graphically. But I still have fond memories loving my PS1 library and reading Next Generation magazines. PS Vita covers up to the 5th gen really well minus 3DO, Jaguar, Saturn, most N64, and some arcade games. I never really cared for Saturn or N64, so I don't care. I can play whatever I can't play on the Vita and graphics prior to PS3/X360 eras on my Android phone. I can play Wii games but mapping controls sucks for most. Vita's graphics are really as good as the original Xbox as Dead Or Alive 5 Plus looks as good as DOA3 and same with their DOA Xtreme games. My 20-year-old dream of seeing the characters nude finally came true a couple weeks ago when I installed the nude patch for Xtreme Venus. And to think Vita has the same power as the iPhone 4S from 2011! Since owning a Vita since May 2017, I'm actually amazed by Switch graphics since I'm so used to handheld graphics prior to the 7th gen. AC4: Black Flag looks amazing to someone like me who didn't own a PS3 until Jan 2019, never owned a 360, and used my PS4 slim since May 2017 to mostly watch movies and TV shows from an external hard drive and stream Netflix. I really wish Sony made a handheld in between the power of the PS4 and PS5 that directly competes with the next Switch, Deck, and Ally. Price it at $400 and I would buy that over all the others. Sony has been great for me when it comes to gaming for the last 27 years. Never felt like I owned a dud. Enjoyed them all. My least favorite is PS3 since owning it late and I still think it's amazing. Switch is close to a portable PS3/PS4 handheld tweener. Closer to PS3/Wii U power. But Nintendo never gets a flagship game from the Tekken, Final Fantasy, and Metal Gear Solid franchises. No Uncharted since Naughty Dog is owned by Sony. Not even FF7 Remake or the poorly-rated Shenmue III. I do love my second turquoise Switch Lite with still perfectly working analog sticks. Only got it for $50 since buying a coral SL for $70 and selling it for $120 right before I got the turquoise for $100. I do love access to Nintendo exclusives. But like when I owned a GCN and Wii, I do miss the third-party tentpole titles that Sony gets. Raw power PS1 -> *PSP* -> PS2 -> *Vita* -> PS3 -> PS4 -> PS5 Sony needs to give us the PS4/PS5 handheld tweener. Not this Project Q crap. I only need Sony and Nintendo handhelds since I have online accounts to both. I really don't like Xbox, so Xbox Pass means nothing to me. And I fully expect ROG Ally to be replaced rather quickly by an Ally 2 next year. Give us a successor to the Vita and Switch and I'll be happy for the next 10 years. If Sony never releases another dedicated handheld for us, then Steam Deck is the best option for this PlayStation fanboy since 1996. I want the console-style experience which have longer life cycles than more powerful PC hardware.
i am loving the win 4 and i am def getting a 7860u 32gb variant(i got a 16gb) ps. my gf want one so i gonna upgrade to the 7860u and give the 6800u to her
I don't like to have detach a fan just to get to the SSD, I guess the ram isn't upgradable. Most comments that I have seen people are complaining that the Win 4 screen is too small but I think it can be a bit smaller. I think a 5.0 to 5.5 would be good and making this smaller to wrap your hands around it but the design is good to me.
The RAM is not upgradeable. The SSD is fairly simple to access once the back cover is off. It only requires two screws removed from the fan, which doesn't interfere with any delicate components. I've seen worse situations where the SSD is buried under multiple components.
Since seeing this last year, Win 4 is my favorite form factor. GPD should make a QWERTY-less one, shave $200 from the price, and at least 200g from the weight.
Kinda sucks u have to go so deep to get to those sticks. On the deck oled u literally take off the back plate and the stick modules can be removed right away without going too deep.
Incredible review! Thinking about going the 6800u route despite the refresh shipping in 1-2 months. Curious what we think these are worth second hand, say the 32gb/1T 6800 model.
Thank you, I appreciate it! 💗 Geekbuying actually just dropped the price of the 6800u model for my viewers. It's $699 w/ coupon code NNNSD0606: www.geekbuying.com/go/7pQRaowI I'm curious to see how the second hand market will shift when the 7640/7840u refresh starts shipping.
Love the optimization, i was able to run zelda botw on 8w, mods fps 30 and fans cooling at 60. No lag at all! For the customized tpd control panel, are you able to save per game like the steam deck?
Ordered the 7840u a few months ago but not coming in til mid October 😅 I have the Ayaneo 2 and it’s been a lot of fun which inspired me to try another device to mix it up! Also looking at the gpd g1 for my desktop set up but still lot sure if it will be compatible with my MacBook Pro ? Do you know anything about that?! Love the channel 🙏🏼
The fan noise is definitely up there with the Steam Deck. You can adjust the fan but you're gonna need to keep it pretty high because of the heat the 6800u is generating. 🔥
@@retrotechdad the best thing is the optical pointer. I can’t deal with crap software. I think they just need to make the switch from gamemode to pc mode with a press button unlike the slider which is no convenient.
You can’t even really compare the Win 4 because is so small it could probably actually fit in your pockets and held in the hand you can’t fit an Ally in your pocket and that shit will have you crouched over your screen your screen like a gremlin you probably would have to rest your arms more
Did the link in the description not work for you? This is directly for the EU model: shorturl.at/dfFKQ Enter the coupon code NNNGPD0612 at check out for the discount.
The keyboard and rgb thing are useless in a device like this. They could have saved weight, thickness and battery life without them, selling it for a cheaper price and making the perfect PS Vita successor. With all the usb port available, the customer could connect a regular keyboard to it, in order to configure everything he needs, especially for emulation.
If the keyboard is useless to you... then you are not it's target market. You are using it strictly for gaming, then you're better off with SD or ROG Ally. For some of us that use this device for gaming/working during overseas trip, this is a clutch to do small work stuff. I find it hard to open a laptop in a plane/bus, that's talking a 14inch slim laptop.
I know everyone's hyping the Rog ally, but I'm more keen about this.
This is more expensive though
This is an excellent example that the Win4's form factor makes it a consideration when comparing to other handhelds. As I mentioned, I think devices like the Win4 are needed to stand out against devices like the SD and Ally.
Yea, the Ally and SD really have set the expectations differently because of their competitive pricing. I do think that something like the Win4 and Win Max 2 are interesting enough to consider if you're looking for something that isn't just strictly a candy bar style handheld. 🙏
@@bondjamesbond So is the Ally
@bondjamesbond All about preference. I think it looks cool. But if you are going yo use it as a computer, that tiny keyboard is too small. Rather, plug it into a monitor and use an actual external keyboard and mouse. And it's more expensive with outdated hardware.
I had this for a few months. I loved the machine- it ran my games like a dream, and that keyboard and optical mouse nub was super useful to me as I like to mod my games. But the form factor, as much as I loved it’s nostalgia power, was quite uncomfortable in my hands for extended sessions, like anything over 2 hours and my hands would cramp up pretty bad. Had to sell it 😢
i have it too and really like it but battery life not good. Imma get a clip on battery as solution 10000mah battery might give me extra 3 hours
Yes! I can't wait to get mine! You have perfect timing 😃
Haha, I knew you were going to be happy about this video. 🔥🤗
Ahhh I finally get to sit back, relax, and enjoy this excellent In-Depth Look! Loved that teardown! Did you end up putting fresh thermal paste on, what would you recommend?
thanks for the vid! i just ordered a win 4 with the 7840 :)
I see your common six months old. Can you give me a brief description of how that systems is working out for you?
The Win4 really hits a nice blend of aesthetic, compactness and features as well as that nostalgia spot I have for my og PSP-1001 that I still use every now and then. I still have an original GPD Pocket because the concept of having a full-fledged windows/linux PC that I can pack with me and charge off my phone adapter was very appealing. Plus it had a very clean aesthetic. I'm very much a fan of the idea of having a single all-in-one computing device. Something like this that you can take with you, game, watch anime or w/e, then when you get home dock to a monitor, keyboard+mouse and possibly an eGPU.
My only problem is that the games I enjoy playing are not very playable on mobile platforms (RTS, strategy like Starcraft, total war, stronghold, etc), or I still have my original retro systems like the GB, SP, PSP, DS-lite and would just play on those instead. It's one of those, "if money were not a thing" I'd get it immediately situations. For $900, it would end up being a mobile Morrowind/Oblivion/Skyrim and maybe Halo system for me lol. Though I am still very tempted...
Thanks for this content! I've recently got the Win Max 2 and gradually tricking it out to have 15tb onboard memory. One thing I'm really glad about the company GPD is that it's very niche and that not many people know about it. It makes me using this more exclusive..
Keep up the good work,
looking forward to the Win Mini review when that eventually gets released
I will be backing that one when the campaign goes live. I am REALLY looking forward to that one.
*The* *inferior* *and* *cheaper* *hardware* *usually* *won* *their* *generation.*
VHS over Betamax
NES over Master System
PlayStation over Nintendo 64
PlayStation 2 over Xbox and GameCube
Wii over PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
Game Boys always won (from OG to GBA)
DS over PSP
3DS over PS Vita
*Teraflops*
Xbox Series X: 12.1
PlayStation 5: 10.3
*ROG* *Ally* *(Z1* *Extreme):* *8.6*
Xbox One X: 6
PlayStation 4 Pro: 4.2
Xbox Series S: 4
ROG Ally (Z1): 2.8
PlayStation 4: 1.843
*Steam* *Deck:* *1.6*
Xbox One S: 1.4
Xbox One: 1.310
Switch: 0.3932
*Gigaflops*
Switch: 393.2
Wii U: 352
Xbox 360: 240
PlayStation 3: 230.4
PS Vita: 28.8
Xbox: 20
Wii: 12
GameCube: 9.4
PlayStation 2: 6.2
3DS: 4.8
PSP: 2.6
Dreamcast: 1.4
Get Steam Deck if you want something closer to a console experience. Has touchpads and better sleep/wake feature. Get a ROG Ally if you want a Windows PC handheld. Most of these gigantic handhelds do have terrible battery life.
My favorite video game generation? The 6th gen followed closely by the 4th. The 5th gen is close to my heart since PS1 remains my favorite console I've owned. It was the most progressive but aged the worse graphically. But I still have fond memories loving my PS1 library and reading Next Generation magazines.
PS Vita covers up to the 5th gen really well minus 3DO, Jaguar, Saturn, most N64, and some arcade games. I never really cared for Saturn or N64, so I don't care. I can play whatever I can't play on the Vita and graphics prior to PS3/X360 eras on my Android phone. I can play Wii games but mapping controls sucks for most.
Vita's graphics are really as good as the original Xbox as Dead Or Alive 5 Plus looks as good as DOA3 and same with their DOA Xtreme games. My 20-year-old dream of seeing the characters nude finally came true a couple weeks ago when I installed the nude patch for Xtreme Venus. And to think Vita has the same power as the iPhone 4S from 2011!
Since owning a Vita since May 2017, I'm actually amazed by Switch graphics since I'm so used to handheld graphics prior to the 7th gen. AC4: Black Flag looks amazing to someone like me who didn't own a PS3 until Jan 2019, never owned a 360, and used my PS4 slim since May 2017 to mostly watch movies and TV shows from an external hard drive and stream Netflix.
I really wish Sony made a handheld in between the power of the PS4 and PS5 that directly competes with the next Switch, Deck, and Ally. Price it at $400 and I would buy that over all the others. Sony has been great for me when it comes to gaming for the last 27 years. Never felt like I owned a dud. Enjoyed them all. My least favorite is PS3 since owning it late and I still think it's amazing.
Switch is close to a portable PS3/PS4 handheld tweener. Closer to PS3/Wii U power. But Nintendo never gets a flagship game from the Tekken, Final Fantasy, and Metal Gear Solid franchises. No Uncharted since Naughty Dog is owned by Sony. Not even FF7 Remake or the poorly-rated Shenmue III.
I do love my second turquoise Switch Lite with still perfectly working analog sticks. Only got it for $50 since buying a coral SL for $70 and selling it for $120 right before I got the turquoise for $100. I do love access to Nintendo exclusives. But like when I owned a GCN and Wii, I do miss the third-party tentpole titles that Sony gets.
Raw power
PS1 -> *PSP* -> PS2 -> *Vita* -> PS3 -> PS4 -> PS5
Sony needs to give us the PS4/PS5 handheld tweener. Not this Project Q crap. I only need Sony and Nintendo handhelds since I have online accounts to both. I really don't like Xbox, so Xbox Pass means nothing to me. And I fully expect ROG Ally to be replaced rather quickly by an Ally 2 next year.
Give us a successor to the Vita and Switch and I'll be happy for the next 10 years. If Sony never releases another dedicated handheld for us, then Steam Deck is the best option for this PlayStation fanboy since 1996. I want the console-style experience which have longer life cycles than more powerful PC hardware.
i am loving the win 4 and i am def getting a 7860u 32gb variant(i got a 16gb)
ps. my gf want one so i gonna upgrade to the 7860u and give the 6800u to her
It's a beautiful device and that's a smart move since the 6800u will still be more than capable. 💗🔥
loving the umpc form factor
Yea, this is a solid form factor and I think a strong point of difference for GPD to stand out from the others.
Great review! I love my GDP Win 4, it just does so much. I love how seamless it is to go back/forth using the keyboard.
I don't like to have detach a fan just to get to the SSD, I guess the ram isn't upgradable. Most comments that I have seen people are complaining that the Win 4 screen is too small but I think it can be a bit smaller. I think a 5.0 to 5.5 would be good and making this smaller to wrap your hands around it but the design is good to me.
The RAM is not upgradeable. The SSD is fairly simple to access once the back cover is off. It only requires two screws removed from the fan, which doesn't interfere with any delicate components. I've seen worse situations where the SSD is buried under multiple components.
If they make a version with a bigger screen I'd be all over it. Great video Rob!
Thank you! 🙏 Have you seen the Win Mini info? I'm pretty excited for it.
@@retrotechdad I’m watching that one closely for sure
Thats win max 2
@@retrotechdad sad they just annonced the 7840u edition
Since seeing this last year, Win 4 is my favorite form factor. GPD should make a QWERTY-less one, shave $200 from the price, and at least 200g from the weight.
Kinda sucks u have to go so deep to get to those sticks. On the deck oled u literally take off the back plate and the stick modules can be removed right away without going too deep.
Yea, agreed. That's why I like doing the teardowns to get a sense of what's involved there.
Best review of this device on TH-cam. But how do you right click with the optical finger sensor?
Incredible review! Thinking about going the 6800u route despite the refresh shipping in 1-2 months. Curious what we think these are worth second hand, say the 32gb/1T 6800 model.
Thank you, I appreciate it! 💗 Geekbuying actually just dropped the price of the 6800u model for my viewers. It's $699 w/ coupon code NNNSD0606: www.geekbuying.com/go/7pQRaowI
I'm curious to see how the second hand market will shift when the 7640/7840u refresh starts shipping.
@@retrotechdadThanks for sharing buddy. Thats a great price! Now I've really got something to think about. Again such a well done video. Subbed!
Much appreciated, the sub really means a lot to me! 🙏
@@MetalKidX3D rog ally too big so the win 4 for me is better deal
The steam deck is expensive overseas. If I'm going to pay $600-$800, I might as well buy the gpd win 4 because its cheaper where I live.
Love the optimization, i was able to run zelda botw on 8w, mods fps 30 and fans cooling at 60. No lag at all! For the customized tpd control panel, are you able to save per game like the steam deck?
Yes, it can do individual profiles! Definitely recommend it. 🔥
i wished the screen would spring up/down like a sidekick
That would be pretty cool, but I think what GPD has done here is pretty solid. I think for longevity it should hold up pretty well.
My first portable console was psp that brings classic design
Better late than never huh? I now fully expect you to make a review of the anbernic rg350 or the pocketgo
I've actually got both. 😅🤣 But to hold you over, how about some JXD S7800B? th-cam.com/video/jqfT_CP8Y5s/w-d-xo.html
Ordered the 7840u a few months ago but not coming in til mid October 😅 I have the Ayaneo 2 and it’s been a lot of fun which inspired me to try another device to mix it up! Also looking at the gpd g1 for my desktop set up but still lot sure if it will be compatible with my MacBook Pro ? Do you know anything about that?! Love the channel 🙏🏼
hi, i’m actually deciding between the two. let me know what you like better!
That thumbnail made me miss my blue Vita..
I will never let that blue Vita go, it's so beautiful. 😍🔥💙
I think the acess to the sticks is important that always get break in sometime.....
They need to make gpd win 4 PRO with bigger screen, thinner bezels, Hall effect sticks, bigger buttons, bigger battery
Nah just go for msi claw it has hall effect sticks
Ordered the dog ally from the pound but it broke during shipping
Great review.
Thank you, I appreciate it! 🤗
How does the fan sound compare to the steam deck? Does it have fan curve customization?
The fan noise is definitely up there with the Steam Deck. You can adjust the fan but you're gonna need to keep it pretty high because of the heat the 6800u is generating. 🔥
Can you play AAA games in Max setting with this?
UPDATE: new model out with improved graphics card AND 64GB RAM! Whew!
How long is playing movie on battery?
Surprised you didnt have to take off the top and bottom strips to take the back plate off
Bought ayaneo 2 and rog ally sold all of them and i keep win4.
I really love the optical pointer, I think more devices should have it!
@@retrotechdad the best thing is the optical pointer. I can’t deal with crap software. I think they just need to make the switch from gamemode to pc mode with a press button unlike the slider which is no convenient.
You can’t even really compare the Win 4 because is so small it could probably actually fit in your pockets and held in the hand you can’t fit an Ally in your pocket and that shit will have you crouched over your screen your screen like a gremlin you probably would have to rest your arms more
How long is to fully charge the battery?
what joystick caps are those?
Anyone know where to get the thumbstick covers in the video?
Here ya go! amzn.to/3PHBPFF
I can't find the EU version at 800€ anywhere, can you help me with it?
Did the link in the description not work for you? This is directly for the EU model: shorturl.at/dfFKQ
Enter the coupon code NNNGPD0612 at check out for the discount.
Definitely needs a larger screen, larger battery, and i7 processor.
Having windows 11 is a bonus too. 😊
an i7 will not have the same performance in graphics.
no deal till they add pen support
I have GPD Win 4 I feel like GPD win 4 is heavy than my Steam deck Oled
The keyboard and rgb thing are useless in a device like this. They could have saved weight, thickness and battery life without them, selling it for a cheaper price and making the perfect PS Vita successor. With all the usb port available, the customer could connect a regular keyboard to it, in order to configure everything he needs, especially for emulation.
The RGB is especially useless on my unit since you can't even see it. 😅
The keyboard is very useful. Your comment is useless
If the keyboard is useless to you... then you are not it's target market. You are using it strictly for gaming, then you're better off with SD or ROG Ally.
For some of us that use this device for gaming/working during overseas trip, this is a clutch to do small work stuff. I find it hard to open a laptop in a plane/bus, that's talking a 14inch slim laptop.
perfect for emulating PSP games and PS2 games too bad battery life is not good
I really dont like the volume up being on the left side idk why it just really bothers me