GPD WIN 4 2024 Review

Introduction

The GPD WIN 4 2024 is our first encounter with a handheld gaming PC featuring the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor. In this comprehensive GPD WIN 4 2024 review, we’ll explore how it stacks up against the 2023 model and its 7840U series processor. From unboxing to benchmarking, we’ll dive deep into its features, performance, and gaming capabilities.

Unboxing and Initial Setup

What’s in the Box

• Screen Protector: Included for display protection.
• GPD WIN 4 2024: The portable gaming computer.
• User Guide: Available in Chinese and English.
• Accessories: USB Type-C charge cable, lanyard, USB Type-C to Type-A adapter, and USB charger with the appropriate adapter for your country.

First Impressions

The device measures 8.6 x 3.6 x 1.1 inches and weighs 598g, available in black and white. It features a 6” H-IPS touchscreen display (1920×1080) with 40Hz and 60Hz refresh rates.

Detailed Look at the GPD WIN 4 2024

Design and Build

The GPD WIN 4 2024, a handheld gaming computer, sports a sleek design. The display slides up to reveal a QWERTY keyboard with a white backlight, useful for brief typing such as emails, chats, and web browsing. It’s designed for thumb or finger typing rather than extensive use.

Controls and Connectivity

On either side of this mobile gaming PC, there are dual analogue sticks, a D-pad, a fingerprint scanner, game buttons, and an optical finger mouse. The left side features a micro SD card reader and a switch to change between mouse and controller mode. The bottom houses a USB Type-C port.

Along the top, you’ll find Left and Right Shoulder and Trigger buttons, the power button, volume buttons, a USB 4 port, an Oculink port for eGPU connectivity, and a 3.5mm headphone port. The GPD WIN 4 2024 controls are excellent for both modern and retro gaming.

Technical Specifications and Comparisons

Performance Specs

Next in our review, we delve into the technical specifications of this compact gaming PC, including a comparison with the rumoured GPD WIN 4 2024 8640U.

Battery Life and Thermals

Powered by a 45.62Wh battery, this handheld gaming computer delivers a solid battery life of 1 hour 25 minutes in our Cinebench loop test. The fan noise peaks at 64 dB, and the highest temperature recorded is a mere 44°C, showcasing impressive thermal management.

Benchmarks and Performance Testing

Benchmark Results

We conducted several benchmarks to evaluate the performance of this portable gaming PC. Without other 8840U devices for direct comparison, we benchmarked it against 7840U-based devices.

PCMark

PCMark tests day-to-day usage, including web browsing, image editing, and 3D rendering. The GPD WIN 4 2024 scored 7,018, slightly ahead of the 2023 model, ensuring excellent performance for non-gaming tasks.

3DMark

3DMark evaluates the combined performance of CPU and GPU. The results show good overall performance, with notable improvements in certain tests compared to the 7 thousand series.

Cinebench

Cinebench tests CPU single and multi-core performance. The GPD WIN 4 2024 tops the charts for both single and multi-core performance among these handhelds.

Gaming Benchmarks

We tested various games to assess the gaming capabilities of this mobile gaming PC.

Forza Horizon 5

Running on Very Low graphics settings, the GPD WIN 4 2024 shows a noticeable performance increase over the 7 thousand series. With the GPD G1 2024 eGPU docking station, it exceeds 200 FPS on external displays.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

This game demonstrates a significant performance boost, with a notable increase of around 10 frames until the TDP is lowered to 10W.

Street Fighter VI

Street Fighter VI presents mixed performance across different devices, with the GPD WIN 4 2024 achieving good but varied scores.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III

On minimal graphics settings, the performance is comparable to the 7840U CPU, with the GPD WIN 4 2024 often taking the lead.

Benchmark Summary

Overall, the 8840U processors in this compact gaming PC offer at least the same or greater performance than the previous generation. For GPU-heavy games, the difference is minimal due to the same 780M GPU. However, CPU-intensive games show a clear performance improvement.

Gaming and Emulation Performance

Gaming Performance

We further evaluated the gaming performance of this GPD handheld gaming PC. Titles like Horizon Forbidden West, Goat Simulator 3, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2, LEGO Star Wars, and Palworld run smoothly, maintaining above 60 or 30 FPS with the best graphics settings.

Emulator Performance

This handheld gaming computer excels in emulation. Older emulators benefit from improved CPU performance, allowing lower TDP and better battery life. For newer emulators reliant on GPU performance, the improvement is present but not substantial.

Final Thoughts

We conclude our review of the GPD WIN 4 2024, a portable gaming computer. The GPD WIN 4 2023 was one of my favorite handhelds last year, and the 2024 model continues to impress. It remains the most portable handheld gaming PC, fitting easily into a pocket.

The display offers great quality with 40Hz and 60Hz options, allowing flexibility in performance and battery life management. Overall, this handheld gaming computer shows improved performance over the previous 7840U generation, varying based on the CPU or GPU intensity of the game.

For those without a GPD WIN 4 2024, this is the one to get. It combines excellent portability, performance, low temperatures, and decent battery life. The Oculink port enhances its capabilities with eGPUs such as the GPD G1 2024 or the 2023 Model.

You can learn more and order the GPD WIN 4 2024 here.