The GPD Pocket isn’t cheap, or indeed perfect, but it compromises in the right places to make a praiseworthy portable who which is compact enough to fit in your jacket pocket. Around 10 years.
GPD Pocket Review – Around ten years ago, the computing world was obsessed with the idea of ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs). Although there were some impressive devices for the time (the Sony Vaio and Toshiba Libretto, for example), the reality was that the technology wasn’t available to make the machines viable for most users.
Table of Contents
- GPD Pocket Review: KEY FEATURES
- GPD Pocket Review: Verdict
The small screens were low resolution and low quality, processors were power hungry and ran hot and, most importantly, battery technology meant an hour or two of runtime at best. Now technology has moved on and it’s much more feasible to create tiny PCs, but we don’t tend to see them – smartphones and tablet PCs more commonly fulfil that need.
A relatively unknown Chinese company is looking to change that, with the GPD Pocket mini PC. The GPD Pocket was initially launched on crowdfunding site Indiegogo. The campaign not only hit 1,516 percent of its funding target with million (around million) raised, but the firm in question – GPD – was also able to build upon previous experience manufacturing these types of devices to bring the Pocket to fruition. Its previous product, the GPD Win, was a popular 5.5-inch Windows-based gaming machine.
Before we dive into the details, it’s important to understand that devices of this type are about compromises. It’s not possible to cram a top-end desktop PC into a tiny chassis, but the key to making a successful product is compromising in the right places so as to provide a good overall experience. So has GPD made the right calls here?
GPD Pocket Review: Performance
At the heart of the Pocket sits the Intel Atom x7-Z8750 processor with integrated HD 405 graphics. While your immediate reaction may be to balk at the mention of an Atom processor, it’s worth noting that the Z8750 is a quad-core, 64-bit CPU from the Cherry Trail family, built on the 14nm process with a base 1.6GHz clock speed and burstable 2.56GHz max. Backed by 2MB of on-board cache, the processor proves impressively capable, particularly for a 2W part.
Performance is also helped by 8GB of LPDDR3-1600 memory and 128GB of storage (albeit eMMC rather than SSD). The balance between capability and efficiency is spot on – although claimed battery life is 12 hours, this is more like seven hours in reality, which is still extremely impressive.
The GPD Pocket’s display is also a particular highlight. The 7-inch 1,920×1,200 (16:10 aspect ratio) screen packs 323 pixels per inch (ppi) and is impressively sharp with responsive multi-touch. The top and bottom bezels are tiny, while the side bezels are larger to facilitate space for the keyboard.
![Gaming Gaming](/uploads/1/2/4/2/124211822/985770821.jpg)
Unusually, the Pocket doesn’t include any sort of camera at all, so video calls are out of the question.
Selecting the right hardware might be the simple part of the equation when compared to getting the keyboard right. There’s no avoiding the fact that there’s not a lot of space for a full keyboard, so input on the Pocket will take time to get used to. The layout is somewhat shifted to the left, some of the key sizes are a little unusual and, of course, things are more cramped than on a conventional QWERTY.
Luckily, the keys have plenty of travel and are responsive – after a few hours, you’ll be surprised by how good the Pocket is to use.
A healthy array of ports provide excellent connectivity – charging is
As a full PC experience you can fit in your jacket pocket, nothing else really comes close
via the USB Type-C port and USB Type A is still present. A 3.5mm headphone jack is included, as is a micro-HDMI port so you can use the Pocket to power a larger screen.
GPD Pocket Review: Summary
The GPD Pocket is a compromise – ultra-mobile PCs like this always will be – but it’s done well. As a full PC experience you can fit in your jacket pocket, nothing else really comes close. Windows on ARM will drive new devices in this form factor, though, so the market is set to explode in the near future.
GPD Pocket Review: KEY FEATURES
GPD Pocket
Operating System Windows 10 Home Processor 1.6GHz quad-core Intel Atom x7-Z8750 Graphics Intel HD 405 Memory 8GB of LPDDR3-1600 Display 7-inch (1,920 x 1,200) IPS Storage 128GB eMMC Connectivity 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0; 1x USB Type-C; 1x USB 3.0; 1x Micro- HDMI; 1x 3.5mm headphone jack Weight 480g
Dimensions 106×18.5x80mm
GPD Pocket Review: Verdict
4/5
The GPD Pocket isn’t perfect, but it compromises in the right places to make it a praiseworthy UMPC.
GPD Pocket 7 Inch Aluminum Shell Mini Laptop UMPC Windows 10 System CPU x7-Z8750 8GB/128GB (silver)
- CPU Inter Atom X7-Z8750
- RAM/ROM: 8GB/128GB
- 7000 mAh Lithium Poly Battery ; 7 Inch 1920*1200 Pixel
- QWERTY Full Function US keyboard
- Only 480 g, Easy to Take In Your Pocket
GPD Pocket Ultra Mobile Mini PC Work/Play/Watch Intel Z8750 2.56Ghz 8GB RAM 128GB ROM USB Type-C
- The DroidBOX GPD Pocket is our ultra compact handheld laptop (UMPC/Ultra Mobile PC), that is small enough to fit in your pocket!
- Featuring a 7' 10-point touchscreen featuring a 1920x1200 resolution, an extensive QWERTY chiclet keyboard and movement stick (for the on screen cursor) and enough power for your Windows apps, this device ticks all the right boxes!
GPD Pocket 7 inch UMPC / Laptop (Intel Atom x7-Z8750 2.56Ghz, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC Storage)
- Processor: Intel Atom x7-Z8750 (Quad core/threading, base 1.6 Ghz, 2M Cache, burst up to 2.56 GHz)
- 8GB LPDDR3 memory + 128GB eMMC storage
- Portable 7 inch monitor (1920*1200, Full HD, 16:10), Dimensions (WxHxD): 180*106*18.5 mm, only weighs 480 g
For fans of PC games, mobile is presented.a handheld device for launching computer battles, which will allow even to launch games such as GTA V, The Witcher, Overwatch and Grand Theft Auto V. GPD WIN 2 is released in a manner similar to the Nintendo 3DS console.
& times
GPD WIN 2 can be called a mini-laptop. The gaming device consists of a productive Core m3-7Y30 processor with an integrated graphics core HD Graphics 615, 8 GB of RAM, a removable 128 GB SSD removable drive, a 6-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, a slot for microSD memory cards, a keyboard, and wireless Wi-Fi 802.11a / ac and Bluetooth 4.2 interfaces, headphone jacks, USB-C, USB 3.0 and microHDMI connectors. The operating system is Windows 10 Home. The product is equipped with a pair of batteries, the capacity of each - 4,900 mAh. This is enough for 6-8 hours of continuous play. As a nice bonus, you can recharge various mobile gadgets from a regular cantilever battery. Product weighs 460 grams.
On GPD WIN 2, AAA-level applications are launched fromoriginals like Steam. The device’s performance is enough to launch such battles as: “Doom”, “The Witcher”, “Divinity: Original Sin II”, “Overwatch”, “GTA V”. The console has all the necessary gamepad components: buttons, analog sticks, two pairs of triggers, and so on. Supports gadget and streaming from Xbox One and PS4, and emulation of any applications of past generations to PS2.
The cost of GPD WIN 2 on pre-order is 649 dollars. Delivery of goods will begin only in May of this year.
Source: indiegogo.com