The wait is over! The GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 is here, and it promises to be the ultimate handheld gaming PC. Buckle up for our GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 review, where we’ll dissect its powerhouse performance, best-in-class display, and comfortable keyboard. Can this be the one-stop shop for both on-the-go gaming and productivity? Let’s find out!

Unboxing Essentials

We kick off the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 review with a brief unboxing. Inside the box, you’ll find the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 itself (we’ll get to that in a sec), a user manual in both English and Chinese, a power supply with a region-specific plug adapter, and a USB Type-C cable for charging.

Meet the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024

Next in the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 review we take a closer look at this handheld gaming laptop. The GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 handheld gaming PC measures in at 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches (22.7 x 16 x 2.3 cm) and weighs 1005g. It’s a comfortable size for both work and play.. to an extent, more on this later!

The star of the show is a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with a 1200P resolution that can bump up to 1600P for stunning visuals.

A Keyboard Made for Gamers

The lower half of the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 houses a backlit keyboard that’s surprisingly comfortable to type on, even for extended periods. The low-profile keys require minimal pressure, making typing a breeze.

Controls at Your Fingertips

Above the keyboard, you’ll find removable covers that hide an array of gaming controls, including hall sensor joysticks, a D-pad, and gaming buttons. In the centre sits a Microsoft Precision Touchpad, and a built-in camera graces the hinge for video conferencing.

Plenty of Ports to Go Around

The left side features micro and full-sized SD card slots, while the right offers two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. The front sports a power button with a fingerprint sensor for secure logins.

Muscle on the Back

Flip it over to find triggers and shoulder buttons, along with USB 4 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. There’s also a full-sized HDMI port for connecting to a monitor, an Oculink port for docking stations like the GPD G1, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Expand Your Horizons

The bottom boasts two additional macro buttons that can be customized through software. There are also removable covers, one for an m.2 2230 SSD expansion and another for an optional 4G LTE module.

Under the Hood

As part of our GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 review let’s delve into the specs and performance of the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024. We also ran our own battery life, fan noise, and temperature tests:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8840U, 8 cores, 16 threads, up to 5.1GHz
• GPU: AMD Radeon 780M, up to 2700 MHz
• RAM: 32GB/64GB LPDDR5x 6400Mhz
• STORAGE: 2TB/4TB M.2 NVME SSD
• DISPLAY: 10.1″ IPS touchscreen, 1920×1200 resolution, supports up to 2560×1600, 16:10 aspect ratio, 299 PPI
• I/O: 1x USB 4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x OcuLink (SFF-8612), 1x HDMI, 1x Micro SD card reader, 1x SD card reader, 1x 3.5mm audio jack
• COMMUNICATIONS: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
• BATTERY: 67Wh Li-polymer Our test yielded 1 hour 52 minutes while running Cinebench benchmark on a loop. You are look at an average of 6-8 hours for regular use.
• Thermals: Highest fan noise: 60 dB; Highest temperature: 43 °C on keyboard area, 63 °C on exhaust grill

Benchmark Blitz

We put the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 through a battery of benchmarks to see how it stacks up against the 2023 model and other devices sporting the 8840U CPU including the GPD WIN 4 2024 and GPD WIN Mini 2024.

Gaming Prowess

As a portable gaming PC, benchmarking popular games was a must. We tested at various TDPs (5W to 28W) and resolutions (1080P and 720P) to provide a comprehensive picture. You can read our GPD WIN 4 2024 review here, and GPD WIN MINI 2024 review here.

Forza Horizon 5 Benchmarks

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III

Oculink Advantage

The GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 boasts an Oculink port, allowing us to compare its performance when docked with the GPD G1 2024 eGPU docking station against the GPD WIN 4 2024. Benchmarks across various games (Forza Horizon 5, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Call of Duty Modern Warfare III) showed similar scores between the WIN MAX 2 2024 and WIN 4 2024 when docked. This highlights how the Oculink port unlocks the full potential by offloading processing to the more powerful graphics card in the docking station.

Forza Horizon 6

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III

Emulation Evolution

The improved 8840U CPU allows for smoother emulation experiences compared to the 2023 model. Here’s a look at how the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 handles emulation for various consoles, from older to newer generations:

Emulators for older consoles, from the 8-bit era up to the PS3 and Vita, generally perform very well. Most games on these newer systems run great. But the more demanding ones such as the Ryujinx emulator for the Nintendo Switch offers excellent performance for many third-party titles, with some running nearly flawlessly. More demanding games, especially first-party titles, may not reach full speed. Similar to the Switch, the Xenia emulator for Xbox 360 can run some games, but don’t expect everything to play at full speed.

The GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 Review Verdict

The GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 is a worthy successor, offering a significant performance boost over the 2023 model thanks to the upgraded 8840U processor. While existing 2023 model owners might not find it a necessary upgrade, it’s a fantastic choice for newcomers seeking a powerful handheld device that excels at both work and play.

A Comfort Consideration

It’s important to remember that the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 series while having built-in controls is also designed for docked or tabletop gaming due to its size. While comfortable for short to medium bursts of handheld gaming, an external controller might be preferable for longer sessions. If you are more hands on gaming then the GPD WIN Mini 2024 may be ideal for you.

The Bigger Picture

The 10.1-inch touchscreen display shines for both work and entertainment. While demanding games might require lowering the resolution to 720P, the 1600P option allows you to take full advantage of the larger screen size compared to the GPD WIN 4 2024 and GPD WIN Mini 2024 models for work tasks.

In Conclusion

Pros

• Powerful AMD Ryzen 7 8840U
• Large 10.1″ display looks stunning
• Large keyboard you can actually type on
• OcuLink port to boost graphics processing
• Best battery life in the GPD 8840U range of handhelds

Cons

• Not as portable as the GPD WIN Mini 2024 and GPD WIN 4 2024
• For extended gaming sessions you will need to rest your hands on something or use an external controller

The GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 offers a compelling package for those seeking a versatile and powerful handheld gaming PC. With its improved performance, comfortable keyboard, and wide array of ports and expansion options, it’s a well-rounded device that caters to both work and play.

We highly recommend DroiX for all things handheld gaming. Based in London, UK, they ship worldwide with fast delivery options. All their products come with at least one year warranty (two years for GPD products) and are backed up with excellent customer service should anything go wrong.