Craving high-performance gaming on the go, but without the bulk of a traditional laptop? Look no further than the GPD WIN MINI 2024! Our GPD WIN MINI 2024 review dives deep into this ultra-portable PC, exploring its AMD Ryzen 7 muscle, emulation capabilities, and impressive battery life. Is the WIN MINI 2024 the ultimate pocket-sized gaming companion? Read on to find out!

What’s inside the box?

We start the GPD WIN MINI 2024 review with an unboxing. Unboxing the GPD WIN Mini 2024 is a familiar affair. You’ll find a user manual in both English and Chinese, a power adapter with a region-specific plug, and a USB Type-C cable for charging.

A closer look at the GPD WIN Mini 2024

The star of the show is the handheld PC itself so lets get the GPD WIN MINI 2024 review properly started with a closer look at it. At just 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.02 inches (16.8 x 10.9 x 2.6 cm) and a weight of 520 grams, it’s incredibly portable. This pocket-rocket design makes it ideal for gaming on the go!

A Display Built for Action

Flipping open the lid reveals a vibrant 7-inch LTPS touchscreen display. Boasting a 1920×1080 resolution and a smooth 60Hz refresh rate with a 120Hz variable refresh rate option, this display is perfect for everything from fast-paced games to watching movies. Importantly, the native landscape orientation ensures compatibility with older games without any scaling issues.

Controls at Your Fingertips

The lower half houses the magic – a full QWERTY keyboard with backlighting for comfortable typing, even in low-light conditions. Hall effect joysticks and a full array of gaming buttons provide precise control during gameplay. While the keyboard is usable with thumbs or a single finger, extended typing sessions might be better suited for an external keyboard.

Ports aplenty

The GPD WIN Mini 2024 boasts a healthy selection of ports for connecting peripherals and expanding functionality. A USB 4 port allows you to connect an eGPU like the GPD G1 for desktop-like performance. There’s also a USB Type-C port, a USB A port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, offering plenty of options for customization. One notable omission compared to the 2023 model is the Oculink port.

Power Under the Hood

Let’s delve into the performance in this GPD WIN MINI 2024 review. The WIN Mini 2024 packs an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U CPU with 8 cores and 16 threads, capable of reaching speeds up to 5.1 GHz. This is paired with an AMD Radeon 780M GPU with up to 2700 MHz clock speed. Storage options include 512GB or 2TB m.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs, and memory options include 32GB or 64GB of LPDDR5 RAM clocked at 6400 MHz.

Our battery life tests yielded an impressive 1 hour and 38 minutes under heavy loads, with an average of 6-8 hours for everyday use. Thermal management has also seen improvements, with the highest fan noise reaching 68 dB and the highest temperature recorded at 59 °C during our Cinebench stress tests.

Benchmark Blitz

We put the GPD WIN Mini 2024 through a battery of benchmarks to assess its performance against the 2023 model and other devices sporting the 8840U CPU. The results showed generally lower performance compared to the GPD WIN 4 2024, likely due to thermal limitations of the smaller chassis.

Gaming Prowess

As part of our GPD WIN MINI 2024 review we cant go without benchmarking some games. Despite the benchmark scores, the WIN Mini 2024 can still handle a good selection of games at playable frame rates, especially with some adjustments to settings. We tested various games at 1080P and 720P resolutions with TDPs ranging from 5W to 28W to provide a comprehensive picture. While some demanding titles might require lower resolutions, the WIN Mini 2024 remains a competent gaming device for its size. You can read our in-depth GPD WIN 4 2024 review here, and GPD WIN MAX 2 2024 review here.

Forza Horizon 5 Benchmarks

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III

Emulation Station

The improved 8840U CPU translates to smoother emulation experiences compared to the 2023 model. We tested emulation for various consoles, from retro classics to newer generation systems, with promising results.

From 8-bit consoles up to the more modern era such as PS3 and Vita you will have excellent performance with the vast majority of these newer systems running great. With the Switch emulator Ryujinx you will see very good performance on 3rd party titles, many run almost perfect. However with more demanding games such as 1st party titles you wont quite be getting full speed. It is the same for the Xbox 360 emulator Xenia, there are playable games but don’t expect to run everything at full speed.

GPD WIN MINI 2024 Review Verdict

The GPD WIN Mini 2024 is a good option for gamers seeking a highly portable and versatile handheld PC. While existing 2023 model owners might not find it a significant upgrade, the improved performance and 120Hz refresh rate display make it a solid choice for newcomers seeking a powerful on-the-go gaming companion. However, for those prioritizing raw performance, the GPD WIN 4 2024 might be a better fit.

Size Matters

The compact size of the WIN Mini 2024 is both a blessing and a curse. While it offers near unmatched portability, extended gaming sessions might be more comfortable with the grip sold separately. While the keyboard is larger than the Win 4 series, it is still quite small and not for typing like you would with a laptop for example.

The Bigger Picture

The 7-inch display, while vibrant, might feel limiting for some users, especially when compared to the larger screen of the GPD WIN MAX 2 2024. However, the advantage of the WIN Mini comes in its portability. It’s the perfect size to slip into a backpack or purse/man bag for gaming on the go.

Expand Your Horizons

Despite its size, the WIN Mini 2024 offers plenty of options for expansion. The microSD card slot allows for additional storage, and the USB 4 port lets you connect an eGPU like the GPD G1 for desktop-like performance boosts, its a pity there is no Oculink port on this model though! This makes the WIN Mini 2024 a viable option for both some light work and definitely more for play.

In Conclusion

Pros

• Great quality 7″ LTPS 1080P 120Hz VRR display
• AMD Ryzen 7 8840U CPU / Radeon 780M GPU
• Nice mix of Win 4 and Max 2 models
• Keyboard easier to use than the Win 4 but only for short typing

Cons

• Not as high performing as the other GPD models
• No OcuLink port

The GPD WIN Mini 2024 is a well-rounded handheld gaming PC. Its pocket-sized design, powerful AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor, and 120Hz display make it a compelling option for gamers seeking a portable powerhouse. While the lack of an OcuLink port and slightly lower performance compared to its bigger sibling might be drawbacks for some, the sheer portability and versatility of the WIN Mini 2024 solidify its place as a unique and exciting device in the handheld gaming PC market.

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.