GPD Win 5 launches October 17 with RTX 4060 laptop-level power, external battery required

[Daniel Sims]

Something to look forward to: GPD's next handheld gaming PC tests the limits of portability, featuring hardware that directly competes against gaming laptops. Compared to last year's model, the GPD Win 5 promises a generational leap in performance, but it's so power-hungry that it no longer includes an internal battery.

Key details about GPD's upcoming flagship handheld are now available on the company's online store, confirming that the Win series is moving into an entirely new performance class. While pricing hasn't been finalized, at least one influencer who tested the device estimates it will cost under $1,500.

A major shift for the lineup is GPD's decision to use the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU, a processor designed for high-end laptops. This chip also powers devices like the Asus ROG Flow Z13 2-in-1, the OneXPlayer Super X 2-in-1, and the Framework Desktop – all of which typically belong to a very different performance category compared to the compact 20cm x 26cm x 5.5cm GPD Win 5.

Compared to the GPD Win 4, which used a Strix Point Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, the Win 5 delivers significant upgrades in CPU core count, GPU horsepower, TDP, and memory capacity.

The new model jumps from 12 to 16 Zen 5 cores, while the Radeon 8060S GPU scales up from 16 to 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units. Power draw also rises sharply, from 15 – 30W on the Win 4 to a range of 45 – 120W on the Win 5. Memory options now include 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of LPDDR5X RAM – configurations that exceed most desktops.

These improvements translate to impressive real-world performance. The GPD Win 5 can run many recent high-end PC games above 60fps at 1080p without lowering graphics settings.

In ITHome's benchmarks, the 8060S GPU outperformed the laptop RTX 4060 in Fire Strike and matched it in Time Spy. Test results include 192 fps in Apex Legends, 93 fps in Assassin's Creed: Shadows, 70 fps in both Cyberpunk 2077 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and 61 fps in Alan Wake 2. Forza Horizon 5 reached 98 fps in ITHome's test and maintained over 140 fps in influencer MuBuS' teardown video.

The biggest caveat is power: the GPD Win 5 requires a large external 80Wh battery pack that attaches to the rear or connects via cable. However, this design allows hot-swapping between multiple packs. With a single button press, the device enters hibernation to preserve progress while switching batteries.

Another standout feature is support for Biwin's new mini SSDs that are only slightly larger than microSD cards but capable of transfer speeds up to 3.7GB/s.

The GPD Win 5 is scheduled to launch on October 17.

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GPD Win 5 launches October 17 with RTX 4060 laptop-level power, external battery required

 

[toooooot]

How long would it run on battery though? One would expect more than typical few hours on devices that have built in battery.
Also, if it really costs 1500 bucks, I think it will be a very hard sell.
One possible attraction would be to include really good battery,
a battery that can last 5+ hours, giving this device an edge where others fail.

 

[adisoftcafe]

If it has an external battery for power, why don't use the brick to house the Apu,memory and storage? And use any phone with a gamepad and a USB-c connection as a screen with controls?

 

[dangh]

This makes no sense at all. I'd get steam deck over this one anytime. What's the point for a handheld with build in cable? If the performance is that important for me I'd get a laptop. hh should be easy to carry and not making issues on airport or any other transit.

 

[yRaz]

How long would it run on battery though? One would expect more than typical few hours on devices that have built in battery.
Also, if it really costs 1500 bucks, I think it will be a very hard sell.
One possible attraction would be to include really good battery,
a battery that can last 5+ hours, giving this device an edge where others fail.

Well the device uses up to 130watts and the battery is rated at 80whr, so theoretically you could take 2 battery packs on a plane with you, but you're getting less than 1 hours on a single battery. Realistically, like 40 minutes

 

[WhiteLeaff]

4070*

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

This makes no sense at all. I'd get steam deck over this one anytime. What's the point for a handheld with build in cable? If the performance is that important for me I'd get a laptop. hh should be easy to carry and not making issues on airport or any other transit.

A surprising number of people apparently mostly play their handhelds while sitting on the coach or in bed, and keep them plugged in. This device would be great for those people; the high price is going to keep it a niche product anyways. GPD also makes several cheaper handhelds using more conventional AMD APUs that are probably better for people who are using it on the go a lot.

 

[ferrellsl]

This is just stupid. Get a laptop with a discrete RTX 4060 that's cheaper, lighter in weight, and has a larger screen. I can't imagine carrying batteries around for this thing let alone cabling this thing up for gameplay on a long flight or on public transportation.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

A surprising number of people apparently mostly play their handhelds while sitting on the coach or in bed, and keep them plugged in. This device would be great for those people; the high price is going to keep it a niche product anyways. GPD also makes several cheaper handhelds using more conventional AMD APUs that are probably better for people who are using it on the go a lot.

While I've seen this argument before, I'm at a loss at why anyone would spend $1500 to game on a handheld on the couch when you could connect a desktop to your TV and have a much better experience (graphics and weight wise).

 

[acrossthestars]

This thing is a reverse eGPU. The silicon is housed on-device and power is supplied via attachable DC barrel jack and battery pack. Wouldn't it have made more sense to create an 8060S Thunderbolt 4 add-on attachment for the Win 4? It would cost less, but it would also be more affordable and interoperable with a wider array of systems, thus increasing its install base.

As-is, the Win 5 would make a great in-store demo kiosk: it has all the trappings of a handheld, but none of the portability.

 

[Alex1105]

How long would it run on battery though? One would expect more than typical few hours on devices that have built in battery.
Also, if it really costs 1500 bucks, I think it will be a very hard sell.
One possible attraction would be to include really good battery,
a battery that can last 5+ hours, giving this device an edge where others fail.

A laptop with a 4070 and a 90wh battery and a full hd screen if you are gaming it typically lasts say 1.5h, or less depending if you play full quality, or more if you play games that are not demanding. So this thing will maybe have around that. To have a battery that lasts 3 to 4 times more you will need one that is 3 to 4 times larger. Now do the math and tell me how portable that is ^^. Because if your console is heavier than a laptop with everything attached, then why would you use it instead of a laptop ? Also a li-ion battery that size will 1: be a fire hazard, 2: it will probably easily weigh over 1kg by itself, 3: it is over 100wh ? well you are not allowed with it on a plane.

 

[J95qRP7]

For those wondering, I bought an ROG Ally solely to use in bed, when I sustained an injury. I needed to be able to use something, regardless of the position of my body. Sometimes on my back, or sides. When you’re on your side for a few hours or back or stuck in bed on your side or back for days, a laptop doesn’t work. I tried using my phone and an external controller, like the ROG Tessen, as well as using my phone in a fixed position and a regular Xbox controller and using Steam Link to play from my PC, on my local Wifi. None of these things works as well as a “complete” device, like the Ally. The Ally lacks this products grunt but if I were in the same position when this is available, I would absolutely purchase this and it would help me enjoy a hobby I love, in a situation/position I couldn’t otherwise enjoy it.