GPD WIN Max 2 2023 Hands-on Review: A Gamer's Deep Dive

The GPD WIN MAX 2 undergoes a 2023 makeover featuring the fresh AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU. In this evaluation of the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023, we explore its performance against 6800U portable gaming PC counterparts, examining system and gaming benchmarks, as well as gameplay and emulator proficiency.

Our inspection of the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 begins with the unpacking. Inside lies the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023, which we’ll delve into shortly.

Beneath it, an envelope harbors the user guide in both Chinese and English languages. We conclude with the 100W charger, ensuring the right adapter for your country is included with your order.

It’s crucial to note that our assessment is based on a pre-production model of the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023. Potential alterations may occur before the final consumer version. The GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 maintains the same physical dimensions and features as its predecessor from the previous year.

Design

On the back, you find the Left and Right shoulder and trigger buttons, accompanied by a 3.5 mm headphone port. A new addition is the OCuLink port, a high-speed data port linking to the forthcoming GPD G1 dock with a graphics card. Stay tuned for our forthcoming review of that! Additionally, there’s an HDMI port for TV or monitor output, transforming this handheld gaming PC into a desktop-style system. It boasts two USB Type-C ports—one USB 4 and the other USB 3.2 Gen 2. When folded, the WIN MAX 2 2023 measures 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches (22.7 × 16.0 × 2.3 cm) and weighs 1005 grams.

The bottom houses user ports for adding a second single-sided SSD and a 4G LTE module, available for separate purchase. On the left side of the MAX 2 2023 is a full-size micro SD card slot, while the right side features two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.

Display

Opening the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 reveals a spacious 10.1-inch touchscreen display with a maximum resolution of 2560×1600, though it defaults to 1920×1200. This display proves excellent for both videos and gaming.

Mounted on the hinge is a 2-megapixel camera with up to 1612×1212 resolution, suitable for online meetings and chatting. Below are two removable metal covers storing all standard gaming controls, including the analogs, which are hall-effect sensor sticks. In between them lies a touchpad, functional but its location may lead to inadvertent keyboard key presses.

Concluding our overview is the backlit, low-profile keyboard—comfortable for typing, as evidenced by composing this GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 review.

Technical specifications for the two GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 models

Our hardware tests in the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 review include a fan noise and battery life assessment, revealing a highest fan noise of 61dB and a maximum temperature of 61 °C. Idle on the desktop at 28W TDP yields an impressive 8 hours and 10 minutes of battery life, while running the Street Fighter 6 benchmark at 28W TDP on the highest graphics settings loops for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

System Benchmarks

Proceeding with system benchmarks, PCMARK provides an overall performance score of 7,002. Compared to the previous generation 6800U models, there’s a notable 9.1% performance increase—a promising start for the 2023 model.

CINEBENCH, a processor test, delivers a multi-core score of 13,107. In comparison to the older 6800U models, this signifies a commendable 15.5% boost in CPU performance.

3DMARK benchmarks, namely Fire Strike, Night Raid, and Time Spy, yield scores of 7,549, 27,721, and 3,142, respectively. This translates to a 9.9% and 14.5% score improvement—a decent trajectory with hopes for further enhancement.

Gaming Benchmarks

In our gaming benchmark tests for the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023, we assess different screen resolutions and TDP settings for a comprehensive dataset.

Forza Horizon 5 at the Very Low graphics settings with 28W TDP and 800P resolution yields 129 FPS, while at 1200P, it records 93 FPS. At the highest resolution of 2560×1600, frame rates reach 33, 61, and 67 FPS at 11, 20, and 28W TDP, respectively. In contrast to the 6800U models, there’s a modest 5.7% performance increase.

Shadow Of The Tomb Raider, running on Very Low graphics at 2560×1600, records frame rates of 26, 46, and 49 FPS at 11, 20, and 28W TDP, respectively. At 800P and 1200P resolutions on 28W TDP, frame rates reach 103 and 79 FPS, showcasing an approximate 9% increase compared to the 6800U models.

Cyberpunk 2077 on the Lowest graphics settings delivers 86 FPS at 800P and 59 FPS at 1200P. At the maximum resolution of 2560×1200, frame rates range from 20 to 47 FPS at 11, 20, and 28W TDP, exhibiting an 11% to 16% performance increase over the 6800U models.

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare II at Minimal graphics settings and 2560×1600 resolution yields frame rates of 36, 33, and 17 FPS. Notably, at 1200P and 800P, frame rates reach 57 and 98 FPS. It’s essential to acknowledge that these scores are lower than the previous generation, potentially attributed to driver or game updates.

Street Fighter 6, the newly released benchmark, running at 1920×1080 on the highest graphics settings, showcases average frame rates of 33.8, 38.41, and 38.87 at 28W TDP in different sections. While it’s a new game, performance comparisons with 6800U models remain pending. Nevertheless, varying TDP settings reveal a performance boost between 20 and 28W, with minimal gains beyond 28W.

Gameplay Performance

Transitioning to actual gameplay performance tests, we incorporate requests for FSR and different setups to provide a comprehensive evaluation.

Call of Duty MW2, with FSR enabled at 2560×1600 resolution and 50% Performance upscaling, achieves 60+ FPS at Balanced graphics settings. Without FSR, running at 800P and 28W on Minimal graphics yields an average of 100 FPS. Adjusting to Basic level enhances visuals, and for optimal battery life, reducing TDP to around 15W maintains a smooth 30 FPS.

Forza Horizon 5 runs smoothly on AMD processors in the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023. With FSR Balanced enabled at 1920×1200 resolution and Medium settings, frame rates exceed 60 FPS. Without FSR, 800P on High graphics settings delivers a solid 60+ FPS. Ultra graphics approach 60 FPS, but limiting it to 30 FPS balances visuals. For extended battery life, 800P on Very Low graphics at 12W TDP maintains 60 FPS, while lowering it to 8W TDP achieves 30 FPS.

Hogwarts, with FSR enabled at Balanced performance and 1080P resolution on Low graphics, achieves 60+ FPS. Running at 800P Low graphics without FSR optimizes performance. For battery conservation, dropping to 800P Low graphics locked at 30 FPS with 15W TDP proves effective.

Overwatch 2, with or without FSR, maintains just above 60 FPS at 2560×1600 Ultra graphics. High graphics settings provide a stable frame rate well above 60 FPS at 1200P resolution. For battery life, settings at 800P Low graphics locked at 30 FPS and 8W TDP or 60 FPS at 12W TDP offer suitable options.

Emulator Performance

The GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 effortlessly handles retro games consoles and computers, with the ability to set TDP low for optimal performance.

RPCS3 PlayStation 3 emulation performs admirably, offering great performance for compatible games like Tekken 6 and WipeoutHD. Some minor drops during shader caching are negligible, and slower game performance is primarily due to compatibility issues rather than system limitations.

Xenia Xbox 360 emulation exhibits improvements over older handheld models, with less noticeable frame drops in certain game segments. Games like Vanquish and PGR2 perform well, though occasional dips to 27 FPS may occur.

Yuzu and RyuJinx emulators display slightly higher performance compared to 6800U models. Shader caching lags are reduced on compatible games, contributing to overall excellent performance for both first and third-party titles.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, our assessment of the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 leads us to positive reflections. As longtime admirers of the GPD WIN MAX series, we appreciate its dual functionality as a work/home laptop replacement and an exceptional gaming handheld.

Being the first to review a 7840U-based handheld, we acknowledge the preliminary nature of this model and anticipate further optimization of drivers for the chipset. The GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 presents a commendable improvement over the 6800U, with performance gains of up to 15%, a figure likely to rise with finalized drivers, particularly in graphics performance.

For current owners of 6800U models like the GPD WIN 4, the incremental performance boost may not warrant an immediate upgrade. However, for newcomers or those with older generations, the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 stands out as a compelling option, offering a substantial performance increase.

Additionally, the inclusion of the OcuLink port, to be paired with the upcoming GPD G1 dock with an eGPU, opens avenues for transforming the setup into a high-end gaming system rivaling traditional gaming desktop PCs. We eagerly anticipate reviewing the G1 and showcasing the enhanced capabilities.

To summarize, here are some pros and cons of the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023:

Pros:

Massive 10.1” screen with up to 1600P resolution.
A usable backlit keyboard.
Discreet controller covers.
OcuLink port for the forthcoming G1.
Easy access for additional SSD.

Cons:

Larger than a typical gaming handheld.
Possible accidental keyboard key presses when using the touchpad.

For more details and to purchase the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023, click [here](insert link). Use the discount code WINMAX25OFF for a 5% discount, valid for one month and not applicable with other codes or during store sales.

That concludes our comprehensive review of the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023. We hope you find it informative, and if you have any questions or thoughts on this handheld gaming PC, please share them in the comments.