NOTE - This Preview/Review is on the current prototype that was sent out to me. GPD is working on adding an isolating layer to restrict thermal radiation to the middle metal shell. However, I don't know how this will operate until it's available, so *for right now* based on what I have, I would advise to keep up with news regarding the Win Mini on the GPD Discord. You can find the link here: discord.gg/gpd-devices-243411108940087297 Also apologies this review took so long to get out. My vacation interfered with getting this out in a timely manner. I'm still on vacation in Italy now and I have both my WM2 and Win Mini with me.
I wonder if the 7640u version would have better thermals. I'm not into AAA games I would use it for Mainly Emulation. I wonder if the 7640u version can Run PS3 like the 7840u version can
Thanks a lot for actually mentioning the native portrait screen orientation in terms of old games' compatibility. I swear, you're like the only person ever talking about in-depth stuff like that. Ty, Phawx! :)
The quality of your reviews is absolutely exemplary. The level of (essential) detail you highlight and address is truly impressive. Many youtubers and established review sites should take yours as a template. Thanks a lot!
The quality control reputation of a company should be more important than a spec sheet. Doesn't matter how powerful it is if it breaks and you can't get proper support. That has been a problem with GPD from the beginning.
@@0LoneTecheven with that, the disproportionately high amount of people on CZcams, Reddit, and Discord talking about their GPDs breaking is scary. You being lucky is good but even if you never witnessed it a problem is a problem.
Great preview! That heat level is around the same as the left side of the AYN Loki Max display gets and I was extremely concerned at first because it was too hot to touch. Apparently the temperature is actually fine for the components themselves, but I can't imagine having that heat under my hands all the time. Looking forward to see how the final unit does.
Knowing their history, I think this prototype is pretty much the retail product from GPD. It's a bit shame, but I'm sure some people will try MODding their units with better thermal zones and fans. That could mitigate the problem. The unfixable problem I see is that this is a "weird" device. It's not built for outdoors, you can't just grab it with your keys, wallet, phone, and slip it in a pocket. You're going to have to pause, grab a backpack, and stow it inside. Which then begs the question, why not grab something better? The Valve SteamDeck would be much more ergonomic. The ASUS ROG ALLY is better all-round. And the GPD Win-Max-3 is like the others and also has a keyboard. So yeah, in that scenario you might instead grab something like the Retroid Pocket 3+, or grab your bag and get one of the other devices. It makes this device, which is in a niche, an even smaller niche for those people with very very special use cases when they need the smaller size of the GPD Win-Mini. Hence "weird".
@@ekinteko It totally will fit in a pocket, though? I mean, if the dimensions on the website are accurate. It's small enough for cargo pockets, most pockets on the inside of jackets, and even some front pockets depending on who makes your pants. I mean, if you're wearing skinny jeans it might be an issue, sure.
@@TheKrossRoads Try Denim Straight Jeans, Regular Shorts, Flat Chinos, or any Business Attire. It won't fit. Only on a workers pants, like big cargo, will it fit. Having a regular jacket, it doesn't fit on the inner pocket, I tried. The only jacket it does fit inside is for oversized ones, because they have more width. So there's a VERY narrow circumstance you can possibly ever call it "pocketable". Yet the same was true back in 2012 when we had a flurry of 7inch Android Tablets. But we never classified them as pocketable, just merely portable. All things said, it is not pocketable. Even when it fits, it is not comfortable, and comfort is an important factor. After a couple times, you would stop carrying this device with you, or just bring a backpack. Again if you're bringing a backpack... why not bring something more worthy? I know I know, the GPD Win-Max-3 is more expensive. But as they say: Buy once, Cry once!
Thank you Phawx for the unbiased review/preview on the Mini. Will you be doing an update in the future when the final production units are using the added insulation? That's too bad about the heat issues and will have to pass on this iteration.
@@kawag2780 usually reviewers who are sent pre-prod units don't say anything bad about the unit that would affect sales. The fact that Phawx pointed out a major flaw in the design is as unbiased as it gets
Appreciate the honest review! Sad to hear you apologize so much for being on vacation though (even though you're still working on the vacation...), please feel entitled to your vacation! We'll still be here when you get back :)
Adding this here for visibility, so sorry for the spam. But 2 Things: 1) Comparison vs 7640U?? (Including heat!? -- Literally no one does the the lower-end models. Ever. And it's annoying.) & 2) Where'd you get the dope Zelda skin for the mini? (Seems like it fits perfectly.) And if this is going in / out of my pocket all the time that's a MUST have. | If anyone knows pls lmk!! ❤
Completely agree. Low spec reviews & skin links would rock. ❤️ Dun wanna ding this one up & I'd hate to put a case on it with those thermals. (If one even exists.) Anyone know for the Zelda skin??
Missed opportunity to be using a potholder to hold the device in the thumbnail. But honestly, great review. Appreciate your thoroughness. You've been the first resource for me when it comes to educating myself on the flood of handhelds we've been seeing. Hopefully GPD can iron out these thermal issues.
@@ReIigionlsForIdiots We're likely hitting a mythology barrier, with the bronze age dinosaurisms sliding into the tar pits during the information age. Behold, the aerogel enhanced computer casing. Aerogel is not expensive really, it can be produced from many materials and have different uses. It can feel cool, it can be a sound insulator that could shape vent systems like The Hall of Silence at the Ontario Science Centre without needing tons of material. I saw someone running with aerogel on the shoes, you couldnt even hear them! Normally, you would hear shoes hitting the ground.. Happy atheism.
Obviously no device can be everything to everyone, but so many come so close to my ideal-basically: give me a Steam Deck sized console with the GPD Win4's sliding screen/keyboard configuration, just scaled up to 7". It doesn't need a SoC stronger than the 6800U, but if it could support USB4-and preferably Oculink-that would be ace. Finally, make the backplate (where no one's fingers can reach) some semi-ferrous metal so that you can strap on a ridiculous cooler and pump the TDP up to 65W.
I'm so sorry to hear that... This is the handheld i've always been waiting for... I'm glad i waited before pulling the trigger on igg but man... I really hope they fix this isuue...
The thermals is really a shame considering it's the hottest in the areas where your fingers go. Once GPD fixes this I will take a look at it, most likely next year. But by then they may have an updated version with an 8000 series chip if it comes out next year.
Dude, I remember from years ago your videos on GPD Win 2 and how I pretty much made my mind up on getting one based on just your opinions on it. The little wonder is still running strong - although now with Tiny 11, replacement hinges and its second battery - It's still my nightstand device and my Hollow Knight machine for longer bus and train rides. Thanks for introducing me to GPD all those years ago and I hope you keepmaking videos for all the future devices too :)
I am glad that GDP win is working on fixing the thermals because if it stays hot for any length of time over long periods in that area where the trackpad is it could cause the components in that area to fail quicker than they would normally.
That heat issue should have been addressed very early in the prototyping phase and not during the indiegogo campaign. 40-ish degrees is the absolute highest one should tolerate for comfort reasons. The fact it gets that high probably means the cooling system used is not sufficient and all the insulation used won't help much.
The GPD Wini Mini is a perfect candidate for the Frore Systems AirJet solution. It will solve the thermal and fan noise problem. We still need to move to more advance process nodes to have a proper Handheld experience. I think Microsoft are waiting for when we can get an APU that will perform like the Series S at 10W before the they through their hand in.
You’re right and I agree and I would love if that were the case but that’s not gonna happen for a while. Frore is not cheap - gpd wants to remain price competitive, so until the tech becomes much more common and price is reduced we won’t likely see it on a sub $1500 handheld for the next 5 years imho
@@Herwees in 5 yrs there will be no need for such advance cooling since we will be using advanced process nodes that offer enough performance power efficiency.
That sounds unfortunate. FWIW, I got the 2023 GPD Win Max 2 in a few weeks back and it has been rock solid so far. I can't even tell that it puts out any heat at all unless I put my hand next to the exhaust vent. Really quite impressive but I guess the bit of extra bulk makes a big difference.
Very detailed as always. I can't wait until solid state airjets become good enough to be used in devices like this. I've seen their sample mini pc done in concert with zotac and the efficiency of removing heat while being quiet and using a fraction of power as a fan is amazing. I think 3-4 of those airjets would sufficiently cool in tandem with more insulation the 7840u sufficiently, more quietly and still use less power than their current fan. I love my win max 2, so I was hopeful for the mini as I love small, powerful devices. Your reviews as always are wonderful, thanks for the honest critique. It's a bummer, but it happens. I hope they can make sufficient changes to it in the future.
To give some hope to people, GPD has time to fix/mitigate this issue before shipment and they are taking it seriously. And supposedly they've already implemented some things that have begun reducing heat. And historically they've been good about making pre shipment adjustments to widespread issues. As an international backer there were a number of situations domestic orders were having that were fixed by the time I got mine (e.g Win 2 wifi issue). But Phawx did the right thing publicizing this as it does effect many people's decision to purchase and there's always a chance it can't be solved. I'm not shilling, I will possibly cancel mine if there isn't an update within the next month or so and have had issues with GPD that made me cancel (e.g The Win 3's existence). But I'm generally optimistic about this and the point of the beta units was to get real feedback on things that need to be fixed which seems to be happening.
I can see them taking this seriously, they are sitting on a pile of money if they manage to get this right. I'm going to prefer the Win Max 2 for the keyboard and laptop usage, but they've made me doubt it for a while with this one and, if the heat and fan noise issues are addressed, then this really is a device hard to keep in stock.
Pretty much exactly how I'm feeling about this situation. They got the time to fix it and enough investment to really care about it. I would say heat is the only real big problem and screen tearing. Little adjustments will be fixed and filtered out by these reviews. I really don't care about fan noise as long as it's cooled.
I'm a big fan of portable consoles and I want to highlight the enormous effort that this small company GPD has made for a few years in delivering increasingly improved products to the market through customer reviews. now...they always had a big problem! heat. my experience: win 1, extremely hot. win 2, hot. win 3, a little hot, with the grip you don't feel the heat. Win 4, I don't have it. win mini, I would like to have it but I don't want it because of the same problem...heat. they have to be comfortable in terms of weight, ergonomics and heat dissipation. what I just currently use... steam deck!
Your videos are so informative and in-depth, and I always look forward to them for all the different handhelds out there. Ever since I got priced out of the GPD Win 3 (cries in Canadian), I've been happy with the Steam Deck. Seeing this, makes me want to get it, but I know I just can't afford it. So, I'm envious, but happy to see you really liked the device (minus the heat issue).
The Win 2 was a 7-watt device that pretty much peaked at 11 watts. So it's cool that this device can do more, but I'll probably keep mine in that 7-11w ballpark.
I've been waiting to upgrade from my GPD MicroPC and this looks like it on steroids. I might still bite even with the heat issues cause I don't NEED to use it to play the latest AAA games on high settings... also curious on it's performance with an external GPU. I'm getting torn between this and the Lenovo Legion Go because if in not mistaken, it has a feature where it doesn't overheat while it's plugged in... my MicroPC gets decently hot when I'm using it while it's plugged in, though it hasn't really cause THAT much of a problem
GPD really should have used a line doubling chip for this for 2X 540p, this would have allowed to run it at half the watts for the same FPS/performance, and you would not be able to tell a difference on a 7" screen, this would also give double the battery life as well as less than half the temps, hardware line doublers are much better than any software scaling, and it would just work under the hood out of the box without having to do or set up anything, you could even have a 4X 270p mode via a simple toggle switch this would be perfect for Indies and pixel games, I'd love to see them collaborate with Marseille for their Mclassic chip, this would be a perfect match for a device like this, the Mclassic also adds antialiasing and works extremely well, it does an amazing job with the N Switch @ 1080p line multiplied to 4X with antialiasing on a 65" screen, it looks almost like native 4K, imagine then what it could do with a 7" screen with the same tech.
Very sad news, I loved the Win 2 clamshell form factor and the Mini looked an almost perfect successor, but i'm not going through the same expensive thermal hardware mod debacle this time. Thank god for honest reviewers like the Phawx that has all of our interests at heart. I've cancelled my Indiegogo contribution for now. GPD needs to learn by this - stop rushing out prototype review models until all of the deal breaking faults are fixed.
Thank you so much Phawx, i appreciate your real true opinion, maybe GPD will fix it now, we need people like you, to get better products, if GPD will fix it i will still buy it, but for now i have to wait for your next GPD Win Mini release version, hope u enjoy italy ❤
Really appreciate the honest review, thank you. The IGG campaign page claims the Mini is able to run PS3 God Of War at 60fps due to AVX512 however the other video about the WinMax2 needed 30W to achieve this, it doesn't look feasible on the Win Mini considering the heat and the 18w cap. Could you please try some PS3 emulation on the mini to see if it's really possible? Thanks
I guessed that the Win Mini would have a tiny chip like an intel N300 and when the new dropped about the 7640/7840, i was certain it would be a hot boy.
Amazing video, the heat problem really is something to look out for, 50-60C is considered hazard by the electronic device work surface standard (around ~48C), prolonged use can lead to some health problem.
my gpd win max 2 gives me pain in my hand up to the roof of my mouth, same with the gpd win 3, im now considering selling it as it makes me nervous to even hold it, anything 15 watts and above causes pain. not good, and ive only heard a couple of people talk about it. maybe im sensitive, i did however buy emf gloves but didnt really help. :/
I kinda figured this problem might crop up. Latest top-of-the-line mobile chipset in such a small form factor? Especially while basically every other device with this is chonked to the max? Yeah, this was an inevitability, but it'll be nice to see it when GPD has had some time to hopefully resolve the issue.
Any chance you could compare the Win Mini with the Win 4 in a future video? I love your in-depth analysis but was really surprised you've never had them side-by-side now that you have a physical Mini, despite comparing the Mini to a ton of other devices in your previous video. I'd like to see how they compare in terms of size to determine if the smaller form factor would be worth an upgrade or not. Thanks Phawx!
@ThePhawx I sold my GPD Win Max 2 because the thumb sticks were too small, and the proximity to the edge on the left side forced my thumb into a really cramped position (think a tiny controller) and made using the device too uncomfortable. I would have kept it if the D pad and thumb stick were swapped positions. Can you speak to this on this Win mini?
I really enjoyed this review. It's a shame about the heat, but something about the presentation felt nice. Maybe it was the new setting or feeling of authenticy. I'm not sure, but I liked the video.
That zoom in option is incredible and so sleepless. Games aside this looks like a fantastic travel option for a laptop with full productivity without the bulk.
Okay this thing is amazing idc about the heat as long as its not overheating this things is amazing and i have a steam deck oled and this thing is just beautiful still. Def buying in a few checks!
Man the one I was most excited for, and yet the quickest one I may be turning away from. I appreciate Phawx being as honest as he can be about it, and I really hope there is a solution. I've been following Phawx since the Win 1, and if he thinks this device is uncomfortably hot, especially compared to the experiences of the Win 1 and Win 2, then it must be very noticeable if not more so. I was hoping the grips were going to take away from the hot touch, but if it's on the front side where the buttons are, then grips ain't gonna help with that. If they don't find a solution, I may just finally get a GPD Win 4, but hey at least I can still support my favorite PC handheld company that way.
Can u please demonstrate win mini performance using an external fan for cooling? If the tradeoff for the small size requires a cooling dock to run 35 watts it will be worth it to me.
when it comes to handheld, the ergonomic and the comfort when you hold it in long term is very important, it affects directly to your feeling and enjoyment when you play games on it. People usually forget about it and only focus on how powerful is the device. This GPD is very good in term of power look promising but after all it doesn't seem ideal to me to actually play games on it.
I hope they solve the heat issue. I've really liked my Win Max 2, it has become my favorite laptop I've owned but it is a little heavy to use as a handheld. I was looking forward to have both of these, the WinMax 2 as a notebook and this as a handheld and maybe if I could type fast enough on it replace my Win Max 2. I'll be watching it, probably won't back their indigogo though. Saving 14% on something with a heat issue isn't worth it, I'd rather wait and see if the issue is resolved before I buy it. Maybe wait for the revision.
Where are you staying in my home country Italy? I have been waiting so long for your review and now I know the delay was very much motivated and justified 🇮🇹🏖️
For a mobile game development computer it's the best though, because of the low tdp it can run off of a car or camping battery. My gaming laptop takes up 90 watts
I was so excited for this, hopeful that they could fix it but if 13w for an hour gets uncomfy, i doubt my ideal scenario (21w) would work. oh well, maybe next time
waiting for an NA company to make a clamshell version. Can't really trust or want to deal with QA issues with GPD. GPD subreddit has plenty of horror stories of waiting for months on RMA
The GPD lineup has always been out of my price range for a handheld. I paid $650 for the 512GB Steam Deck and that was my limit. I don't think anything so far has such a gen leap as to replace it. Maybe AMDs next APU will really see a gap.
To me it seems like the heat issue is to be expected given how ridiculously tiny and powerful this thing is. I probably still gonna buy it and just run at 10W max.
Thank you. The lack of VRR, the vertical display, and the heat are all deal breakers for me. I play some old games where the vertical display just causes too many issues, as with my win2. I definitely want VRR for when i'm playing games at
HEY PHAWX, I doubt you'll read this but I want to say something you might find interesting, it relates to your channel in the algorithm I have been getting your review for the GPD Win 2 in my first 10-15 videos whenever I open youtube and scroll for like two years now. I've tested it on desktop, on multiple devices. I finally just hit not interested, but I think you might find it worthwhile to know for your analytics that the ONLY video I see from you is 5 years old.
I’ll probably hold out on getting it until they deal with the hot control panel issue & ppl confirm that it’s been resolved. It’s a shame… literally everything else about it seems perfect to me.
Interesting prereview. Still use mine Win Max which is good enough doing what I need for now, but would be intersting to know if this device would handle VR like HL Alyx, using like Quest2;) that is like the new benchmark test, if you don't have Crisis lying around.
We need that solid state cooling sooner than we think as we have reached the peak of fan innovation and it can not keep up with the heat output of these small devices at this scale
@@ThePhawx I'm nagging GPD a bit but not only am I glad you confirm they are actively working on it, I've grown to really trust them, as I'm sure many of your viewers have as well. No brand is perfect but they have come a long way in that space and they've shown many times that they care about their devices and their loyal customers. I'm excited to have mine in hand!
Im glad you mentioned you can remap the keys on the controllers to have keyboard controls. this is great when games dont support controllers natively or native controller support is partial/clunky. I can see myself using it for casual grinding in a mmorpg or a android game via bluestacks
Hmm, well this puts me in a Pickle. I have Preordered this and I'm glad that the vast majority of the build quality here is great and I'm used to my laptop getting quite hot and loud when gaming so this is nothing new to me, but this is quite extreme even for a device this Small. I'm willing to make a few compromises for the form factor (although I usually do prefer the look of aya's devices over GPD, the flip just isn't there, not to mention the questionable long term support) even then this does make me question whether the device is actually safe to use on a really hot today (e.g. we've had up to 30C here in the uk). I genuinely hope they fix this as I'm really looking forward to it, but this is making be question whether I should keep my preorder or wait until a later gen. I did consider before ordering if I should wait even before this, but I feel like this model has everything I could need from a handheld like this, and a better gen would be better, but not drastically (I hope). Thanks for addressing this as I'm new to the handhelds space (well besides the Steam Deck anyway) 👍
I can't help but yearn for a GPD device. Ever since I was a kid, these handheld/laptop hybrid devices have looked so cool. A full on PC experience in a handheld! I love my Steam Deck, it's the best gaming experience I've ever had, but without a physical keyboard it's lacking for non-gaming tasks. Having a laptop-style GPD Win is on my bucket list.
I don't think they can fix the heat problem as your dome switches are soldered on the mother board so your controls will not get any insulation in between the button contacts. Otherwise they could try making the case thicker with a bigger air gap away from the main board and increase the exhaust vent size. On a more drastic fix would be to swap the right analog with ABXY buttons. But this entails making a longer length of the main board and case which would allow moving those usb-c ports to the center of the device instead of burning your cables right on top of the skinny exhaust vent. But I doubt they would ever fix this proper given how far along they are with trying to ship it. It's so unfortunate that we don't know if the 7640U runs any cooler. That APU no body says jack about and we're getting past launch day. This totally sucks I don't feel safe in buying any handheld. I wish GPD had access to the Z1E but in the end heat is your worst enemy for small and lite. And when it's that hot you know battery life sucks. I'm done. Edit: Not done, 🤣. Imagine GPD partnered with Valve to create the Deck Mini to target lower TPD. I'd say take my money. 🤑
I thought the GPD WIN2 would be my way to play next to my wife in front of the TV, but she complained about the fan, and my GPD WIN2 committed sudoku by overheating. I hoped the GPD Win Mini would be much better than the GPD WIN2, which was too hot too. But they failed: so it's too hot, and it is still windows, probably because the BIOS sucks, just like the WIN1 and WIN2. My Steam Deck works nice, nothing is hot, and nobody is complaining as it is on it's loudest modest compared to a WIN2 or WIN even. And best of all: the BIOS is perfect and the driver support is perfect. The day GPD talks to Valve and considers supporting steam os from the start (means a good BIOS, not drivers that work around the BIOS lacking support of the hardware), that would be the day I would look at them again.
This isn't a device I would purchase, but I am glad GPD seems to be responsive to concerns. Hopefully whatever solution they come up with can fix the thermal issue because that is a major problem.
Wow Im not tech savy but I didnt know about the v sync thing before. This is why my first stop when it comes t this type of stuff I come to The Phawx. Thank you.
NOTE - This Preview/Review is on the current prototype that was sent out to me. GPD is working on adding an isolating layer to restrict thermal radiation to the middle metal shell. However, I don't know how this will operate until it's available, so *for right now* based on what I have, I would advise to keep up with news regarding the Win Mini on the GPD Discord. You can find the link here: discord.gg/gpd-devices-243411108940087297
Also apologies this review took so long to get out. My vacation interfered with getting this out in a timely manner. I'm still on vacation in Italy now and I have both my WM2 and Win Mini with me.
I wonder if the 7640u version would have better thermals. I'm not into AAA games I would use it for Mainly Emulation. I wonder if the 7640u version can Run PS3 like the 7840u version can
If they fix it would be better to take this video down and uploading a new one. That`s such a cool device if they fix this.
@@marcgtsra little impertinent telling a content creator how to manage their channel, don’t you think?
Aww the PHAWX LOVES GPD so much he took his devices on a romantic vacation to Italy❤ FREE LOVE🕊️❤❤🎮🕹️
@@YokiBrewster💀
Thanks a lot for actually mentioning the native portrait screen orientation in terms of old games' compatibility. I swear, you're like the only person ever talking about in-depth stuff like that. Ty, Phawx! :)
Everyone should care about having a handheld gaming PC that can actually play ALL PC games easier :)
The quality of your reviews is absolutely exemplary. The level of (essential) detail you highlight and address is truly impressive. Many youtubers and established review sites should take yours as a template. Thanks a lot!
As someone who just found this channel, I very quickly realized the same thing.
This guy is a step up from the rest!
The quality control reputation of a company should be more important than a spec sheet. Doesn't matter how powerful it is if it breaks and you can't get proper support. That has been a problem with GPD from the beginning.
I've had good experiences with GPD support, unlike Lenovo or ASUS.
I bought mine through a retailer for warranty but yes they will take MONTHS to fix your product 😂
Cries in GPD XD (original)
@@0LoneTechsame, my WM2 6800u is far more reliable than my Ally, already on my 3rd device
@@0LoneTecheven with that, the disproportionately high amount of people on CZcams, Reddit, and Discord talking about their GPDs breaking is scary.
You being lucky is good but even if you never witnessed it a problem is a problem.
Great preview! That heat level is around the same as the left side of the AYN Loki Max display gets and I was extremely concerned at first because it was too hot to touch. Apparently the temperature is actually fine for the components themselves, but I can't imagine having that heat under my hands all the time. Looking forward to see how the final unit does.
Knowing their history, I think this prototype is pretty much the retail product from GPD.
It's a bit shame, but I'm sure some people will try MODding their units with better thermal zones and fans. That could mitigate the problem.
The unfixable problem I see is that this is a "weird" device. It's not built for outdoors, you can't just grab it with your keys, wallet, phone, and slip it in a pocket. You're going to have to pause, grab a backpack, and stow it inside. Which then begs the question, why not grab something better?
The Valve SteamDeck would be much more ergonomic. The ASUS ROG ALLY is better all-round. And the GPD Win-Max-3 is like the others and also has a keyboard.
So yeah, in that scenario you might instead grab something like the Retroid Pocket 3+, or grab your bag and get one of the other devices. It makes this device, which is in a niche, an even smaller niche for those people with very very special use cases when they need the smaller size of the GPD Win-Mini. Hence "weird".
@@ekinteko
It totally will fit in a pocket, though? I mean, if the dimensions on the website are accurate. It's small enough for cargo pockets, most pockets on the inside of jackets, and even some front pockets depending on who makes your pants.
I mean, if you're wearing skinny jeans it might be an issue, sure.
@@TheKrossRoads Try Denim Straight Jeans, Regular Shorts, Flat Chinos, or any Business Attire. It won't fit.
Only on a workers pants, like big cargo, will it fit. Having a regular jacket, it doesn't fit on the inner pocket, I tried. The only jacket it does fit inside is for oversized ones, because they have more width.
So there's a VERY narrow circumstance you can possibly ever call it "pocketable". Yet the same was true back in 2012 when we had a flurry of 7inch Android Tablets. But we never classified them as pocketable, just merely portable.
All things said, it is not pocketable. Even when it fits, it is not comfortable, and comfort is an important factor. After a couple times, you would stop carrying this device with you, or just bring a backpack. Again if you're bringing a backpack... why not bring something more worthy?
I know I know, the GPD Win-Max-3 is more expensive. But as they say: Buy once, Cry once!
I thought you had a biased opinion about GPD, you earned my respect even more
His thumbnail still was literally his intro, just for that I gotta give a like, wish more people did that.
Thank you Phawx for the unbiased review/preview on the Mini. Will you be doing an update in the future when the final production units are using the added insulation? That's too bad about the heat issues and will have to pass on this iteration.
How is it unbiased if he received a pre-prod unit?
@@kawag2780 usually reviewers who are sent pre-prod units don't say anything bad about the unit that would affect sales. The fact that Phawx pointed out a major flaw in the design is as unbiased as it gets
This is why I was curious to have you test the 7640U model.
Appreciate the honest review! Sad to hear you apologize so much for being on vacation though (even though you're still working on the vacation...), please feel entitled to your vacation! We'll still be here when you get back :)
Thanks so much!
Finally, after 5+ years of cooperation of gpd you describe issues found in review, not in discord chanel to 100 peoples. Bravo!
Adding this here for visibility, so sorry for the spam. But 2 Things:
1) Comparison vs 7640U?? (Including heat!? -- Literally no one does the the lower-end models. Ever. And it's annoying.)
& 2) Where'd you get the dope Zelda skin for the mini? (Seems like it fits perfectly.) And if this is going in / out of my pocket all the time that's a MUST have. | If anyone knows pls lmk!! ❤
This ^ WHEREBUYSKIN!? 😁
Completely agree. Low spec reviews & skin links would rock. ❤️ Dun wanna ding this one up & I'd hate to put a case on it with those thermals. (If one even exists.) Anyone know for the Zelda skin??
Yo @The Phawx | This ^ PLEASE
Missed opportunity to be using a potholder to hold the device in the thumbnail.
But honestly, great review. Appreciate your thoroughness. You've been the first resource for me when it comes to educating myself on the flood of handhelds we've been seeing. Hopefully GPD can iron out these thermal issues.
It's so frustrating that all these handhelds always have something holding it back from being "perfect".
Every single time. Its usually a battery/heat issue too. Its like they don't test these devices before selling them.
We’re likely hitting a technology barrier.
I mean yeah they could make them out of aerospace grade parts but no one could afford them.
@@ReIigionlsForIdiots We're likely hitting a mythology barrier, with the bronze age dinosaurisms sliding into the tar pits during the information age.
Behold, the aerogel enhanced computer casing. Aerogel is not expensive really, it can be produced from many materials and have different uses.
It can feel cool, it can be a sound insulator that could shape vent systems like The Hall of Silence at the Ontario Science Centre without needing tons of material.
I saw someone running with aerogel on the shoes, you couldnt even hear them!
Normally, you would hear shoes hitting the ground..
Happy atheism.
Obviously no device can be everything to everyone, but so many come so close to my ideal-basically: give me a Steam Deck sized console with the GPD Win4's sliding screen/keyboard configuration, just scaled up to 7". It doesn't need a SoC stronger than the 6800U, but if it could support USB4-and preferably Oculink-that would be ace.
Finally, make the backplate (where no one's fingers can reach) some semi-ferrous metal so that you can strap on a ridiculous cooler and pump the TDP up to 65W.
I'm so sorry to hear that... This is the handheld i've always been waiting for... I'm glad i waited before pulling the trigger on igg but man... I really hope they fix this isuue...
"unfortunately I had to go to Italy" hahaha enjoy there Phawx! Tks for the review and your screen and temps concerns
I love all the handhelds you brought with you. A suitcase for you and the wife, one for the kids and one for the handhelds!
The plane ride to Europe is long. Why bring external batteries when you can pull out a new handheld?
The thermals is really a shame considering it's the hottest in the areas where your fingers go. Once GPD fixes this I will take a look at it, most likely next year. But by then they may have an updated version with an 8000 series chip if it comes out next year.
I'll be waiting for the next model and hope they can control temps better and use a native landscape screen with VRR
Dude, I remember from years ago your videos on GPD Win 2 and how I pretty much made my mind up on getting one based on just your opinions on it.
The little wonder is still running strong - although now with Tiny 11, replacement hinges and its second battery - It's still my nightstand device and my Hollow Knight machine for longer bus and train rides. Thanks for introducing me to GPD all those years ago and I hope you keepmaking videos for all the future devices too :)
Hollow Knight yes! Much respect
I am glad that GDP win is working on fixing the thermals because if it stays hot for any length of time over long periods in that area where the trackpad is it could cause the components in that area to fail quicker than they would normally.
50°C is actually insane heat. I dont think a new insulating layer is going to really help enough...
Respect, thanks for the honest report on the heat issue
That heat issue should have been addressed very early in the prototyping phase and not during the indiegogo campaign.
40-ish degrees is the absolute highest one should tolerate for comfort reasons. The fact it gets that high probably means the cooling system used is not sufficient and all the insulation used won't help much.
I like the setting you chose to record the video, just a little touch of ambiance with those beautifully designed stairs, very nice
I have watched a few different videos on this device but yours has been the most comprehensive and meaningful. Thank you for your honest opinion.
The GPD Wini Mini is a perfect candidate for the Frore Systems AirJet solution. It will solve the thermal and fan noise problem. We still need to move to more advance process nodes to have a proper Handheld experience. I think Microsoft are waiting for when we can get an APU that will perform like the Series S at 10W before the they through their hand in.
You’re right and I agree and I would love if that were the case but that’s not gonna happen for a while. Frore is not cheap - gpd wants to remain price competitive, so until the tech becomes much more common and price is reduced we won’t likely see it on a sub $1500 handheld for the next 5 years imho
@@Herwees in 5 yrs there will be no need for such advance cooling since we will be using advanced process nodes that offer enough performance power efficiency.
That sounds unfortunate. FWIW, I got the 2023 GPD Win Max 2 in a few weeks back and it has been rock solid so far. I can't even tell that it puts out any heat at all unless I put my hand next to the exhaust vent. Really quite impressive but I guess the bit of extra bulk makes a big difference.
Very detailed as always. I can't wait until solid state airjets become good enough to be used in devices like this. I've seen their sample mini pc done in concert with zotac and the efficiency of removing heat while being quiet and using a fraction of power as a fan is amazing. I think 3-4 of those airjets would sufficiently cool in tandem with more insulation the 7840u sufficiently, more quietly and still use less power than their current fan.
I love my win max 2, so I was hopeful for the mini as I love small, powerful devices. Your reviews as always are wonderful, thanks for the honest critique. It's a bummer, but it happens. I hope they can make sufficient changes to it in the future.
To give some hope to people, GPD has time to fix/mitigate this issue before shipment and they are taking it seriously. And supposedly they've already implemented some things that have begun reducing heat.
And historically they've been good about making pre shipment adjustments to widespread issues. As an international backer there were a number of situations domestic orders were having that were fixed by the time I got mine (e.g Win 2 wifi issue).
But Phawx did the right thing publicizing this as it does effect many people's decision to purchase and there's always a chance it can't be solved.
I'm not shilling, I will possibly cancel mine if there isn't an update within the next month or so and have had issues with GPD that made me cancel (e.g The Win 3's existence).
But I'm generally optimistic about this and the point of the beta units was to get real feedback on things that need to be fixed which seems to be happening.
I can see them taking this seriously, they are sitting on a pile of money if they manage to get this right.
I'm going to prefer the Win Max 2 for the keyboard and laptop usage, but they've made me doubt it for a while with this one and, if the heat and fan noise issues are addressed, then this really is a device hard to keep in stock.
Pretty much exactly how I'm feeling about this situation. They got the time to fix it and enough investment to really care about it. I would say heat is the only real big problem and screen tearing. Little adjustments will be fixed and filtered out by these reviews. I really don't care about fan noise as long as it's cooled.
I'm a big fan of portable consoles and I want to highlight the enormous effort that this small company GPD has made for a few years in delivering increasingly improved products to the market through customer reviews.
now...they always had a big problem! heat.
my experience: win 1, extremely hot. win 2, hot. win 3, a little hot, with the grip you don't feel the heat. Win 4, I don't have it. win mini, I would like to have it but I don't want it because of the same problem...heat.
they have to be comfortable in terms of weight, ergonomics and heat dissipation.
what I just currently use... steam deck!
Your videos are so informative and in-depth, and I always look forward to them for all the different handhelds out there. Ever since I got priced out of the GPD Win 3 (cries in Canadian), I've been happy with the Steam Deck. Seeing this, makes me want to get it, but I know I just can't afford it. So, I'm envious, but happy to see you really liked the device (minus the heat issue).
Always transparent and honest! Thanks for that!
The Win 2 was a 7-watt device that pretty much peaked at 11 watts. So it's cool that this device can do more, but I'll probably keep mine in that 7-11w ballpark.
Nobody going to talk about how the thumbnail faded into the intro? 🥶🥶 never seen that before
I've been waiting to upgrade from my GPD MicroPC and this looks like it on steroids. I might still bite even with the heat issues cause I don't NEED to use it to play the latest AAA games on high settings... also curious on it's performance with an external GPU.
I'm getting torn between this and the Lenovo Legion Go because if in not mistaken, it has a feature where it doesn't overheat while it's plugged in... my MicroPC gets decently hot when I'm using it while it's plugged in, though it hasn't really cause THAT much of a problem
GPD really should have used a line doubling chip for this for 2X 540p, this would have allowed to run it at half the watts for the same FPS/performance, and you would not be able to tell a difference on a 7" screen, this would also give double the battery life as well as less than half the temps, hardware line doublers are much better than any software scaling, and it would just work under the hood out of the box without having to do or set up anything, you could even have a 4X 270p mode via a simple toggle switch this would be perfect for Indies and pixel games, I'd love to see them collaborate with Marseille for their Mclassic chip, this would be a perfect match for a device like this, the Mclassic also adds antialiasing and works extremely well, it does an amazing job with the N Switch @ 1080p line multiplied to 4X with antialiasing on a 65" screen, it looks almost like native 4K, imagine then what it could do with a 7" screen with the same tech.
Very sad news, I loved the Win 2 clamshell form factor and the Mini looked an almost perfect successor, but i'm not going through the same expensive thermal hardware mod debacle this time. Thank god for honest reviewers like the Phawx that has all of our interests at heart. I've cancelled my Indiegogo contribution for now. GPD needs to learn by this - stop rushing out prototype review models until all of the deal breaking faults are fixed.
It's 28 watts in a tiny package buddy. . .
You were the chosen one!
Win Mini *burning your hand:* I hate you! 🔥🥲
nice thingy you did with the thumbnail
When winter comes around, you are going to appreciate that heat.
Love your work. I was so pumped for this device, as the ROG Ally was a giant let-down for me. Sigh. Guess back to the Steam Deck for now.
Thank you so much Phawx, i appreciate your real true opinion, maybe GPD will fix it now, we need people like you, to get better products, if GPD will fix it i will still buy it, but for now i have to wait for your next GPD Win Mini release version, hope u enjoy italy ❤
Really appreciate the honest review, thank you. The IGG campaign page claims the Mini is able to run PS3 God Of War at 60fps due to AVX512 however the other video about the WinMax2 needed 30W to achieve this, it doesn't look feasible on the Win Mini considering the heat and the 18w cap. Could you please try some PS3 emulation on the mini to see if it's really possible? Thanks
I guessed that the Win Mini would have a tiny chip like an intel N300 and when the new dropped about the 7640/7840, i was certain it would be a hot boy.
Amazing video, the heat problem really is something to look out for, 50-60C is considered hazard by the electronic device work surface standard (around ~48C), prolonged use can lead to some health problem.
damn, what kind of disease is it going to give me?
@@mDayShamangahabash considered it in the palm of your hand maybe some numbness, rash or pain.
my gpd win max 2 gives me pain in my hand up to the roof of my mouth, same with the gpd win 3, im now considering selling it as it makes me nervous to even hold it, anything 15 watts and above causes pain. not good, and ive only heard a couple of people talk about it. maybe im sensitive, i did however buy emf gloves but didnt really help. :/
@@davidmays7052What causes the pain? Is it electrical shock, high temperature or what?
@@davidmays7052 that's weird, how does the pain feel like?
OH MAN THAT THUMBNAIL TRANSITION WAS ON POINT SON
I kinda figured this problem might crop up. Latest top-of-the-line mobile chipset in such a small form factor? Especially while basically every other device with this is chonked to the max? Yeah, this was an inevitability, but it'll be nice to see it when GPD has had some time to hopefully resolve the issue.
Really excellent, thorough, knowledgeable and informative video. GPD is doing such interesting work right now. Thanks for sharing!
Any chance you could compare the Win Mini with the Win 4 in a future video? I love your in-depth analysis but was really surprised you've never had them side-by-side now that you have a physical Mini, despite comparing the Mini to a ton of other devices in your previous video. I'd like to see how they compare in terms of size to determine if the smaller form factor would be worth an upgrade or not. Thanks Phawx!
@ThePhawx I sold my GPD Win Max 2 because the thumb sticks were too small, and the proximity to the edge on the left side forced my thumb into a really cramped position (think a tiny controller) and made using the device too uncomfortable. I would have kept it if the D pad and thumb stick were swapped positions. Can you speak to this on this Win mini?
I really enjoyed this review. It's a shame about the heat, but something about the presentation felt nice. Maybe it was the new setting or feeling of authenticy. I'm not sure, but I liked the video.
That zoom in option is incredible and so sleepless. Games aside this looks like a fantastic travel option for a laptop with full productivity without the bulk.
thank you Cary. Homer part was hilarious! ;D
Oh so close to the perfect device! I want something like this so that I can stream 4k videos on my living room tv :D
Okay this thing is amazing idc about the heat as long as its not overheating this things is amazing and i have a steam deck oled and this thing is just beautiful still. Def buying in a few checks!
How about making the whole bottom plate copper to transfer heat there? Passive cooling as an extra.
Man the one I was most excited for, and yet the quickest one I may be turning away from. I appreciate Phawx being as honest as he can be about it, and I really hope there is a solution.
I've been following Phawx since the Win 1, and if he thinks this device is uncomfortably hot, especially compared to the experiences of the Win 1 and Win 2, then it must be very noticeable if not more so.
I was hoping the grips were going to take away from the hot touch, but if it's on the front side where the buttons are, then grips ain't gonna help with that.
If they don't find a solution, I may just finally get a GPD Win 4, but hey at least I can still support my favorite PC handheld company that way.
They said they plan to change the front panel to plastic lol, also win4 gets hot around the buttons too😅
Fantastic video as usual. Thanks for the review!
Can u please demonstrate win mini performance using an external fan for cooling?
If the tradeoff for the small size requires a cooling dock to run 35 watts it will be worth it to me.
Fantastic review/tests, love your videos!
Jesus. I’m also in italy right now for vacation on the toilet bowl watching this review
The trackpad and keyboard looks fantastic. What I mostly dislike about this device is the D-Pad location. Great review!
when it comes to handheld, the ergonomic and the comfort when you hold it in long term is very important, it affects directly to your feeling and enjoyment when you play games on it. People usually forget about it and only focus on how powerful is the device. This GPD is very good in term of power look promising but after all it doesn't seem ideal to me to actually play games on it.
for that reason alone, i kind of feel like grips would be a must for my mini (should arrive tmrw)
Sick! New background unlocked!
Thumbnail thief! Kidding. Sorry to hear Phawx, I know you've been extremely excited for this one. Loved the video.
I hope they solve the heat issue. I've really liked my Win Max 2, it has become my favorite laptop I've owned but it is a little heavy to use as a handheld. I was looking forward to have both of these, the WinMax 2 as a notebook and this as a handheld and maybe if I could type fast enough on it replace my Win Max 2. I'll be watching it, probably won't back their indigogo though. Saving 14% on something with a heat issue isn't worth it, I'd rather wait and see if the issue is resolved before I buy it. Maybe wait for the revision.
I can't wait to get this along with the grips(I got big hands), Stanfield and The Witcher 3 on the go is going to be awesome.
Can't wait for the win mini airjet version announcement next year
Where are you staying in my home country Italy? I have been waiting so long for your review and now I know the delay was very much motivated and justified 🇮🇹🏖️
For a mobile game development computer it's the best though, because of the low tdp it can run off of a car or camping battery. My gaming laptop takes up 90 watts
I was so excited for this, hopeful that they could fix it
but if 13w for an hour gets uncomfy, i doubt my ideal scenario (21w) would work. oh well, maybe next time
waiting for an NA company to make a clamshell version. Can't really trust or want to deal with QA issues with GPD. GPD subreddit has plenty of horror stories of waiting for months on RMA
Thing is, you might have to wait a really long time if you limit yourself to NA only devices.
The GPD lineup has always been out of my price range for a handheld. I paid $650 for the 512GB Steam Deck and that was my limit. I don't think anything so far has such a gen leap as to replace it. Maybe AMDs next APU will really see a gap.
But the steam deck has problems running some games
To me it seems like the heat issue is to be expected given how ridiculously tiny and powerful this thing is. I probably still gonna buy it and just run at 10W max.
Thank you. The lack of VRR, the vertical display, and the heat are all deal breakers for me.
I play some old games where the vertical display just causes too many issues, as with my win2.
I definitely want VRR for when i'm playing games at
HEY PHAWX, I doubt you'll read this but I want to say something you might find interesting, it relates to your channel in the algorithm
I have been getting your review for the GPD Win 2 in my first 10-15 videos whenever I open youtube and scroll for like two years now. I've tested it on desktop, on multiple devices. I finally just hit not interested, but I think you might find it worthwhile to know for your analytics that the ONLY video I see from you is 5 years old.
ayaneo has one coming out, will probably be better at cooling, hopefully the rest is as great though
The slide or the flip because if so I wanna pick this these up if the fan doesn’t get fix much here
I’ll probably hold out on getting it until they deal with the hot control panel issue & ppl confirm that it’s been resolved.
It’s a shame… literally everything else about it seems perfect to me.
Enjoy your vacation 🎉
I suspected heat would be a big issue with this device. Thanks for your detailed review.
Honest review, thank you Phawx!
What's the difference the trackpad has compared to Win Max 2?
I wonder if solid state cooling can help this device perform better.
Or just make the bottom half of the clamshell thicker, maybe get a 3d print going, install a bigger fan. This thing has allot of potential.
Interesting prereview. Still use mine Win Max which is good enough doing what I need for now, but would be intersting to know if this device would handle VR like HL Alyx, using like Quest2;) that is like the new benchmark test, if you don't have Crisis lying around.
We need that solid state cooling sooner than we think as we have reached the peak of fan innovation and it can not keep up with the heat output of these small devices at this scale
I really wish they can add USB3 for it :(
I love when the haters try to claim he is a shill for the company. Do you really think a shill would ever put a video out like this?
We have come full circle, of all devices, it’s only fitting that Win Mini is « lava stone 3.0 », great review and journalism Phawx, thanks!
I'm hearing some really positive news from GPD so I'll keep my fingers crossed
@@ThePhawx I'm nagging GPD a bit but not only am I glad you confirm they are actively working on it, I've grown to really trust them, as I'm sure many of your viewers have as well. No brand is perfect but they have come a long way in that space and they've shown many times that they care about their devices and their loyal customers. I'm excited to have mine in hand!
Im glad you mentioned you can remap the keys on the controllers to have keyboard controls. this is great when games dont support controllers natively or native controller support is partial/clunky. I can see myself using it for casual grinding in a mmorpg or a android game via bluestacks
What was typing score without grips
Hmm, well this puts me in a Pickle.
I have Preordered this and I'm glad that the vast majority of the build quality here is great and I'm used to my laptop getting quite hot and loud when gaming so this is nothing new to me, but this is quite extreme even for a device this Small. I'm willing to make a few compromises for the form factor (although I usually do prefer the look of aya's devices over GPD, the flip just isn't there, not to mention the questionable long term support) even then this does make me question whether the device is actually safe to use on a really hot today (e.g. we've had up to 30C here in the uk).
I genuinely hope they fix this as I'm really looking forward to it, but this is making be question whether I should keep my preorder or wait until a later gen. I did consider before ordering if I should wait even before this, but I feel like this model has everything I could need from a handheld like this, and a better gen would be better, but not drastically (I hope).
Thanks for addressing this as I'm new to the handhelds space (well besides the Steam Deck anyway) 👍
Thank you Phawx for your honesty and integrity. The whole community supports you
Background is awesome
I can't help but yearn for a GPD device. Ever since I was a kid, these handheld/laptop hybrid devices have looked so cool. A full on PC experience in a handheld! I love my Steam Deck, it's the best gaming experience I've ever had, but without a physical keyboard it's lacking for non-gaming tasks. Having a laptop-style GPD Win is on my bucket list.
Yeah, their website has several different versions of these to choose from.
I don't think they can fix the heat problem as your dome switches are soldered on the mother board so your controls will not get any insulation in between the button contacts. Otherwise they could try making the case thicker with a bigger air gap away from the main board and increase the exhaust vent size. On a more drastic fix would be to swap the right analog with ABXY buttons. But this entails making a longer length of the main board and case which would allow moving those usb-c ports to the center of the device instead of burning your cables right on top of the skinny exhaust vent. But I doubt they would ever fix this proper given how far along they are with trying to ship it. It's so unfortunate that we don't know if the 7640U runs any cooler. That APU no body says jack about and we're getting past launch day. This totally sucks I don't feel safe in buying any handheld. I wish GPD had access to the Z1E but in the end heat is your worst enemy for small and lite. And when it's that hot you know battery life sucks. I'm done. Edit: Not done, 🤣. Imagine GPD partnered with Valve to create the Deck Mini to target lower TPD. I'd say take my money. 🤑
I thought the GPD WIN2 would be my way to play next to my wife in front of the TV, but she complained about the fan, and my GPD WIN2 committed sudoku by overheating.
I hoped the GPD Win Mini would be much better than the GPD WIN2, which was too hot too.
But they failed: so it's too hot, and it is still windows, probably because the BIOS sucks, just like the WIN1 and WIN2.
My Steam Deck works nice, nothing is hot, and nobody is complaining as it is on it's loudest modest compared to a WIN2 or WIN even.
And best of all: the BIOS is perfect and the driver support is perfect.
The day GPD talks to Valve and considers supporting steam os from the start (means a good BIOS, not drivers that work around the BIOS lacking support of the hardware), that would be the day I would look at them again.
This isn't a device I would purchase, but I am glad GPD seems to be responsive to concerns. Hopefully whatever solution they come up with can fix the thermal issue because that is a major problem.
Looking foward for the legion go Review
Part of me wants to downvote you, just because your on holiday, and working, but the video is to good :)
Wow Im not tech savy but I didnt know about the v sync thing before. This is why my first stop when it comes t this type of stuff I come to The Phawx. Thank you.