The upcoming GPD Pocket 2 Max is a tiny laptop by modern standards… but the 1.5 pound laptop with an 8.9 inch display is actually the largest computer GPD has launched to date. The larger screen and keyboard should make it easier to get work done. And GPD is adding features like a webcam and touchpad.

GPD unveiled promotional materials for the little laptop a few weeks ago. Now the company is showing off the GPD Pocket 2 Max at Japan IT Tech Week, where @KPL_ and PC Watch got a chance to see it in person.

GPD Pocket 2 Max (via PC Watch)

The real-world images make it clear that the new laptop is substantially larger than the GPD Pocket or Pocket 2, both of which had 7 inch displays and lacked touchpads or pointing sticks.

Interestingly, GPD seems to have stuffed a webcam into the hinge rather than atop the screen. While it’s certainly a space-saving way to add a webcam, it’s a little unfortunate to see a company adding a knuckle-cam at a time when even Dell’s XPS 13 line of laptops are moving away from that camera placement.

Another interesting design choice? The GPD Pocket 2 Max doesn’t have an SD card reader. It does have a user-upgradeable PCIe SSD if you want more storage though, so I guess that’s an option.

Here’s a run-down of the specs for the GPD Pocket 2 Max:

  • 8.9 inch, 2560 x 1600 pixel display
  • Intel Core m3-8100Y Amber Lake processor
  • 8GB to 16GB of RAM
  • 256GB to 1TB of PCIe SSD (upgradeable and NVMe compatible)
  • 2MP webcam
  • 3.5mm audio jack
  • USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports
  • micro HDMI
  • Fingerprint in the power button
  • 802.11ac WiFi
  • 9,200 mAh battery
  • 8.1″ x 5.8″ x 0.7″
  • 1.5 pounds

The thing I’m most interested in is the keyboard. As much as I love the recent revival of UMPC-style, pocket-sized computers, a common complaint is that it’s hard to touch type at full-speed on a tiny keyboard. I’ll be curious to know whether the Pocket 2 Max hits that sweet spot between portability and usability that makes it a viable option for use as an on-the-go computer for getting real work done.

You can find more pictures at PC Watch.

Update: Engadget Japanese also got a chance to check out the GPD Pocket 2 Max at Japan IT Week and the site has posted some more pictures.

Meanwhile, GPD posted some of its own pictures to Facebook, including a nice shot of the company’s existing and upcoming mini PCs.

And if you’re wondering what it’s like to type on the Pocket 2 Max’s keyboard, GPD Tweeted this short video:

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,546 other subscribers

15 replies on “GPD brings Pocket 2 Max 8.9 inch mini laptop to Japan IT Week”

  1. ugly keyboard, ugly screen, why not sony pocket format?
    pgup not fit ;(

  2. I know it would be too expensive for most people but I’d buy this if it had a core m7 with the 16gb of ram option. My work requires the extra power needed.

  3. Hi I’m in south Africa Johannesburg where can I buy one GPD pocket 2 max

  4. Hell. At first I jumped on my chair – Finally a replacement for my aging Eee 901? I’m not interested in tiny 7″ toys or 11″ laptops. 9″ is perfect for portability.

    But seeing that keyboard shatters this. No Function keys – WHY?? There’s a ton of space. The 4 cramped keys at bottom right don’t seem comfortable for typing the common dot. (On the other hand, having the slash next to the left shift is even worse.)

    Touchpad without buttons. Yes I know it’s been a trend for a decade now but I just want a touchpad where I can emulate middle-click to open browser tabs in the background with 2 fingers…

    Sigh. But yea everything has to be Apple-like…

    Most likely I’ll get this anwyay since nobody else makes 9″ laptops anymore.

  5. I’d be a lot happier with a 1600×900 display resolution on that size of screen, and the lack of SD or even TF card reader is a serious problem if I want to take this with me on a photo shoot, to avoid having to bring a larger laptop. In reality I will prefer my 13″ Zenbook because it has a fast SD card reader and compensating for the lack of one would result in bringing extra USB cables, or a USB-C dock, or at least an SD reader with an inline cable to protect the laptop from the adapter damaging the USB port if it gets struck in the field. One tiny thing missing can sure make a mobile device stop being useful.

    1. I would also like to see inclusion of full-size SD (specifically one with a fast bus connection, like USB 3.0), but alas, I think we are in the minority.

  6. I like to take overnight bike rides but I never pack a laptop, which is not ideal given my work responsibilities–this could be the perfect device to change that!

    And yes I still value being “completely off the grid” in a way that one may associate with long overnight bike rides, but this would open the door to riding to visit friends and family in other states and working remotely for a few days, trips which I otherwise simply wouldn’t take.

  7. I’m more interested in the eventual OneMix Yoga version that copies this design pretty much entirely, except with a 360 degree hinge. I realise that this adds to the device’s complexity, but honestly, sub-10″ devices are basically a perfect tablet size, it seems criminal to not make these full convertibles.

    1. Yeah, it seems that One Netbook always one ups GPD by just having the 360 degree hinge added.

  8. Unfortunately, this remains unusable for anyone that uses the Dvorak keyboard layout, which e.g., replaces the home row key ; with s.

    I realize that there probably aren’t many users that rely on Dvorak (or other alternate layouts). But I’d bet that many of those users are the kind that are interested in a UMPC.

    The eeePC managed to get a full keyboard in a compact layout. Why can’t GPD?

    1. the bottom right hand row is more problematic, as it is falls badly out of alignment. you can remap the enter key, and map a thumb key to replace it. this works very well with the pocket 2, and is the only compact laptop keyboard i have seriously considered for typing.

Comments are closed.