The GPD Win Max 2021 is a handheld gaming computer that’s also a mini-laptop thanks to a built-in keyboard, trackpad, and game controllers. It looks virtually identical to last year’s GPD Win Max, but the new model will be available with a choice of AMD Ryzen 4000 “Renoir” or 11th-gen Intel Core “Tiger Lake” processor options.

Now, a day ahead of the start of the Win Max 2021 crowdfunding campaign, GPD has upgraded the specs for Intel models. It will now feature an Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor with support for single-core Turbo Boost speeds as high as 5 GHz.

The company has also adjusted the pricing. There’s no longer a $1400 model with a faster processor, as all Intel versions will come with Core i7-1195G7 processors:

ProductNew specs / pricesOld specs / prices priceRetail price
Win Max 2021N/A1185G7 / 16GB / 1TB for $1400$1750
Win Max 20211195G7 /16GB / 1TB for $9991165G7 / 16GB / 1TB for $999$1250
Win Max 20214800U / 16GB /1TB for $9994800U / 16GB /1TB for $999$1250
Mainboard1195G7 / 16GB for $6691165G7 / 16GB for $669$837
Mainboard4800U / 16GB for $6694800U / 16GB for $669$937

Intel’s Core i7-1195G7 processor is a recent addition to the Tiger Lake-U lineup and it brings a couple of improvements over the Core i7-1185G7 and Core i7-1165G7, including:

  • Top single-core CPU burst speeds up to 5 GHz (vs 4.8 GHz and 4.7 GHz for the other chips)
  • Top GPU frequencies of 1.4 GHz (vs 1.35 GHz and 1.3 GHz, respectively)

Overall the new processor is based on similar technology. It’s still a 10nm, 4-core, 8-thread chip with Intel Iris Xe graphics and 96 execution units. But it could bring a little extra performance boost to GPD’s latest handheld.

It’s increasingly unclear to me though, why GPD is even bothering to offer a model with an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U processor if the company is going to charge the same price for it as for the Intel version. While AMD’s previous-gen laptop processor is an 8-core, 16-thread chip that offers competitive multi-core performance, it lags behind Intel’s chips in single-core CPU scores and trails in graphics performance according to GPD’s own testing.

I suppose the AMD model might be a better option for folks who are looking for a mini-laptop first and a gaming handheld second. And GPD is positioning the Win Max 2021 as a device that can be used as a laptop as a way to differentiate it from the upcoming Valve Steam Deck, which has a much lower starting price of $399 but which lacks a physical keyboard.

But selling the AMD-powered Win Max 2021 for the same price tag as the Intel version just seems like a strange call. One possibility though? Folks who want to eke out some extra battery life for handheld gaming – The Phawx notes that even with the TDP configured to 5 watts, the Win Max 2021 with AMD offers decent graphics performance (he recommends opting for the 1195G7 version if you plan to configure the TDP to 14 watts or higher though).

The GPD Win Max 2021 will be available for pre-order through Indiegogo starting at 10:00PM Eastern on July 29 for $999 and up, which is $251 off the expected retail price. Folks who already have a first-gen Win Max will be able to save a little money by purchasing a new mainboard and upgrading their old device. GPD will offer upgrade boards for $669 during crowdfunding, or about $937 when crowdfunding ends.

Here’s an overview of key specs for the Win Max 2021:

GPD Win Max 2021 Specs
Display8 inches
1280 x 800 pixels
189 ppi
90% DCI-P3 wide color gamut
500-nits brightness
10-point capacitive multitouch input
Gorilla Glass
CPUIntel Core i7-1195G7
AMD Ryzen 7 4800U
GPUIntel Iris Xe 96 eu (1.4 GHz)
AMD Radeon Vega 8
TDPAdjustable: 20W, 25W or 28W
Memory16GB LPDDR4-4266
Storage1TB M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe SSD
Ports2 x Thunderbolt 4 (Intel) / USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (AMD)
2 x USB 3.0 Type-A
1 x HDMI 2.0
1 x Gigabit Ethernet
1 x 3.5mm audio
InputTouchscreen display
Backlit QWERTY keyboard
Trackpad
Game controllers
Battery 57 Wh
Charging65W USB-C
CoolingDual heat pipes
Dual fans
9-hole vent
WirelessWiFi 5
Bluetooth 4.2
MaterialsABS Plastic & magnesium alloy
Dimensions207 x 145 x 26mm
8.1″ x 5.7″ x 1″
Weight790 grams
1.7 pounds

And to see how the Win Max 2021 stacks up against other current-gen handheld gaming computers, check out Liliputing’s spec comparison of the Steam Deck, AYA Neo, ONEXPLAYER, GPD Win 3, and GPD Win Max 2021.

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6 replies on “GPD Win Max 2021 handheld gaming PC gets an Intel Core i7-1195G7 spec bump (crowdfunding begins July 29)”

  1. “But selling the AMD-powered Win Max 2021 for the same price tag as the Intel version just seems like a strange call.”

    It’s perfectly possible that Intel is in the position to offer them some kind of rebate/discount. AMD is probably not interested in similar deals when it can’t make chips fast enough to sell them.

  2. Too bad IGG GPD devices have a 10% rate of hardware problems and support varies from non-existent to horrible.

    Unless you really need a keyboard and IO ports, it’s better to reserve the Steam Deck and wait and see what happens with the Win Max units. Most backers probably won’t get units until 2022 anyway based on previous campaigns.

  3. I suppose the Win Max can still be priced expensively, because it functions more like a mini laptop. But the other gaming-first devices, like GPD Win 3, etc, need a serious price reduction now that the Steam Deck exists.

    1. Now that the Steam Deck exists, I don’t even see the point of GPD competing.

      GPD was only successful because no real options existed. Now that we have a major company, that offers true warranty, there’s no reason to send $1000 to China in the hopes that you’ll get a working device.

      Valve’s hope is that major PC manufacturers jump onboard with this Steam handheld concept, and take over so that Valve doesn’t need to make them.

      I hope GPD goes back to making cheaper Android handhelds. I’m 100% interested in a new version to the GPD XD

      1. Deck is not available in China and Asia. China alone is a bigger market than all markets where Deck is available combined and buyers there don’t have problems with international shipping since GPD is located there.

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