In August, there was some buzz around GPD’s announcement of the Pocket 4 mini laptop, which promised to be the first handheld using AMD’s fresh Strix Point APUs. Fast forward a bit, and GPD Game Consoles unveiled the pricing for these cutting-edge devices. Starting at $895, you can grab the AMD Zen 4-powered Ryzen 7 8840U version, but if you’re eyeing the top-tier model with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, be ready to shell out $1,466. This beast is loaded with 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage.
Lightweight at just 770 grams, the GPD Pocket 4 mini is a chameleon of a device: it can act as a handheld, laptop, or tablet. It’s not just a pretty face either, packing a physical keyboard, touchscreen, and even a touchpad. The latest updates bring AMD’s Zen 4 (Hawk Point) and Zen 5 (Strix Point) APUs, tailored for different price points. Despite variations in the APU and RAM/SSD options, other features remain consistent across models. The Pocket Mini 4 dazzles with memory speeds up to 7,500 MT/s and a stunning 8.8-inch 2.5K display that boasts a 144 Hz refresh rate, a 97% DCI-P3 color gamut, and a brightness of 500 nits. Connectivity isn’t compromised either, offering Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, all while maintaining a 28W TDP.
If you’re curious about the pricing spectrum, the base model with the Ryzen 7 8840U features 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. It’s priced at $895, but grab it during the IGG campaign, and it drops to $829. This variant sports eight Zen 4 cores with a Radeon 780M iGPU.
For those interested in the Strix Point series, the entry-level option is the Ryzen AI 9 HX 365. It incorporates 10 Zen 5 cores with a Radeon 880M iGPU, along with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD. This will set you back $1,157, although there’s an IGG offer at $1,057.
At the top of the range, the flagship Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 version delivers 12 Zen 5 cores and AMD’s most potent Radeon 890M iGPU, complemented by a whopping 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. While it goes for $1,466, you can find a 4TB version out there, too.
Add-ons? GPD hasn’t forgotten those. They’ve announced an EIA RS-232 module for $20 for your legacy device needs and a 4G LTE module priced at $125 for seamless connectivity wherever you go. It’s worth noting, though, that the Pocket 4 lacks an OCuLink port, so you’ll need to rely on USB4 if you plan to hook up an eGPU.
The release date for the Pocket 4 remains under wraps, but if all goes smoothly with their crowdfunding ambitions, expect them by year-end.
One last bit: backing a crowdfunding project doesn’t always guarantee a finished product in your hands. It’s more of an investment, one where you show your faith in the project’s success rather than making a retail purchase.