At ChinaJoy 2025, the GPD WIN 5 made its debut, quickly sparking heated discussions among handheld gaming enthusiasts. Breaking from decades of tradition, this device abandons the built-in battery design in favor of an external battery module, enabling a massive performance boost with power consumption reaching 60–70W. Is this a revolutionary leap forward—or an ambitious experiment?
Performance Upgrades
Compared to previous models like the WIN 4 and WIN Max 2, the WIN 5 brings major hardware upgrades. It’s powered by the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor paired with integrated Radeon 8060S graphics, featuring an 8-core CPU and 32-core GPU. Memory options range from 32GB to 128GB LPDDR5X-8000, with storage handled by an M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD. The 7-inch display offers 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
This hardware delivers performance close to that of an RTX 4060. In 3DMark Time Spy, the GPU scores around 9,680—about 15% lower than an RTX 4060—but in real-world gaming, the difference is negligible. For example, in Black Myth: Wukong, the WIN 5 can maintain over 80 FPS at 1080p with all settings maxed out.
The 16-core Zen 5 CPU scores an impressive ~30,500 points in Cinebench R23, rivaling many mainstream desktop PCs. At full load, power draw peaks above 70W, with in-game temperatures holding between 70°C and 80°C. GPD tackles this with a dual-fan cooling system to ensure sustained performance.
Enhanced Cooling System
By removing the internal battery, GPD freed up valuable space for cooling. The WIN 5 features a dual-fan, quad-heat-pipe thermal module, designed to handle heavy CPU and GPU loads. Users can run it plugged in or attach an external battery pack to the rear without sacrificing performance.
On-site tests show the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 sustaining 70W output at ~80°C. CPU-Z benchmarks score 769 (single-thread) and 12,678 (multi-thread), while Cinebench R23 multi-thread hits 30,495—comparable to an Intel Core i9-13900HX. The 3DMark Time Spy GPU score of 9,680 matches desktop RTX 4060 levels, enabling smooth gameplay even at 2K high settings. Black Myth: Wukong again reaches over 80 FPS.
Thermal measurements during testing showed ~43°C around the screen edges, ~45°C at the center (CPU area), ~38°C at the grips, and ~42°C at the exhaust—warm but comfortable to hold.
Design Breakthrough
The WIN 5 sports a sturdy magnesium-aluminum alloy body with a sleek matte black finish. LED-lit power buttons add a premium touch. Measuring 9.65 × 3.82 × 1.54 inches, the design is both compact and ergonomic. This generation removes the physical keyboard found in earlier models. The device weighs ~800g alone and ~1,200g with the external battery attached.
Port selection remains generous:
Top: 40Gbps USB4 port, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, 180W charging port
Bottom: USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, microSD slot, 3.5mm audio jack
From the first GPD WIN in 2016 to today’s WIN 5, GPD has continuously pushed the boundaries of portable computing. As a niche mini-PC brand, GPD remains true to its mission: catering to specialized markets with personalized, high-performance gaming and productivity devices.
The WIN 5 is still undergoing final refinements and is expected to launch in October this year. Some see the external battery design as a bold step—improving performance and battery swap convenience—while others feel it compromises portability by requiring either an external battery or a constant power connection.
What’s your take on this unconventional handheld gaming PC?
