First Impressions: Power Packed Into Your Hands
The world of handheld gaming PCs keeps getting more competitive, but the GPD Win 5 has managed to grab attention right out of the gate. Early impressions suggest it’s not just another portable console—it’s a powerhouse that rivals desktop gaming rigs.
YouTuber The Phawx recently got his hands on the flagship version of the GPD Win 5, running AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 “Strix Halo” chip. From the very first tests, the performance numbers looked impressive. While GPD also offers a slightly less powerful model with the Ryzen 385, the Max+ 395 edition is clearly built to showcase what this new handheld can really do.
Think of it like holding a miniaturized gaming PC that doesn’t compromise much in terms of frame rates. For anyone who’s tried older handhelds that struggled to keep up, the leap here feels dramatic.
Benchmark Showdown: How Does It Stack Up?
The most interesting part of these early tests comes from side-by-side comparisons with rival handhelds running AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip. The differences weren’t small—they were significant enough to make gamers sit up and take notice.
For example, when running Returnal, the Win 5 delivered nearly 80 FPS, while the HX 370 device hovered closer to 45 FPS. That’s almost double the frame rate, even though both handhelds were operating at the same 25W power limit.
In God of War: Ragnarok, the margin wasn’t as dramatic, but the Win 5 still came out on top, averaging 85 FPS compared to 67 FPS on the HX 370. Again, both systems were tested under the same power conditions.
Push the Win 5 harder—cranking the power draw higher—and the frame rates become even more eye-catching. What’s fascinating is how much more headroom the Strix Halo chip seems to offer before efficiency drops off. According to testing, the HX 370 starts showing diminishing returns at just 18W, while the Strix Halo version of the Win 5 can keep scaling up until around 45W.
For gamers, this means more flexibility: you can prioritize efficiency on the go, or push the chip for raw power when plugged in.
Why Strix Halo Changes the Game
The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 Strix Halo chip is the real star here. Unlike traditional handheld processors that often bottleneck when dealing with GPU-heavy tasks, Strix Halo’s integrated graphics muscle shines in titles that demand more from the GPU.
Games like Returnal—which are notoriously resource-hungry—benefit the most. For handheld gaming, this kind of performance bump isn’t just nice to have; it’s game-changing. It opens the door to smoother experiences in AAA games that handhelds previously struggled with.
This makes the GPD Win 5 less of a niche experiment and more of a serious alternative for gamers who want flexibility: play anywhere without feeling like you’re downgrading to “portable mode.”
The Elephant in the Room: Price
Of course, there’s no getting around the price tag. The GPD Win 5 is not cheap. The base model starts at around $1,400, while the Strix Halo edition jumps to about $1,650 through GPD’s IndieGoGo campaign.
That’s laptop money—or even entry-level desktop PC money. And that’s where the debate begins. Should you buy a handheld at that price when a full gaming PC could deliver even more power? Or is the portability worth the premium?
For those who’ve always dreamed of carrying a near-desktop experience in their backpack, the GPD Win 5 might feel worth every penny. But for budget-conscious gamers, the cost could be hard to justify.
Real-World Impact: Who Is This For?
If you’re someone who values mobility without compromise, the Win 5 feels like a dream device. Long train commutes, hotel stays, or even just moving around the house—you can carry serious gaming power anywhere.
For developers or creators, it might also double as a portable workstation, capable of handling demanding applications beyond gaming.
That said, battery life will be the trade-off. Push the chip to its limits, and you’ll drain it quickly. So the sweet spot may be adjusting settings to balance performance and endurance—something handheld enthusiasts are already familiar with.
My Take: What This Means for the Future of Handheld Gaming
I think the GPD Win 5 tells us something important: handheld PCs aren’t side projects anymore. With hardware like the Strix Halo pushing nearly desktop-level performance, companies like GPD are proving that portability doesn’t have to equal compromise.
What excites me most isn’t just this single device—it’s what it means for the future. If GPD can package this much power into a handheld (albeit an expensive one), then the next few years of portable gaming tech are going to be very interesting.
But here’s the trade-off I keep circling back to: price vs. practicality. At $1,400–$1,650, this isn’t a casual purchase. It’s an investment. And like any investment, it only makes sense if you’re the kind of gamer—or pro user—who will actually use that power on the go.
For everyone else, a gaming laptop or desktop might still be the smarter call.
Final Thoughts
The GPD Win 5 with Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has already made a strong impression:
-
It delivers high FPS that set it apart from rivals.
-
It showcases the potential of AMD’s Strix Halo integrated GPU.
-
It proves that handheld gaming PCs are entering a new era of performance.
But it also comes with a steep entry cost that won’t appeal to everyone.
If you’re chasing the best portable gaming experience money can buy, this device may be the one to watch. If you’re more focused on value, you might be better off waiting for prices to come down—or for competitors to launch alternatives.
Either way, the GPD Win 5 has raised the bar for what handheld gaming can look like in 2025.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information from reliable tech sources. It is written for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or product purchase advice.
