Gaming has been an integral part of people’s lives during the pandemic. It gives them a chance to step out into a different world when the real world is not yet safe. With the countless games popping out left and right, it’s hard to find the perfect console that can fit all your gaming needs. However, that might just change today with the GPD Win 3.
Gamers from all over the globe will agree that gaming consoles are just as important as the game itself. How can you enjoy a good game if your mobile or PC doesn’t have the necessary graphics capability or GPU performance? That’s why there are as many consoles available in the market as games today. A new gaming console has been turning gaming chairs and has gamers looking up from their monitors— the GPD Win 3. In this guide, we’ll look into whether the GPD Win 3 is worth it.
Inside This Article
What Is the GPD Win 3
The GPD Win 3 is a portable Windows PC. The debate regarding which gaming platform is the best— a portable console or a gaming PC, can now be settled with both! GPD’s newest Indiegogo-funded gaming PC has set out to offer the best of both worlds with the launch of the GPD Win 3.
Win 3 boasts itself as the first handheld AAA gaming console. You can now take your gaming on the go with its 5.5-inch, 720p touchscreen with an integrated controller, and slider keyboard. The GPD Win 3 is a direct successor of the Win Max, which is already a great portable gaming PC, but the main difference between the two is its sliding screen design, complete with a backlit keyboard.
This gaming PC runs on Windows 10 and can support complex game emulators smoothly. Win 3 lets you enjoy PC games anywhere and anytime. It’s a great home console too that can not only cater to your gaming needs but, basic PC functions as well.
How Much Does the GPD Win 3 Cost?
The GPD Win 3 pricing starts at $799, which is twice as expensive as the PlayStation 5. The price might seem exorbitant compared to more popular handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch, but keep in mind the Win 3 has impressive docking capabilities, which most portable consoles don’t have.
At $799, you can order a GPD Win 3 at Indiegogo. For about $200 more, you can get the console with an HDMI, USB, and the Gigabit Ethernet docking station.
GPD Win 3 Features
Part game console and part PC, the GPD Win 3 gives a lot of gaming consoles a run for their money. But what exactly are you getting for your $799?
Intel 11th Generation Tiger Lake-U Series Processors
The GPD Win 3 is a gaming PC after all, so it makes sense the console is powered like a heavy-duty PC. Powered by Intel’s 11th Generation TIger Lake-U Series processor you can get your Win 3 with a Core i5 or i7 chip.
Win 3 can run as fast as the latest PCs and laptops in the market now. Tiger Lake-U in Win 3 has reported a 20% increase in performance compared to its predecessor with Ice Lake-U.
12th Generation Intel Iris Xe Graphics
The GPD Win 3 has an integrated 12th Generation Intel Iris Xe graphics processor that can enable gamers to play AAA games at 60fps. This surpasses the performance of the Nvidia GeForce MX350.
Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station
One of the best features that put the GPD Win 3 on top of its game is its Thunderbolt 4 docking station. The Thunderbolt 4 can natively support USB 4. It can also hold up the connection of two 4k monitors or one 8k monitor and other external tools that can transform the console into a docked laptop that has the same power and performance as an Intel PC.
With the Thunderbolt 4 interface, the bandwidth has doubled, enabling the full capacities of an external graphics card. The docking station is an optional accessory, but when purchased, it opens a lot of possibilities that go beyond gaming.
Screen Slider Design With Added Functionality
The GPD Win 3 sports a smooth screen slider design that can give you options on gaming on the go. But that’s not all— the design of the Win 3 packs a punch in functionality with its integrated controls, keyboard, and even fingerprint sensor.
When you slide up your Win 3 screen, a full QWERTY backlit keyboard will reveal itself, making typing on a handheld device easier. However, the keyboard is not actually embossed or has its own keys. It’s a touch-type keyboard that’s equipped with haptic feedback. The response could be better when you use it, but it still does the job of taking the hassle of typing every single letter using a portable gaming console.
The sleek slider design gives you a nostalgic feel of the early 2000s, where all the phones were handier horizontally. The GPD Win 3 is complete with the two Alps thumbsticks, analog trigger buttons for L3 and R3, and native sensors for L2 and R2. The console also has dual vibration motors that can connect you further with your game.
PC-Grade Turbofan With Dual Heat Pipes
The GPD Win 3 has a PC-level cooling system with dual heat pipes, which gives efficient heat dissipation. The turbofan only activates when the internal temperature of the device reaches 40 degrees. When the heat goes beyond 40 degrees, the cooling system increases power at two percent at increments until it reaches 100%.
AAC Top 3D Linear Loudspeaker
Nothing gets you in the game like a good musical score, right? Well, the GPD Win 3 has an AAC three-dimensional stereo linear speaker from Germany. The loudspeaker features a double amplitude enhancement that can provide you with a good lively and powerful sound.
GPD Win 3 vs Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch is the most popular handheld console out there now. It was first released in 2017, which sparked a handheld renaissance that gave birth to innovative and unique handheld gaming consoles like the GPD Win 3.
But how exactly does the GPD Win 3 stack up against the Nintendo Switch?
Battery Life
You can enjoy gaming on your Switch for about 2.5 to 6.5 hours, depending on how demanding the games you are playing. The GPD Win 3 battery expectancy also depends on the game, but it could give the average gamer three to eight hours of handheld gameplay in a single charge.
We believe that the Switch and the Win 3 tie in the battery category as there’s not much of a difference. Both the Win 3 and the Switch have docking capabilities that also allow gamers to still be able to play even when it’s charging.
Storage and RAM
For storage and RAM, the GPD Win 3 takes the cake with its internal 1 TB SSD space and 16 GB RAM. On the other hand, the Switch only has a measly 32 GB storage and four times less RAM with only 4 GB.
GPU
The Win GPD 3 boasts a 12th generation Intel Iris Xe processor, while the Nintendo Switch has Nvidia GM20B. Both consoles show off a 720p resolution on their portable screens, so it doesn’t really put their GPUs to a proper test when it comes to graphics in handheld mode.
Design and Functionalities
One of the most popular features of the Nintendo Switch is its unique design and detachable Joy-Cons. The Joy-Cons changed the handheld game with its versatile functionalities, giving the average gamer more ways to enjoy their console.
However, Win 3 doesn’t skimp on the functionalities of its design either. It may not have the mass-enjoyed detachable Joy-Cons, but it has a built-in keyboard, a fingerprint sensor, and a whole lot more ports for docking purposes.
Pricing
The Win GPD 3 price sits between $799 to $900, which is almost three times the cost of a Nintendo Switch. However, it is worth noting that though both gaming consoles may look similar, they both serve highly different functionalities.
As a portable gaming PC, Win 3 is naturally more expensive than the light handheld gaming console that is the Switch. This is a classic case of you get what you pay for. And with three times the price, you essentially get four times the RAM, a significantly sizable storage space, a powerful CPU, and a lot more.
Games You Can Play on the GPD Win 3
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V is one of the best AAA games there is. Since its release in 2013, GTA V still lives up to today’s gaming standards.
Roam through the fictional state of San Andreas, which is inspired by Southern California, in a single-player story. GTA V follows three protagonists— a street gangster, a retired bank robber, and a drug and arms dealer, and their efforts to commit heists amidst a corrupt government and prolific crime bosses.
With its open-world concept, players can also freely wander the expansive countryside of San Andreas and the fictitious city of Los Santos, which is sunny Los Angeles in video games.
Get Grand Theft Auto V on Amazon
Cyberpunk 2077
Live your dystopian Cyberpunk dream in one of the most anticipated and hyped games that have been in development for several years. Cyberpunk 2077 is an action role-playing video game developed by CD Projekt.
The narrative takes place in an open world set in the Cyberpunk universe called Night City. Players take the first-person perspective of a customizable mercenary known as V, who can gain skills in hacking and machinery with possibilities for basic and ranged combat.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Another CD Projekt game, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the best RPG games available now and an instant classic when it was released. The Witcher 3 is set in an open world with players in a third-person perspective.
The game takes place in a Slavonic mythology-inspired fantasy realm. Players control Geralt of Rivia, a hired monster slayer known as a Witcher, as he searches for his adoptive daughter, who is also on an otherworldly Wild Hunt.
The game’s plot features three different endings, which are influenced by the player’s decisions at crucial points in the story.
Get The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt on Amazon
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a great AAA game you can have on your GPD Win 3. Players can run through the game with both first and third-person perspectives. The players can also freely wander in its interactive open world.
Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay elements include heists, shootouts, fishing, interacting with NPCs, and preserving the character’s honor rating through its moral decisions and deeds.
Get Red Dead Redemption II on Amazon
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is a role-playing action game released for PlayStation 4, Windows, iOS, and Android in 2020. It was produced by a Chinese animation studio and video game developer miHoyo.
Genshin Impact features an open-world setting and action-based battle game using character-switching and elemental magic. The game has always been free-to-play since its release. It makes money through vending games or gacha mechanics, where players can purchase new weapons, characters, and other accessories.
Dark Souls III
Dark Souls III is a gaming masterpiece from the musical score, graphics, to the inception of different storylines within the game. The game is another RPG that gamers play from a third-person perspective.
Throughout the game, players will come across a variety of opponents, each with their own set of behaviors. During battles, some of them alter their combat techniques. Players are equipped with a range of weapons to fight against bosses, such as swords, bows, and projectiles. Shields can also function as secondary weapons, while bonfires act as game checkpoints.
Devil May Cry 5
If you’re getting the GPD Win 3 with the Intel Core i7 CPU, you can run the Devil May Cry 5 smoothly. The Devil May Cry 5 is a great game for players who want to see a lot of action and fighting sequences. The game was developed by Capcom and is the sixth installment of the Devil May Cry anthology.
The game occurs five years after Devil May Cry 4 and follows a trio of heroes with demonic powers as they endeavor to prevent the Demon King Urizen from annihilating the human world. Gamers can utilize the three characters in various quests throughout their journey in Red Grave City. Each of them has its unique way of combat and growing stronger.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Nintendo developed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the Nintendo Switch originally. But you can now play this with your GPD Win 3 or any gaming PC with a decent emulator. Breath of the Wild takes place at the end of the Zelda timeline. The player controls Link, a character who awakens from a hundred-year slumber to rescue the kingdom of Hyrule and defeat Calamity Ganon.
Like its original 1986 predecessor, this Legend of Zelda game provides the least amount of instructions and encourages gamers to explore freely. Tasks include collecting different items and equipment for completing side quests. You can complete the story in a dynamic and non-linear way.
Get The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Amazon
Monster Hunter: World
Monster Hunter: World is an action-packed RPG by Capcom. Gamers take the role of a hunter that hunts down monsters that wander in the many environmental spaces in the game. Players get rewarded via loot that consists of monster parts and equipment that you can use to craft and build new armor and weapons to defeat next-level creatures.
In Monster Hunter: World, you can hunt alone or play with a group of up to four through the game’s online multiplayer system.
Get Monster Hunter: World on Amazon
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy has been on the RPG market for years, it’s one of the OG game series that every gamer must experience. The art, music, and story set Final Fantasy XV apart from many video games.
The 15th installment of Final Fantasy gives you control over the main character Noctis Lucis Caelum during his travels across the world of Eos. The game has an open-world setting and action-based gameplay. Move through Caelum with elemental magic, fast and easy weapon switching, and additional functions like vehicle travel and camping.
Get Final Fantasy XV on Amazon
What We Like and What We Don’t Like About the GPD Win 3
PROS
- The GPD Win 3 has a powerful CPU and GPU that can outperform most handheld consoles and even laptops in the market.
- It’s a PC in your pocket— literally!
- GPD Win 3’s docking capabilities are unique and incredibly nifty, which helps you fully utilize not only your portable gaming PC but external devices as well.
- The fingerprint sensor gives users convenience when accessing their GPD Win 3. No need for sliding the console up and down or typing a security code. It offers a quick and easy login with the Windows Hello biometric system.
- The Win 3 docking station has a cut-out for the vent at the back of the PC. This provides unrestricted airflow for more efficient cooling.
CONS
- A lot of adjustments need to be done when docking the GPD Win 3 for external display.
- The keyboard is smooth and completely flat. It doesn’t give much response when you use it.
- The keyboard is also a bit too wide to give you comfortable thumb typing.
- The GPD Win 3 is considerably more expensive compared to other handheld gaming consoles in the market.
- The turbofan cooling system can be noisy at times.
Verdict: Is GPD Win 3 Worth It?
As a portable gaming PC that is as powerful as competitive laptops with great docking capabilities? The GPD Win 3 is worth it at $799. It’s part-gaming console, part-PC that can give you the best of both worlds without compromise.
The GPD Win 3 is a great gaming PC. Though it’s a bit on the expensive side, you still get what you pay for. If you’re not so keen on using its docking capabilities, you should opt for a pure gaming handheld, like the Nintendo Switch. However, if you’re looking to have a powerful console that can do almost everything both a handheld and a PC can do, then it will be the best $799 you’ll ever spend.
