GPD Pocket 4: Mini Laptop with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX Review

The GPD Pocket 4 packs a 98th percentile CPU and GPU into a 726g tablet. It's a portable Windows powerhouse with a massive 2TB SSD, but battery life is just average and the price is steep. Buy this if you need desktop performance in your pocket; skip it if you want a balanced daily driver.

The GPD Pocket 4 is a paradox in a 726g package. It packs a 12-core AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU and a Radeon 890M iGPU, specs that land in the 98th percentile for both processing and graphics power among tablets and mini PCs. That's desktop-grade muscle crammed into an 8.8-inch frame. You also get 32GB of RAM and a massive 2TB SSD, which sit at the 95th and 100th percentiles respectively. This isn't just a powerful mini laptop; it's an overbuilt one.

But that power comes with some clear trade-offs. Its battery life scores in the 48th percentile, which is just okay for a device this size. And while the 2.5K 144Hz screen is sharp and smooth, its overall screen score only hits the 75th percentile, likely due to the smaller size. This device knows exactly what it is: a performance-first, portable powerhouse for a very specific user.

Let's talk numbers. A CPU in the 98th percentile means this thing chews through code compiles, video encodes, and complex spreadsheets like they're nothing. The 12-core Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is the same chip you'd find in high-end gaming laptops. Pair that with a GPU also in the 98th percentile, the Radeon 890M, and you've got integrated graphics that can genuinely handle modern games at respectable settings on that 1600p screen. 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM ensures you'll never run out of headroom for browser tabs or virtual machines.

The 2TB NVMe SSD is the cherry on top, sitting in the 100th percentile for storage. Everything loads instantly. The modular ports, including HDMI 2.1 for triple display output, give it a connectivity score in the 71st percentile, which is solid for such a tiny device. The only real performance hiccup is thermal management under sustained load, a common challenge in this form factor, but the raw specs are undeniably elite.

At $2016, the Pocket 4 is expensive, no two ways about it. You're paying a premium for the engineering feat of putting top-tier laptop components into a sub-1kg device. The value proposition isn't about price per performance in a general sense—you could get a much more powerful traditional laptop for less. The value is entirely in the portability-to-power ratio. If you absolutely need a full Windows 11 workstation that fits in a large coat pocket, there's literally nothing else like it at this performance level. For that specific need, it's arguably worth every penny.

Stacked against the competition, the Pocket 4 carves out a unique niche. The Apple iPad Pro M4 has a better screen and battery, and might feel faster in optimized apps, but it can't touch the raw, unrestricted Windows power and storage of the GPD. The Microsoft Surface Pro is a more polished 2-in-1 with better lapability, but even the top Copilot+ models can't match the 890M's graphics punch or the 2TB built-in storage. The real competition is from within GPD's own family, like the Win MAX 2, which offers similar specs in a clamshell handheld gaming PC form factor. The Pocket 4 wins on pure tablet-like portability, while the Win MAX 2 might be better for those who prioritize gaming controls and a larger screen.

Skip the GPD Pocket 4 if your primary need is productivity. Its score of 40.9/100 in that area is a major red flag. Students, office workers, or anyone who needs to type for hours on end will find the small keyboard and average battery life frustrating. Also, if you're just looking for a tablet for media consumption and web browsing, the high price and Windows-focused power are complete overkill. You'd be much happier with a Galaxy Tab or iPad, which score higher in entertainment and reading.

The GPD Pocket 4 is a thrilling, uncompromising device for a very specific person. If your top priority is having maximum Windows application power in the smallest possible package, and you're willing to trade battery life, some typing comfort, and a chunk of cash for it, this is your device. The data doesn't lie: its core specs are in the top 2% of the category. But if you need a primary laptop for all-day productivity, or just want a media consumption tablet, its low productivity score (40.9/100) and niche design mean you should look at a Surface Pro or iPad Pro instead. This is a brilliant tool, but it's not for everyone.