AMD Strix Halo gaming handheld lacks an internal battery — GPD Win 5 requires an external battery or be plugged into the wall

Famed handheld gaming PC maker GPD has just teased the Win 5, the latest generation of its top-of-the-line handheld console, which features the powerful AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395. Although we didn’t see much in the video, thankfully, the YouTube channel The Phawx (PhawxTV) provided more details, revealing hardware specifications and a massive 80Wh external, removable battery.

This move counters the trend of incorporating built-in batteries into everything, allowing you to swap batteries when you run out of power easily. It’s also better for repairability, as you can just easily purchase a compatible battery from GPD and replace the old one in your system when it no longer works as expected.

Its spec sheet also says that the battery is backpack mountable (probably like mounting on the back of the console) or wired charging (which feels like it can be used as a power bank). This means you can place the battery on a desk and attach it to the console via cable, thereby reducing the weight you carry during those long gaming sessions.

Aside from the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, you can also get the Win 5 with the less potent AMD Ryzen AI Max 385. This cheaper version has half the cores and threads of the more powerful chip, but should still be enough for the average handheld gamer.

You can also configure the console’s memory from 32GB to 128GB, ensuring you’ll have enough RAM for both the CPU and the integrated GPU. It only has one M.2 NVMe 2280 slot, but you can choose between 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB configurations, ensuring you won’t run out of storage for all the titles you plan to add to it.

A few gamers were worried that the GPD Win 5 would inherit its predecessor’s smaller 6-inch display. Thankfully, it now features a 7-inch 120 Hz display with 1080p resolution and 10-point touch control. It’s also protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 6, which is already somewhat outdated, as it was introduced in 2018. Still, it’s better than nothing, and you’re not supposed to stash it in your bag or pocket without a case.

We’re excited to see the GPD Win 5, which is supposed to be revealed at ChinaJoy 2025 on August 1. Hopefully, it will become available at a relatively affordable price, giving gamers a next-generation console.

Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.

Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.