GPD Pocket 4

I received my GPD Pocket 4 two weeks ago. Since unboxing it, it has been a never-ending diagnostic to figure out why things don't work. Maintaining a reasonable fan level requires additional software. Otherwise, it constantly runs at near full speed and sounds like a turbine. The fan also never shuts down in sleep mode. I've tried using Windows' hibernate feature, but it causes the screen to lock into its last orientation and requires a reboot to correct. I've also had to use Device Manager to delete components to get the system to charge correctly, as well as have a working touchscreen. The system also doesn't come with secure boot or BitLocker enabled. Make sure to enable secure boot in the BIOS (first) and then enable BitLocker before adding fingerprint/pin authentication. This last item would be genuine of any computer, but adds to the overall frustration with the 'Pocket 4'. Lastly, downloading drivers and BIOS updates was a tedious process. They're stored in an overshared Google Drive folder that required multiple attempts to complete successfully. I still haven't been successful in updating the drivers b/c the instructions are in Chinese and the script fails. This is a brand new device; there shouldn't be this many things to correct in order for it to work.

This device has lived up to most of my expectations, and I’m really happy with it. Quick side note: Droix has been fantastic, and I can’t imagine buying a GPD device any other way now. On to the Pocket 4:

This is a pretty novel little machine. A surprising amount of power in such a compact package, and the price wasn’t bad at all given the horsepower (mine is the HX 370 / 64 GB version).

The screen is excellent, although there’s no getting around the fact that it’s still just 8.8 inches. That means working with two windows side-by-side is rarely viable, and when coworkers share their 4K screens on video calls, it's a bit rough. I can zoom in using our conferencing app, but that was a surprise annoyance I hadn’t fully anticipated. Just one of those small-device tradeoffs that reminds you how important it is to know your needs before diving into something this compact. When I’m working in a planned session I dock it at my desk.

A couple of features I really like: The 4G LTE modem and the surprisingly usable built-in keyboard. It’s a huge upgrade from tapping things out on my phone’s screen when I need to write more than a sentence or two. With a little practice, I’m comfortably typing over 60 WPM. I've used it more for documentation and correspondence than coding, since some of the keys are in odd places.

The trackpad and mouse buttons above the keyboard were easy to get used to. Two minor gripes: the built-in mic isn’t great (but I use a Bluetooth headset anyway), and the fan can be a little annoying. It's not louder than my i9 ThinkPad, but the pitch of the fan can be grating in a quiet room. Sometimes it hits that mosquito-whine territory. If there's any white noise or ambient sound around it fades into the background. You can manage it using the MotionAssist app and TDP settings. It’s manageable.

It’s not super lap-friendly due to its shape and weight, but I do use it that way from time to time. I haven’t made much use of the tablet mode. I would’ve used it more if they had kept the active stylus from the Pocket 3, but they didn’t. The tradeoff is better screen resolution, more power under the hood, and the LTE module option, which the Pocket 3 didn’t offer.

Battery life is just okay. With my usage and screen brightness preferences I usually get 4 to 6 hours. Turning down the TDP helps stretch it, but that bright screen is essential for legibility and can be a battery drain. I carry a beefy power bank just in case. It’s enough for how I use it, but not what I’d call all-day battery.

Build quality feels solid and the keyboard action is satisfying. There haven’t been many surprises or compromises, and for the price I paid, I’m pleased. I’m working toward using this as my everything device with a dual-boot setup and some extra customization.

The stock Windows install was clean, no bloatware or weird surprises. That was refreshing. Depending on your needs you may want to swap the stock SSD. Mine came with a WD Blue drive with no DRAM cache, which shows up in slower sustained reads/writes. It’s fine for most use cases, but worth upgrading if you’re doing heavier workloads. Droix doesn’t void your warranty for that kind of swap, which I appreciated.

Despite the name, this thing does not fit in a pocket. It’s too big and heavy for that. Compared to my old slim 13" laptop, it's not a life-changing boost in portability. That said, the full-size HDMI and Ethernet ports are fantastic, and the modular expansion is a plus. You can find similar ideas from Framework laptops, and I’m curious about their new smaller models, but I don’t regret this choice. Framework didn’t have a comparable product available when I needed one, and the HX 370 processor is excellent.

I recently took a weekend trip and packed the Pocket 4 "just in case." It was *slightly* easier to carry than my 13" laptop. I didn’t end up needing it, but it was nice to have. If I ever need to work more extensively while traveling, I might pair it with my Uperfect-X lapdock for a second screen. That’s a 13" display, but I’m considering getting a 16" one to make full-day work more viable when I’m away from the desk.

I’ve only dabbled in gaming on it so far, but I was impressed. I didn’t run anything bleeding-edge, but 5/YO titles ran well and the integrated graphics held up just fine.

All in all, I hope this lengthy but honest review is helpful. This device isn’t for everyone. But if you know your habits and expectations, you can tell whether this form factor and performance profile will work for you. I’m two months in and still totally happy. It runs flawlessly, and even though the fan pitch bugged me a bit, temps stay cool and performance is excellent.

One last recommendation: get a tempered glass screen protector. I added one right away, and I barely notice it. Still crystal clear and touch-responsive. My last laptop made it nearly seven years without major screen damage, and I’d like this one to do the same.

Go...

First off I'm probably not a typical GPD customer as I am neither a gamer or a fan of Microsoft. That being said, I loaded XUbuntu on my GPD Pocket 4 and it performs outstandingly. I had to rotate the display 90 degrees and shrink it by 50% in the XUbuntu settings, but after that it just works perfectly. Thanks so much.

Perfect small factor laptop… fans can get a bit loud but you can tweak the settings. I love it.

There were many cool UMPCs in the late 2000s. Vaio UX, Fujitsu Loox U, or OQO, each machine in this category was unique and presented the future of PC computing. However, they failed against smartphones due to their weak tech specs. Twenty-ish years later, a full-spec, or even more strong than major manufacturers' high-end machines, is here... with LTE capability (add-on). I thought 8" could be small, but it is fully usable and better than expected, as I used it on a few flights.