The GPD Pocket 4 New Ryzen 7 8840U represents a significant leap forward in ultra-portable computing, combining proven AMD processing power with innovative design features that cater to professionals, students, and tech enthusiasts alike. This comprehensive review examines every aspect of this remarkable device, from its technical specifications to real-world performance capabilities.

Design and Build Quality

The GPD Pocket 4 showcases a refined evolution of the beloved Pocket series design philosophy. Measuring 207 x 145 x 22mm and weighing 770g, the device strikes an excellent balance between portability and functionality. Whilst slightly larger than its predecessor, the GPD Pocket 3, these dimensions accommodate significant hardware improvements without compromising the ultra-portable nature that defines the series.

The aluminium shell construction provides exceptional durability whilst maintaining a premium feel. The device’s compact form factor easily fits into most bags, making it an ideal companion for professionals who require computing power on the go. The build quality reflects GPD’s commitment to creating robust, travel-friendly devices that can withstand daily use.

Revolutionary Display Technology

One of the most impressive features of the GPD Pocket 4 is its stunning 8.8-inch touchscreen display. The screen boasts a crisp 2560×1600 resolution with an impressive 144Hz refresh rate, delivering exceptional visual clarity and smooth performance. The LTPS (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon) technology ensures vibrant colours and sharp details, making it suitable for professional presentations, content creation, and entertainment consumption.

The high refresh rate particularly benefits users working with animations, video editing, or simply enjoying smoother scrolling experiences during everyday tasks. The display provides excellent viewing angles and colour accuracy, essential for professional work requiring visual precision.

It’s worth noting that the display requires a capacitive stylus rather than an active stylus, which may influence users who plan to engage in detailed drawing or precise note-taking activities.

Performance Powerhouse: AMD Ryzen 7 8840U

At the heart of the GPD Pocket 4 lies the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor, a “Hawk Point” architecture CPU that delivers exceptional performance for such a compact device. This 8-core, 16-thread processor with a base frequency of 2.9GHz and boost clocks up to 4.8GHz provides desktop-class performance in an ultra-portable form factor.

The Ryzen 7 8840U integrates the AMD Radeon 780M GPU, providing substantial graphics processing capabilities that extend beyond basic integrated graphics solutions. This combination enables the device to handle video editing, 3D rendering, and modern gaming titles with respectable performance levels.

Real-world performance testing reveals impressive results across various benchmarks. The processor demonstrates excellent single-threaded performance for everyday applications whilst the multi-core capabilities shine in demanding professional workloads. The efficient 4nm manufacturing process ensures excellent performance per watt, contributing to both performance and battery life.

Memory and Storage Configuration

The GPD Pocket 4 New Ryzen 7 8840U comes equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5X-7500 RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking capabilities and efficient handling of memory-intensive applications. This generous amount of high-speed memory allows users to run multiple applications simultaneously without experiencing performance bottlenecks.

Storage needs are addressed with a 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD, providing ample space for operating systems, applications, and user data whilst delivering lightning-fast read and write speeds. The high-speed storage ensures rapid boot times, quick application launches, and efficient file transfers, contributing significantly to the overall user experience.

Comprehensive Connectivity Options

The GPD Pocket 4 excels in connectivity, offering a comprehensive array of ports that rival much larger laptops. The device features:

• HDMI 2.1 port for high-resolution external display connectivity
• USB4 port supporting high-speed peripherals and external GPU connections
• USB-C port for charging and data transfer
• Two USB-A ports (USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 2.0) for legacy device compatibility
• 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port for ultra-fast wired network connections
• 3.5mm audio jack for headphones and external audio devices
• Modular port with included microSD card reader module

The comprehensive port selection eliminates the need for dongles and adapters that plague many ultra-portable devices, making the GPD Pocket 4 particularly suitable for professional environments where connectivity is crucial.

Innovative Modular Port System

One of the GPD Pocket 4’s standout features is its innovative modular port system. The device ships with a microSD card reader module as standard, but users can swap this for various specialised modules including:

• RS-232 module for industrial and legacy system connectivity
• 4G LTE module for cellular data connectivity on the go
• Single-port KVM module for system administration tasks

The modular system requires only a few moments to change modules, involving the removal of two fixing screws, module replacement, and reassembly. This plug-and-play approach eliminates the need for external dongles or adapters, making the GPD Pocket 4 particularly attractive for industrial applications and technical professionals.

Versatile 2-in-1 Design

The GPD Pocket 4 maintains the series’ beloved 2-in-1 functionality, allowing seamless transitions between laptop and tablet modes. The display can rotate 180 degrees with single-handed operation, enabling presentation mode for sharing content with colleagues or clients. The robust hinge mechanism ensures smooth transitions whilst maintaining structural integrity over extended use.

In tablet mode, the 8.8-inch display provides ample space for touch interactions, whether sketching ideas, taking notes, or navigating applications. This versatility makes the device particularly valuable for professionals who frequently switch between different working modes throughout their day.

Enhanced Camera and Audio Systems

The GPD Pocket 4 features a significantly upgraded camera system compared to its predecessor. The camera incorporates automatic framing and video brightness control, enhancing performance during video conferences and content creation. These improvements make the device more suitable for professional video communications and online presentations.

Audio capabilities are handled by dual front-facing speakers that deliver surprisingly good sound quality for such a compact device. The speakers provide clear audio for video calls, presentations, and multimedia consumption, though external headphones or speakers are recommended for critical audio work.

Battery Life and Thermal Management

The GPD Pocket 4 incorporates a 44.8Wh battery with support for 100W USB-C fast charging. Real-world battery performance varies significantly depending on usage scenarios and power settings. For typical office work, web browsing, and document editing, users can expect approximately 5-7 hours of productive use.

The fast charging capability ensures minimal downtime, with the device capable of rapid charging during breaks or meetings. Users can optimise battery performance by adjusting the display refresh rate and managing processor TDP settings.

Thermal management utilises an active cooling system with variable fan speeds. The Ryzen 7 8840U’s efficient architecture and advanced manufacturing process contribute to excellent thermal characteristics, keeping the device comfortable during extended use whilst maintaining performance levels.

Gaming and Graphics Performance

Whilst not primarily marketed as a gaming device, the GPD Pocket 4 New Ryzen 7 8840U delivers respectable gaming performance thanks to its Radeon 780M integrated graphics. The device can handle modern AAA titles at 1080p and 720p resolutions with appropriate settings adjustments.

The integrated graphics performance extends beyond gaming to professional applications including video editing, CAD work, and 3D modelling. The GPU provides substantial performance improvements over previous generations, making the device suitable for graphics-intensive professional workflows.

For users requiring additional graphics processing power, the GPD Pocket 4’s USB4 port supports external GPU solutions, enabling desktop-class graphics performance when connected to appropriate eGPU enclosures.

Keyboard and Input Experience

The GPD Pocket 4 retains the award-winning ‘chocolate’ chiclet keyboard design that has made the Pocket series popular among users who require extensive typing capabilities. The backlit keyboard features low-profile keys that require minimal activation force, enabling comfortable extended typing sessions.

The keyboard automatically adjusts backlighting based on ambient conditions and user activity, switching off after periods of inactivity and reactivating when keys are pressed. This intelligent lighting management contributes to battery conservation whilst ensuring visibility in various lighting conditions.

The touchpad and three-button mouse configuration provide familiar input options, though users should note that the touchpad itself is not clickable, requiring use of the dedicated mouse buttons for drag-and-drop operations.

Advanced Wireless Connectivity

The GPD Pocket 4 embraces current wireless connectivity standards with Wi-Fi 6E support, ensuring high-speed wireless network performance and reduced latency. Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity provides reliable connections to wireless peripherals, from mice and keyboards to audio devices and smartphones.

The inclusion of a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port demonstrates GPD’s commitment to providing maximum network performance options, particularly valuable for users who require guaranteed bandwidth for video conferencing, file transfers, or network-intensive applications.

Professional Applications and Use Cases

The GPD Pocket 4 New Ryzen 7 8840U excels in numerous professional scenarios:

Business Professionals benefit from the device’s portability, comprehensive connectivity, and presentation capabilities. The versatile port selection enables sophisticated presentation setups, whilst the modular port system accommodates various business requirements without additional accessories.

Students appreciate the device’s compact form factor, solid battery life, and 2-in-1 functionality for note-taking and research activities. The powerful Ryzen 7 8840U processor ensures smooth performance across demanding academic applications, from complex calculations to multimedia presentations.

Technical Professionals value the device’s industrial connectivity options, particularly the RS-232 and KVM modules for system administration and legacy equipment interfacing. The comprehensive port selection eliminates the need for carrying additional adapters and dongles.

Content Creators can utilise the device’s processing power and integrated graphics for video editing, photo processing, and other creative tasks. The high-refresh display provides excellent visual feedback for colour-critical work, whilst the option to connect external GPUs expands creative possibilities.

Competitive Positioning and Value Proposition

In the ultra-portable laptop market, the GPD Pocket 4 New Ryzen 7 8840U occupies a unique position. Whilst traditional ultrabooks offer similar portability, few provide the combination of 2-in-1 functionality, modular connectivity, and high-performance processing in such a compact form factor.

The device’s pricing reflects its specialised nature and comprehensive feature set, positioning it as a premium solution for users who require maximum functionality in minimum space. When compared to traditional business laptops or tablet solutions, the GPD Pocket 4 offers superior versatility and connectivity options.

Performance Benchmarks and Real-World Testing

The Ryzen 7 8840U demonstrates excellent performance across various benchmarking scenarios. In CPU-intensive tasks, the processor delivers performance levels comparable to larger laptops whilst maintaining the compact form factor. Multi-threading performance particularly excels in professional applications requiring parallel processing.

Graphics performance testing reveals the Radeon 780M’s capabilities in both gaming and professional scenarios. The integrated GPU handles 1080p gaming with medium settings in most modern titles, whilst professional applications benefit from hardware-accelerated rendering and processing.

Storage performance from the M.2 NVMe SSD provides exceptional read/write speeds, ensuring rapid application launches and file transfers that contribute to overall system responsiveness.

Future-Proofing and Upgradeability

The GPD Pocket 4’s advanced specifications ensure excellent future-proofing. The USB4 connectivity, high-speed RAM, and generous storage provide compatibility with emerging technologies and workflows. The modular port system offers additional flexibility as new modules become available.

Whilst internal components are not user-serviceable due to the compact design, the generous RAM and storage configurations reduce the need for immediate upgrades, ensuring the device remains capable for years of professional use.

Software Compatibility and Operating System Support

The GPD Pocket 4 New Ryzen 7 8840U ships with Windows 11, providing full compatibility with professional and consumer software applications. The AMD Ryzen architecture ensures excellent compatibility with existing x86 software whilst providing optimisations for modern applications.

The device’s compact form factor and touch display make it suitable for both traditional desktop applications and touch-optimised software, providing flexibility for various usage scenarios.

Conclusion: Excellence in Ultra-Portable Computing

The GPD Pocket 4 New Ryzen 7 8840U represents a remarkable achievement in ultra-portable computing, successfully combining proven AMD Ryzen 7 processing power with exceptional portability and innovative features. The device addresses the needs of professionals, students, and enthusiasts who refuse to compromise between performance and mobility.

The combination of the reliable Ryzen 7 8840U processor, stunning 144Hz display, comprehensive connectivity options, and innovative modular port system creates a compelling package that stands out in the competitive ultra-portable market. The device successfully bridges multiple product categories, functioning as a high-performance laptop, versatile tablet, and specialised industrial tool.

For professionals requiring a truly portable workstation, students needing powerful computing in a compact form, or enthusiasts seeking cutting-edge mobile technology, the GPD Pocket 4 New Ryzen 7 8840U delivers an exceptional computing experience that redefines expectations for ultra-portable devices.

The device successfully addresses the evolving needs of modern computing whilst introducing innovative features like modular connectivity that position it for future requirements. As remote work and mobile computing continue to evolve, devices like the GPD Pocket 4 point toward a future where users need not sacrifice performance or versatility for portability.

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