GPD's Strix Halo handheld has finally seen some testing, and $2,200 still seems like a tough sell even if it blows today's handhelds out of the water
Strix Halo is still mighty pricey.
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It seems like the first gaming handheld with the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 to hit the market will be GPD's Win 5, which works around the thermal and battery constraints of that beefy chip by popping an optional external battery on it. Early tests are all rather positive, despite that quirk.
According to YouTuber The Phawx, the device feels "comically light" without the external battery, and he likes it a lot with the battery slapped on the back. He says, "I just ultimately prefer the battery pack on at all times." Effectively, with the Win 5, you can either keep it plugged in all the time, or connect a battery to the back of the device via a port and locking mechanism. Think of how the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons work, with a clip letting them slide up and out. It is not, however, hot swappable, so plugging out the battery entirely shuts it down.
The Phawx points out that the battery strapped onto the back covers some of the device's intake fans, though he hasn't had the chance to fully test the thermals yet. He did, however, notice the fans felt a little louder with the pack on.
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