GPD Pocket: The 7-inch laptop that’s almost as powerful as the MacBook Air

GPD Pocket laptop — The GPD Pocket is a 7-inch UMPC-laptop that mimics the look and specs of the Apple MacBook Air. GPD

Nowadays, smartphones tend to get bigger and bigger as consumers demand for wider screens. Laptops, on the other hand, don’t suffer the same mandate. Most modern laptops are compact, slim and portable so users can take it and use it practically anywhere. GPD, though, is taking portability to a whole new and extreme level as it launches the GPD Pocket laptop, which furnishes a minimalistic 7-inch display.

The GPD Pocket is actually a UMPC (ultra-mobile PC)/laptop hybrid. It’s the world’s first 7-inch pocket laptop with 64-bit Ubuntu 16.04 LTS support, but it’s also Windows 10 compatible. The GPD Pocket not only looks like the premium MacBook Air, thanks to its CNC-precise silver unibody made of magnesium alloy, it’s also comparable to the Apple laptop in terms of specs and power.

The GPD Pocket is powered by an Intel Atom x7-Z8750 quad-core processor, an Intel HD Graphics 405 video card, a 7,000 mAh non-removable lithium polymer battery (that should provide about 12 hours of use), 8 GB of LPDDR3-1600 RAM and 128 GB of eMMC storage. Its 7-inch display is Corning Gorilla Glass 3-protected, has multi-touch capabilities and features a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 (16:10) with 323.45 PPI pixel density, which, according to GPD, is “beyond the Retina level screen proposed by Apple.”

GPD Pocket vs Apple MacBook Air vs Microsoft Surface 3 comparison. GPD

The GPD Pocket makes use of an “active cooling design,” which allows the device to perform “far beyond” what the Microsoft Surface 3 can do despite the Pocket weighing much lesser. Users can also maximise the GPD Pocket’s potential via an HMDI cable, which can connect to any display monitor. Access to mobile networks without the need to open mobile hot spots is made possible by an external 4G network interface card with a USB port.

The 18.5 mm-thin GPD Pocket was developed by GPD with businesspersons and students in mind. Last year, the company released the even smaller GPD Win, the 5.5-inch gaming laptop. But it was deemed too casual by those who yearned for a sleeker and more professional-looking device.

Those who want to get their very own GPD Pocket may do so by visiting the company’s Indiegogo campaign page. GPD has so far raised close to US$1.30 million (AU$1.69 million) for the GPD Pocket, thanks to over 3,150 backers. Not bad considering the initial goal was US$200,000 (AU$260,800).

The GPD Pocket starts at a special Indiegogo price of US$399 (AU$520), with a retail price of US$599 (AU$780). Worldwide shipping of the 7-inch laptop is projected to start in June.

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