The Steam Deck might be the next big thing in handheld gaming, but that doesn't mean it's the only thing. Handheld console maker GPD has been making on-the-go game machines for a lot longer than Valve, and their latest product even offers a modular control scheme that the Steam Deck doesn't.
In case you haven't heard it, GPD is a Hong Kong-based manufacturer known for making Android and Windows-powered handhelds like the GPD Pocket, GPD Win3, and GPD XD Plus. Some of them look like super-mobile laptops, while others bear a striking resemblance to the PSP.
GPD's latest prototype is the GPD XP, an Android-based device that has a modular controller on the right-hand slide that lets you slot between two options. The first is the typical Xbox-style controller layout of XYAB and an analog control stick, while the other is a smaller row of buttons labeled one-through-four. The first is intended for general game use, while the second is better suited to mobile MOBAs.
For the rest of the GPD XP's specs, we turn to XDA Developers who snagged the deets off of GPD's Discord. The GPD XP is powered by an ARM processor "rumored to be the MediaTek Helio G95," along with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage (although a MicroSD card slot should provide even more). A 6.81-inch display provides an ultra-wide aspect ratio while 4G internet support gives the XP adequate download speeds.
Related: Valve Expects Steam Deck To Be Your Next PC Upgrade
The XP runs a custom version of Android 11 with Google services, but calling is disabled as there's no built-in microphone. There's also no SMS support, limiting the GPD XP's capability to replace a standard phone.
You can expect 12 hours of battery life from the XP's surprisingly beefy 7,000 mAh battery, and there's a small pinhole camera in the lower left corner of the screen if you ever feel the need to take a selfie. Again, no microphone means the XP won't be a great platform for streaming, but the specs sound like it'd be an ideal mobile platform.
Of course, the GPD XP isn’t really competing with the Steam Deck as it’s only for Android mobile games, but those games are becoming increasingly popular in the West and are already incredibly popular in Asia. There’s no price or release date on the XP, but it’s expected to hit Asian retailers first before eventually seeing a global release.
Next: 2021 Isn’t A Bad Year For Games, You’re Just Not Playing The Right Ones
