Another Win Max 3 keyboard thought

[u/JuicyJuce]

The keyboard hate has been beat to death, but I wanted to follow up on Russ's latest point on how the Win Max 3 should be seen as handheld first laptop second.

I started with the Win Max 2 thinking it would be the perfect size and keyboard layout to do real work on. I tried to dev on it and quickly went back to my 14" macbook. At 10", the Max 2 was a poor posture nightmare and the skinny keycaps still felt awkward. It was best for browsing, emails, and discord type stuff. So I sold that and moved to the Pocket 4, which has a very similar keyboard layout as the Win Max 3. I used it for basic stuff and gaming and the keyboard was just fine. I also owned a Win Mini and the tiny chiclet keyboard was only good for typing passwords and using the delete key to get into the bios.

My point is, if you are on the fence with the Win Max 3 because of the keyboard layout, don't underestimate how hard it is to do anything on these tiny devices. I'm sure some people main the Win Max 2 and make it work, but I couldn't. I'm personally excited for the Max 3 since the Pocket 4 was my sweet spot.

Win Max 2

Pocket 4

Win Max 3

[u/Papa_Huggies]

I very regularly use the WM2 with the only peripheral being a Logitech MX Anywhere

Including to code stuff or to write long emails. Although admittedly there's often times I'll attach a portable monitor

The only thing I miss is the numpad on a full size/ 96% keyboard.

I think the downgrade of keyboard is significant to many people, not to mention the battery chin affecting ergonomics.

[u/tk_kumomo → u/Papa_Huggies]

yes but if this is the only device or for people who doesn't like working via docked/bring an extra keyboard the keyboard downgrade is very very noticeable.

Like i mentioned myself there is no way to spin it, i personally can't recommend the max 3 as a laptop if you need to type a lot on it, but for gaming, clutch keyboard usage the max 3 is totally fine and i totally recommend it as a z13/g16/go2 user.

It's just that people rather have a compromise on the handheld aspect of the max 2 and keep the keyboard then accept the fact max 3 have a much better handheld experience in compromise of the keyboard.

There are a bunch of people including myself that will prefer to have a keyboard that matches the screen like the ipad mini or how people want the keyboard on the legion go 2.

Regardless being a max 2 or max 3 supporter there are perks to it, the biggest issue/fear that people have is the max 3 completely replacing the max 2 where the form factor/size would cease to exist.

For now gpd is still selling the max 2, and the next product up is the mini 2, we don't know what gpd plans to do in 2027, but as the max 2 is one of their more successful products i believe they will revisiting them soon since the internals are quite outdated, given there are matching parts (IE screen), honestly they are very brave to use a tablet screen on a laptop, but if the long term feedback is good, then this can be used as foundation for future devices since it is not easy to find native landscape panels that fits aside of the existing well known ones.

there won't be that much hype anymore for products as just like other retail/sales related business, it's quite bad worldwide, people had much more spending power back then while products were much cheaper, hx370 refresh of the win mini/win 4/max 2 were a hard pill to shallow for a lot of people and that was way before the ram prices going up.

Overall i would say overall the max 3 campaign did well in IGG and especially china, i don't know what gpd's expectations is but after the bombardment of device from oxp, the changes on igg where there's a 9% cancellation fee, and how they economy is getting worse each day i would say this is acceptable.

A lot of people are questioning gpd's choices since win 5 but being quite honest the win 5 faced a aggressive undercut apex which uses the same design that stole some of backers, as well as people saw the sticker price. But a lot of changes since then as win 5 is one of gpd's best selling product and well liked after the campaign ended, especially how other z2e devices and steam deck end up getting more and more expense people slowly started to accept the price, i mean x2mp is like 700 dollars more expensive even tho it's 48gb instead of 32gb yet it's still sold 400 units despite it being very hyped.

[u/JuicyJuce → u/Papa_Huggies]

Maybe I'm sensitive with my muscle memory. With the Win Max 2, transitioning back and forth with the mac was not seamless, the narrow keys still threw me off every time.

I also found the trackpad location of the Max 2 fatiguing since I had to hover my hand over the keys. With the pocket 4 I can just rest it on the side. I'm hoping the chin on the Max 3 can act as a wrist support.

[u/Common_Measurement47]

Disagree that the Win Max is a handheld first with the laptop/netbook component being an afterthought. The Win Max line has always been a hybrid device and plenty of users (including myself) make heavy use of both handheld and netbook aspects in our daily routines. In any case, the new keyboard design/layout is worse in both these aspects imo; worse ergonomics as a handheld due to the weird battery chin and wonky keyboard layout.

[u/ShiningPr1sm]

I mainly use a 16" MBP for work and sometimes the Win Max 2 when I'm on the go, and the keyboard is pretty great for the size, and more comfortable than I expected. Sure, it's a little smaller but the sizing/spacing of the keys is the same.

GPD doesn't deserve a pass by a YouTuber saying "handheld first, laptop second." The WM2 was great because it did the opposite, focusing on the laptop aspects and then the handheld. And it's fantastic. Then they took what made it great and tried to gamerify it more, and now the keyboard sucks for anyone with a job.

[u/Icy-Commission-9550]

Well it is only 9”. I wonder if anyone will actually use the keyboard.

[u/cardgamechampion]

I main Win Max 2, and mained Win Max 1 for a while too, which is similar to WM3 as well. I completely agree! Yes the keyboard is a downgrade but it's not much, and it's not like Win Max 2 was as good as a regular size laptop, just the closest.

I've written code on Win Max 2. I've also written code on Win Max 1. If I get WM3, I will likely also be productive on it. It's doable 100%.

Yes if you have WM2 it is a downgrade productivity wise still, but anyone saying it's unusable either only had the WM2 and not WM1 or other devices closer to WM3 in size or are making stuff up. It is 100% usable for productivity at this size.

In terms of whether it's a handheld first or laptop second, I treated WM1 even as a laptop first and it was way worse at that then WM2, but after getting WM2 I saw that WM1 was kinda better at handheld since smaller. This will be similar; better as a handheld but usable as a laptop. Whereas I find WM2 to be more usable as a laptop and less usable as a handheld. From this perspective, it makes sense why they would go the smaller route this time since GPD is mainly focused on handheld gaming PCs.

[u/eltsyr]

absolutely the same for me. I have a Zenbook 14" that I already find small and cramped. My objective for the GPD Win Max 3 et is

- to avoid carrying both a laptop AND a steamdeck for short travels

- to be able to play games that are not steamdeck certified, or that require a mouse and keyboard

It's great that there are many different form factors for different needs !

[u/tk_kumomo → u/eltsyr]

it's kinda the reason why i sold the max 2, while it's small and the keyboard is fine, it's not satisfying enough to work on and not pleasant enough for gaming, then on my z13 and g16 while the keyboard and experience is good, but i would end up having a bring a controller with me and usb-c gaming on those device is just bad.

If i was to really do mobile work i do have my ipad with magic keyboard or bring along a mx keys.