If you have ever jokingly asked anyone who has an iPhone 6/7 plus or a Samsung Galaxy S8 why they like owning a phone that is almost the size of a tablet, you may be pleased to know that you can now rephrase this joke for future occasions. Instead of saying that they own a phone that is the size of a tablet, you can now tell them that they own a phone that is the size of a laptop. When they don’t believe you, you can show them this quaint device.
The device on the left in the above picture is a MacBook Air, and on the right is the GPD (GamePad Digital) Pocket laptop. The Pocket has a 7 inch display, making it perhaps the smallest laptop in the world. Although the Pocket isn’t out on the market yet, it should be available in the near future, and once it launches you should be on the lookout for reviews because the Pocket claims to have some pretty impressive specs for such a small device. Here are a few of the claimed hardware specifications:
• 8 GB RAM
• 128 GB Internal Storage
• 1 USB Type-C Port, 1 USB Type-A Port
• 1 HDMI D Type Port
• A 3.5mm headphone jack
• Intel Atom x7-Z8750 processor
• Intel HD Graphics 405
While the 405 graphics card should deter you from using the Pocket as a dedicated gaming device, the Pocket is still pretty impressive for its size but it carries a somewhat-hefty price tag of $599 at retail value. The Pocket also comes with either Ubuntu or Windows 10, depending on the buyer’s choice. So, are there any other catches?
The GPD Pocket is a crowdfunded device, which is currently only listed as being in the “Prototype Stage” on IndieGogo. While this is not an objectively bad thing, it means that there is no guarantee of this device being given to the people who funded it as a concept, let alone the device actually being released for retail purchase. However, it should be noted that GamePad Digital -the company behind the Pocket laptop- has successfully created and sold crowdfunded projects before this device, and that some online shopping services are already offering pre sale purchases for the Pocket.
It should also be noted that the Pocket received $3,478,026 out of its $200,000 goal, so GamePad Digital should easily have enough money to make the Pocket a reality. However, even if the Pocket launches it could always go the way of the Ouya. If the GPD Pocket doesn’t work out, you can always rely on a tried-and-true MacBook Air rental for your lightweight laptop rental needs, and if you don’t already know about the Ouya you should look it up – it’s truly a fun read.
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