OneXPlayer Apex Review

I love it

The OneXPlayer Apex is one of the most powerful handhelds I’ve ever used, and after spending time with both it and the GPD Win 5, I think I’ve finally decided which one I’d actually want to own.

Both are Strix Halo handhelds, both cost around $1,600 depending on the configuration, and both are firmly in enthusiast territory. These aren’t normal handhelds. They’re for people who want the absolute best performance available in a handheld form factor, regardless of price.

The Apex has ended up surprising me quite a bit. I bought it without really knowing what to expect, and after using the Win 5 for a while, I can say pretty confidently that I’d choose the Apex.

Specs and Performance

My OneXPlayer Apex uses the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, while my GPD Win 5 uses the Max 385. The Apex also has 48GB of RAM, allowing up to 16GB of VRAM while leaving 32GB for Windows and everything else.

The performance here is ridiculous. These devices are capable of performance that’s well beyond what you’ll find in most PCs, and the Apex in particular is significantly faster than something like the Xbox Ally X.

The Apex has an 8-inch 16:10 1920×1200 display running at 120Hz with VRR. It’s an excellent screen, although I still don’t think an 8-inch display is automatically better than a 7-inch one. I really like the 7-inch screen on the Xbox Ally X as well. The difference here is that the Apex’s larger display fits the device extremely well.

The higher 1200p resolution does require more GPU power than the 1080p display in the Win 5, so the Apex won’t necessarily outperform the Win 5 in every scenario. With a 1080p display, the Apex would have an even easier time pushing higher frame rates.

For my own use, I’ve generally been running the Apex around 45-50W. That gives me the performance I want without pushing the fan noise too far.

Controls and Comfort

The sticks are one of my favorite things about the Apex.

They’re full-size with a great range of motion, but what really stands out is the softness of the caps. They’re incredibly soft and comfortable, almost like touching a pillow. It’s difficult to explain until you’ve used them, but I absolutely love them.

The entire handheld has a similar feel. The plastic is soft and slightly rubberized without actually being sticky, and it makes the device extremely comfortable to hold.

That’s a huge contrast to the Win 5. The GPD feels much harder and more rigid, with the metal and plastic sections making the device feel almost like it’s carved out of marble. It looks and feels premium, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into comfort.

The Apex, on the other hand, is one of the most comfortable handhelds I’ve used.

That’s without the external battery attached, which is important because both devices are designed around using an external battery.

The D-pad and face buttons are micro-switch based, although the face buttons have quite a bit of travel. I like the feel of them, and I’ve had no major complaints with the D-pad either.

The triggers and shoulders are also good, and the rear triggers can be switched between analog and micro-switch operation using the trigger locks.

Overall, I don’t have any real complaints about the controls.

Heat, Fan Noise and Power

This is where the Apex really separates itself from the Win 5 for me.

Heat was one of my biggest complaints with the Win 5. I didn’t want to go much beyond 30-35W because the heat became noticeable in the grips and the fan became extremely loud.

The Apex handles this significantly better.

I’ve been able to run it around 45-50W without having heat in the grips. The back can get hot if you put your fingers directly against it, but the areas where you’re actually holding the device remain comfortable.

The fan still gets loud. This isn’t a quiet handheld when you’re pushing this much power, but the noise at 45-50W is roughly comparable to what I was experiencing from the Win 5 around 30-35W.

That’s a massive difference for me.

Heat and fan noise have been recurring problems with GPD devices I’ve used. The Win Mini, for example, was something I didn’t want to push much beyond 15W because of heat. The Win 5 had a similar issue at higher power levels.

The Apex is much more usable at the power levels where its Strix Halo hardware actually becomes interesting.

The External Battery

Both the Apex and Win 5 are unusual in that they don’t have a traditional internal battery. Instead, they can use an external battery that attaches to the back of the device.

You can also use the battery separately with a cable, but I don’t use either device that way.

For me, the battery makes these devices far too heavy and uncomfortable. I use the Apex plugged into a charger without the battery attached, and that completely changes how it feels.

Without the battery, the Apex is surprisingly light and ergonomic. It doesn’t have the weight penalty you’d normally associate with an 8-inch handheld.

This obviously means the Apex isn’t really portable in the traditional sense for my use. It needs to stay near a charger.

For how I actually play games, though, that’s not much of a problem. I’m plugged in most of the time anyway.

OneXConsole Software

One of the biggest advantages of the Apex is its software.

OneXConsole is one of my favorite software suites on an x86 handheld. It gives you a huge number of useful controls in a very accessible interface.

You can adjust TDP, customize fan modes and fan curves, change display modes, control RGB lighting, adjust vibration and disable CPU boost.

There’s also an integrated performance overlay setup with links to Hardware Info and RivaTuner, as well as a built-in gyro configuration.

One of my favorite features is the game trainer support. It can automatically download trainers and detect the game you’re playing, making it extremely easy to access cheats.

There’s also Handy Kit, which can install Microsoft’s Xbox Full Screen Experience, along with brightness controls and a dedicated button for bringing up the on-screen keyboard.

It’s the kind of software that makes the hardware feel considerably more polished, and it’s something I wish more handheld manufacturers would offer.

Speakers

The speakers are probably my biggest complaint with the Apex.

For a device this expensive, I really think OneXPlayer should have used front-facing speakers.

They’re Harman speakers, but they’re down-firing and don’t sound particularly impressive. The fan noise makes the problem worse because you have to turn the volume up to overcome the fan.

Interestingly, cupping your hands underneath the device noticeably improves the sound. That’s exactly why I think front-facing speakers would have made such a big difference.

It’s not a deal breaker for me, but considering how expensive the Apex is, I expected better.

Performance

There’s not much to complain about when it comes to performance.

Strix Halo is simply in another class compared to the processors found in most Windows handhelds. You have enough power here to play essentially anything you want, and the Apex’s 1200p display gives you plenty of room to take advantage of it.

I’ve personally been running the device around 45-50W to balance performance with fan noise.

One interesting thing I’ve also done is reduce the number of active CPU cores. The Max+ 395 uses 16 cores by default, but there are situations where using fewer cores can actually improve performance. I’ve settled on six cores through the BIOS for my own setup.

The important takeaway is that performance isn’t really the limitation here. You have an enormous amount of GPU and CPU power available, and the main considerations become resolution, TDP, thermals and fan noise.

OneXPlayer Apex vs. GPD Win 5

After using both devices, I have a hard time recommending the Win 5 over the Apex.

The Win 5 is smaller, and that’s really the biggest reason I can see for choosing it. If you specifically need the smaller form factor, then there is an argument for it.

But that smaller size comes with compromises.

The Apex is significantly more comfortable, handles higher power levels better, has better thermals, and I prefer its software. The softer materials and ergonomics also make a huge difference during longer gaming sessions.

The Win 5 is a fine device. It just isn’t the device for me.

GPD has consistently struggled with heat and fan noise in the products I’ve used, and the Win 5 didn’t change that. The Apex finally gives me the performance of a Strix Halo handheld without making me feel like I’m holding a portable space heater.

Who Is the Apex For?

The OneXPlayer Apex is absolutely not for everyone.

If you already have a powerful desktop PC, you can get a better experience by streaming games to a much cheaper handheld. You don’t need to spend $1,600 or more on something like this.

That’s especially true because the Apex is an unusual device that really only makes sense for a relatively small group of enthusiasts.

But for that group, it’s extremely impressive.

If you want the fastest possible handheld hardware and you’re willing to pay for it, the Apex gives you an enormous amount of performance in a surprisingly comfortable package.

For me, it has also changed how I think about these battery-less handhelds. I previously thought they were almost pointless because a handheld without a battery doesn’t seem like a handheld.

But if you’re someone who plays 99% of the time near a charger, removing the battery makes the device dramatically lighter and more comfortable.

Final Thoughts

I went into the Apex expecting another expensive enthusiast handheld, and instead I’ve ended up loving it.

It’s extremely rare for a handheld to completely surprise me like this. The performance is obviously impressive, but it’s the combination of performance, comfort, thermals and software that makes the Apex stand out.

The speakers are disappointing, and the lack of a built-in battery means this isn’t going to work for everyone. But for the way I actually use a handheld, neither is enough to outweigh everything else.

If I had to choose between the OneXPlayer Apex and GPD Win 5 today, I’d take the Apex without hesitation.

In fact, I can’t really think of a reason I’d buy the Win 5 again unless I specifically needed its smaller size.

For a very small subset of enthusiasts who want the absolute best handheld performance available, the OneXPlayer Apex is an incredible device. And, surprisingly, it’s one that I actually want to keep using.