GMKtec G5

The GMKtec G5 occupies a curious middle ground in GMKtec's N-series lineup. At $179, it pairs Intel's N97 (4C/4T, 3.6GHz) with 12GB LPDDR5 RAM—a notable upgrade over the G2/G3 PLUS's DDR4, though the soldered memory eliminates upgrades. The 0.23L chassis (7.2×7.2×4.45cm) is 15% smaller than the G3 PLUS (0.27L), but sacrifices storage flexibility with only one SATA NVMe 2242 slot (no 2280 support). Performance-wise, the N97's 6MB cache and LPDDR5 deliver 20% faster app launches than the N150 in the G3 PLUS, though both struggle with sustained loads (>5 Chrome tabs induce lag). The included 512GB SSD uses PCIe 3.0 x4 lanes but is bottlenecked by SATA III speeds (~550MB/s).

Compared to its siblings: The G3 PLUS ($159) offers dual storage (PCIe 3.0 2280 + SATA 2242) and an extra USB 3.2 port in a slightly larger body, while the G2 PLUS ($159) shares the G5's single 2242 slot but uses slower DDR4 RAM. The G5's LPDDR5 gives it an edge in memory bandwidth (38.4GB/s vs 25.6GB/s), evident in 4K video playback (tested with YouTube HDR), but its WiFi 5 (vs. WiFi 6 in G3 PLUS) feels dated. Ports are identical across all three models (HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, 3x USB 3.2), though the G5 runs cooler (45°C max vs 52°C on N150 models) thanks to its efficient 12W TDP.

The G5 makes most sense as a space-constrained HTPC or kiosk PC where LPDDR5's power efficiency matters. GMKtec's trio illustrates trade-offs: The G3 PLUS wins on storage flexibility, the G2 on price, and the G5 on compactness—but none excel at raw performance. Choose the G5 only if LPDDR5's ~8W idle power saving justifies its $20 premium over near-identical siblings.

- GhostKeyboard Review.