The GP2X Wiz is a seventh-generation handheld console released by South Korean company GamePark Holdings in 2009.
Spec Table
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | GamePark Holdings |
| Type | Handheld |
| Generation | 7th generation |
| Release Date | 2009 (initial); launched May 13, 2009 |
| Launch Price | .99 USD |
| Units Sold | Not documented |
| Media | SD/SDHC card |
| CPU | ARM9 26TEJ at 533 MHz (overclockable to 900 MHz) |
| Predecessor / Successor | GP2X / GP2X Caanoo |
History
GamePark Holdings introduced the GP2X Wiz on May 13, 2009, as the follow-up to its original GP2X handheld. The Wiz marked a strategic shift: it was the company’s first system sold outside South Korea. Unlike its predecessor’s physical buttons and screen, the Wiz featured a 2.8-inch AMOLED touchscreen, providing a sharper, higher-contrast display than most handhelds at its price point.
Alongside the hardware refresh, GamePark Holdings launched an online application store in August 2009, anticipating the app-store model that would define smartphone gaming. Despite this forward approach, the Wiz struggled to attract third-party publishers, with only four commercial retail games released: Deicide 3: Distorted Existence, Propis, Redemption: Liar, and Rhythmos. Contemporary reviewers were measured; Pocket Gamer praised the new screen’s viewing angles but noted a display tearing issue and found emulation speed only marginally improved over the original GP2X.
What the Wiz lacked in retail support, it made up for in community adoption. Its Linux-based operating system and ARM9 processor, rated at 533 MHz but commonly overclocked to 900 MHz, made it a target for homebrew developers and emulator creators. GamePark Holdings continued with the GP2X Caanoo, released the following year with an analog stick instead of the touchscreen. The Wiz’s brief commercial run and outsized homebrew legacy place it in the broader story of the seventh console generation, alongside other independent Asian handhelds.
Library Highlights
The GP2X Wiz’s retail library was famously thin, but its four official releases became notable precisely because of their scarcity, while an extensive body of homebrew and emulated software filled out the rest of its catalog.
- Deicide 3: Distorted Existence
- Propis
- Redemption: Liar
- Rhythmos
Variants
No major hardware variants are documented. The Wiz was distinguished from its predecessor primarily by its AMOLED touchscreen and online store rather than by parallel hardware revisions or regional re-brands. See the full GamePark Holdings manufacturer hub for the company’s other handheld releases.
Collector Value
Because so few retail games were ever produced for the GP2X Wiz, complete-in-box units and any of the four official cartridges or discs are considerably scarcer than the console itself, which mostly circulates as a loose handheld among retro hardware collectors and homebrew hobbyists. Condition of the AMOLED touchscreen and battery health are the main value factors, since replacement parts are limited; sealed units are rare enough that most listings are for tested, working handhelds rather than pristine boxed examples.
Buying Guide
Before buying a used GP2X Wiz, confirm the seller includes the original AC adapter, since replacements are hard to find for this niche import handheld. Test the AMOLED touchscreen for dead pixels or burn-in and check that the SD/SDHC card slot reads cards reliably, as this is the console’s sole storage method. Ask whether the battery still holds a reasonable charge, since a decade-plus-old battery is one of the most common points of failure on this hardware.
FAQs
When did the GP2X Wiz come out?
The GP2X Wiz was released in 2009, launching on May 13 of that year.
How many units did the GP2X Wiz sell?
Total unit sales for the GP2X Wiz are not documented.
How much did the GP2X Wiz cost at launch?
The GP2X Wiz launched at .99 USD.
What CPU does the GP2X Wiz use?
It uses an ARM9 26TEJ processor running at 533 MHz, which can be overclocked to as much as 900 MHz.
What console followed the GP2X Wiz?
GamePark Holdings’ next handheld was the GP2X Caanoo, which replaced the Wiz’s touchscreen with an analog stick.
Sources
Facts on this page last verified 2026-07-15.