The handheld gaming PC market has reached a notable milestone, with total sales exceeding 6 million units since the Steam Deck's launch in 2022, according to new data from IDC. Valve's Steam Deck dominates this emerging segment with over 3.7 million units sold, despite limited retail availability.
The market saw its peak in 2023 with combined shipments of 2.87 million units across major players including Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. Sales dipped to 1.49 million in 2024, with projections suggesting nearly 2 million units by the end of 2025.
AMD, whose processors power many of these devices, views this growth positively. Frank Azor, AMD's head of gaming marketing, called the expansion from zero to six million units in three years "amazing." The company plans to introduce new Ryzen Z2 chips this year, aimed at powering the next generation of handheld gaming PCs.
While these numbers pale in comparison to Nintendo Switch's 150 million install base, industry experts note that handheld gaming PCs operate in a different market segment. These devices serve as extensions of PC gaming rather than traditional gaming consoles.
Valve's Steam Deck continues to maintain its market leadership, representing approximately half of all sales in both 2023 and 2024. However, the company has indicated it won't rush to release a Steam Deck 2 until technology allows for a substantial performance improvement while maintaining acceptable battery life.
The market data excludes sales from smaller manufacturers like GPD and Ayaneo, whose market impact remains difficult to quantify. Despite modest growth projections, the sector's rapid emergence highlights increasing consumer interest in portable PC gaming solutions.