Handheld Gaming PCs Surpass 6 Million Sales, Steam Deck Leads Market
The handheld gaming PC market has crossed a significant milestone, with total sales exceeding six million units since the launch of Valve’s Steam Deck in 2022. According to estimates from IDC, the Steam Deck alone accounts for over 3.7 million units, making it the dominant force in this growing segment.
Valve’s handheld, which debuted three years ago, has reshaped the PC gaming landscape despite limited retail availability. While competitors like Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw have entered the market, the Steam Deck remains the top-selling device, representing about half of all handheld gaming PC sales in 2023 and 2024.
IDC’s data suggests that combined shipments of handheld gaming PCs peaked at 2.87 million in 2023, but dipped to 1.49 million last year. Projections indicate a recovery, with sales expected to approach two million units by the end of 2025. However, these figures do not account for niche manufacturers like GPD and Ayaneo, whose sales numbers remain unclear.
Despite concerns over market saturation, AMD’s gaming head, Frank Azor, described the expansion from virtually zero to six million units in just three years as “amazing.” AMD’s upcoming Ryzen Z2 chips are expected to power the next wave of handheld gaming PCs, potentially driving further growth.
Still, the success of handheld gaming PCs remains modest when compared to traditional consoles. Nintendo’s Switch 2, for example, faces an entirely different challenge—convincing its 150-million-strong user base to upgrade. However, since handheld gaming PCs function as an extension of PC gaming rather than direct console competitors, analysts suggest comparing their sales trends to gaming laptops or pre-built PCs for a clearer market perspective.
As the industry evolves, Valve remains cautious about launching a Steam Deck 2 anytime soon. The company has stated that a “generational leap” in performance and battery life is required before a successor becomes viable. In the meantime, the Steam Deck and its SteamOS platform continue to shape the future of handheld PC gaming.
