Today marks the third anniversary of a handheld gaming PC that has effectively created and dominated its own market. Initially, the device had its challenges, but three years later, data shows its overwhelming success. In November 2023, it was confirmed that “multiple millions” of the AMD-powered handheld had been sold, but until now, there has been little insight into how it compares to Windows-based competitors. Market research now suggests that the Steam Deck is larger than all of its competitors combined.
Market Data and Shipment Estimates
Market research firm IDC tracks global handheld gaming system shipments and spending forecasts. When IDC market research analysts isolated SteamOS and Windows handhelds, the results were striking. Here are the estimated combined shipments of the Steam Deck and its Windows-based rivals—the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw—over the years:
- 2022: 1,620,000 shipments
- 2023: 2,867,000 shipments
- 2024: 1,485,000 shipments
- 2025 (Estimate): 1,926,000 shipments
In total, nearly 6 million shipments have occurred over three years. While this figure isn’t showing rapid growth—IDC projects fewer than 2 million shipments in 2025—it highlights an emerging category. AMD gaming marketing leaders expressed excitement over the numbers, emphasizing that handheld gaming PCs went from nonexistent to an established category within just three years.
Steam Deck’s Market Share and Competitor Struggles
According to IDC estimates, the Steam Deck holds the majority share of these shipments. In 2022, all shipments were Steam Deck units. In 2023 and 2024, the Steam Deck accounted for approximately 50% and 48% of total shipments, respectively. This means that over 3.7 million units have likely been shipped, possibly surpassing 4 million already.
Notably, IDC’s numbers do not include Chinese handhelds from brands like GPD, Ayaneo, and OneXPlayer, though their crowdfunding numbers suggest they remain relatively small players.
With as few as 2 million Windows handhelds shipped in two years, it’s no surprise that AMD and Intel have been cautious about investing in custom chips for the category. Reports suggest that early Windows handheld buyers often returned their devices at unusually high rates. Evidence of this can be seen in the abundance of open-box Asus ROG Ally units available in retail stores.
Why the Steam Deck Has Come This Far
The Steam Deck’s success isn’t just about hardware. SteamOS has made handheld PC gaming accessible with features like instant sleep and resume functionality. The Proton compatibility layer and precompiled shaders often enable Windows games to run better on Linux than on Windows itself.
Other key factors include:
- Ergonomic and customizable controls that make decades of older games playable.
- Affordability, positioning it as a console-like purchase rather than a high-end gaming laptop.
- Performance tweaking options, allowing users to balance power consumption and battery life.
- Expanded functionality, including compatibility with third-party game launchers like Epic Games Store and Ubisoft, as well as PlayStation streaming via the Chiaki app.
No other handheld has combined these elements as effectively. While some alternatives, like an Asus ROG Ally X running SteamOS-based Bazzite, may offer a similar experience, they come at nearly double the price of an entry-level Steam Deck.
The Future of Handheld PC Gaming
At CES 2025, many believed Lenovo’s Legion Go S would be the most significant handheld announcement, as it was the first authorized third-party SteamOS handheld. However, upon reviewing it, the conclusion was clear: the Steam Deck remains the better choice.
While modern AAA games continue to push hardware limits, the developers behind the Steam Deck have emphasized that a next-generation model will only arrive when it can offer a significant performance leap without sacrificing battery life. It has also been confirmed that AMD’s latest Z2 chips will not be used for this purpose.
Between this careful approach, the continued stream of Steam Deck-optimized games, the rising costs of high-end PC components, and the lack of imminent Microsoft or Sony handhelds, there are few compelling reasons to wait. Unless the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 dramatically shifts developer priorities, the Steam Deck is likely to remain the leading handheld PC gaming device for the foreseeable future.
