AMD Ryzen APU Handheld Devices Lead Sales; Steam Deck Remains the Top-Selling Handheld Console

Recent reports indicate that AMD Ryzen processors have dominated the gaming handheld market, accounting for a significant share of sales over the past three years.

Projected Success: 8 Million Handheld Units by 2025 and AMD’s Leading Position

Handheld gaming devices have been around for decades, but the surge in popularity of devices capable of running PC games only took off after Valve introduced the Steam Deck in 2022. In a relatively short span of just three years, a diverse range of handhelds has emerged from well-known manufacturers such as ASUS, MSI, and ZOTAC.

One common feature of these handheld devices is their reliance on AMD processors, with a few exceptions like the MSI Claw 7 and Claw 8 AI+.Valve’s choice to employ AMD’s custom Zen 2 CPU set a precedent, prompting many handheld producers to opt for the enhanced performance of AMD chips. Intel’s Meteor Lake was released only at the end of 2023, making AMD’s offerings more appealing at the time, especially with companies like Lenovo and ASUS launching their devices—the Legion GO and ROG Ally—prior to Intel’s upgrade.

Despite the arrival of Meteor Lake, many manufacturers continue to favor AMD’s Zen 4 processors as their main chipset, with a growing number adopting the Zen 5 series as well. Recent data released by IDC highlights this trend, revealing that a substantial majority of handheld shipments from 2022 to early 2025 have utilized AMD technology, which has been a point of pride for AMD’s Senior Director of Consumer Marketing, Saša Marinković.

From Zero to Hero, in just four years. Vast majority of these handhelds are powered by @AMD https://t.co/cL4tpBWGj1 pic.twitter.com/0Cjg90pdlN

— Saša Marinković (@SasaMarinkovic) February 25, 2025

I think it’s amazing,

This didn’t exist three years ago; we went from nothing, zero, to incremental category creation in the millions of units.

– Frank Azor, Consumer and Gaming Marketing, AMD

The IDC’s market analysis has reported nearly 6 million shipments of Windows and SteamOS-based handheld systems between 2023 and 2024, with expectations of an additional 2 million units in 2025. The data focuses on popular models, including the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw 7—all featuring AMD processors.

Furthermore, it is estimated that the Steam Deck has accounted for over half of these sales, potentially exceeding 4 million units sold thus far. Despite its relatively slower performance compared to other devices, the Steam Deck’s user-friendly interface powered by SteamOS has significantly contributed to its success in the market.

Although Intel has made strides with its Lunar Lake series, the anticipated emergence of AMD’s Strix Halo in gaming handhelds presents a formidable challenge for Intel to maintain competitiveness in the performance arena. That said, the upcoming Panther Lake lineup from Intel may need to deliver exceptional performance to rival AMD’s advancements, alongside AMD’s new Ryzen Z2 series entering the fray, underscoring the fierce competition within the gaming handheld sector.

For additional insights, visit: The Verge and follow @SasaMarinikovic.

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