AMD Ryzen APUs Propel Handheld Sales to Millions, But Steam Deck Remains Top Choice

In the gaming world, handheld devices are dominated by AMD’s Ryzen chips, leading the charge over the past three years. As we look toward 2025, projections indicate around 8 million units will be shipped, marking a significant win for AMD.

Although handheld gaming isn’t a new concept, devices capable of running PC games have only seen a rise in popularity since the debut of the Steam Deck in 2022. In just three short years, the market has exploded with entrants from the likes of ASUS, MSI, ZOTAC, and other notable brands.

What’s interesting is the common choice among these handhelds: AMD CPUs. Almost all of them, apart from models like the MSI Claw 7/8 AI+, run on AMD processors. Valve’s decision to use AMD’s custom Zen 2 CPU paved the way for this trend, especially since Intel’s Meteor Lake wasn’t introduced until late 2023. By then, brands like Lenovo and ASUS had already launched their Legion GO and ROG Ally.

Even with Intel’s Meteor Lake now available, many manufacturers are sticking with AMD’s Zen 4 chips, and some have even moved to the Zen 5 line. This is reflected in IDC’s data, which shows that most handheld shipments from 2022 to early 2025 feature AMD technology. Saša Marinković, AMD’s Senior Director of Consumer Marketing, couldn’t hide his excitement about this on X.

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

— Saša Marinković (@SasaMarinkovic) February 25, 2025

Frank Azor from AMD’s Consumer and Gaming Marketing called the situation remarkable, noting the rapid growth from zero to millions of units in a matter of a few years.

IDC research indicates that almost 6 million Windows and SteamOS-based handhelds were shipped in the past three years. The forecast for 2025 is around 2 million units, again mostly equipped with AMD processors. This doesn’t cover every single model, just the most popular ones like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw 7.

The data suggests that the Steam Deck alone could account for over half of these 6 million units. Despite being the slowest of the lot, its user-friendly SteamOS interface has allowed it to outperform many of its Windows-based rivals in terms of user adoption.

While Intel’s Lunar Lake chips have shown promise, AMD remains a fierce competitor with its forthcoming Strix Halo series. If Strix Halo integrates into gaming handhelds, Intel may struggle to match up unless their upcoming Panther Lake proves to be a game-changer in iGPU performance. With the introduction of AMD’s Ryzen Z2 series, the race in the handheld market is as competitive as ever.

Sources: The Verge, @SasaMarinkovic