AMD Ryzen APUs Drive Massive Sales in Handheld Market; Steam Deck Remains the Top Choice

In the last few years, AMD’s Ryzen chips have quietly become the powerhouse behind the majority of gaming handhelds. According to market estimates, these devices have dominated the scene, showcasing how AMD is leading the charge.

Looking ahead, with projections suggesting around 8 million handheld units will be shipped by the close of 2025, AMD is clearly a step ahead. Even though handheld gaming isn’t a new concept, the ability to play PC games on these devices truly took off with the release of the Steam Deck in 2022. Fast forward three years, and we’re seeing a flood of these gadgets from big names like ASUS, MSI, and ZOTAC.

The connection between these handhelds? Most rely on AMD CPUs, with few exceptions such as models like MSI’s Claw 7/8 AI+, which stand apart. From the get-go, when Valve opted for a custom Zen 2 CPU from AMD, other manufacturers naturally followed suit with AMD’s faster chips. This alignment was foreseeable since Intel’s Meteor Lake processors weren’t out until late 2023, by which time companies like Lenovo with their Legion GO and ASUS’s ROG Ally had already entered the market.

Despite Meteor Lake being available now, the preference among handheld makers has remained strong for AMD’s Zen 4 chips, and many are now transitioning to Zen 5 processors. Consequently, recent data from IDC highlights that most handheld shipments between 2022 and the start of 2025 feature AMD processors. This success is a point of pride for AMD, as expressed by their Senior Director of Consumer Marketing, Saša Marinković, who celebrated their achievement on X with a tweet.

Frank Azor from AMD also shared his excitement, noting how the market has evolved rapidly in just three years, transforming from non-existent to a booming category shipping millions of units.

IDC’s report indicates that nearly 6 million Windows and SteamOS-based handheld devices were shipped in the last three years, with expectations of another 2 million in 2025, most of which are powered by AMD processors. This tally doesn’t encompass every handheld but includes the best sellers like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo’s Legion GO, among others.

Interestingly, it appears over half of these 6 million units are attributed to the Steam Deck, which may have surpassed the 4 million sales mark. Despite being among the slower handhelds compared to its peers, its success is largely attributed to SteamOS’s excellent user interface, offering an edge over Windows-based rivals.

Intel may have fared well with its Lunar Lake chips, but if AMD’s Strix Halo finds its way into gaming handhelds, Intel could face stiff competition. Matching AMD’s performance might prove difficult unless Intel’s forthcoming Panther Lake line can truly compete in integrated GPU performance. Furthermore, the entrance of AMD’s new Ryzen Z2 series into the fray only amplifies the competition in the gaming handheld market.

News Sources: The Verge, @SasaMarinikovic