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PC Handheld Gaming Consoles: From Steam Deck to Rising Stars

6/08/2025

PC Handheld Gaming Consoles: From Steam Deck to Rising Stars

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The PC handheld gaming market, with over 6 million units shipped by 2024, is booming, led by Valve’s Steam Deck and rivals like Asus and Lenovo. From major tech giants to niche innovators, brands like Ayaneo and Anbernic are shaping portable gaming. This overview highlights key manufacturers and their standout devices as of June 8, 2025.

Major Manufacturers

  • Valve (Steam Deck): The Steam Deck, with 3.7 million units shipped, leads with SteamOS, a 7.4-inch OLED option, and AMD Aerith CPU for $549, offering affordability and seamless Steam integration.
  • Asus (ROG Ally Series): The ROG Ally X, featuring Ryzen Z2 Extreme and 24GB RAM, boasts a 7-inch 120Hz display and Windows 11 Xbox interface for $799.99, with an Ally 2 rumored for 2025.
  • Lenovo (Legion Go Series): The Legion Go S, running SteamOS or Windows with Ryzen Z2 Go, has an 8-inch 120Hz display and detachable controllers for $549, challenging Steam Deck.
  • MSI (Claw Series): The Claw 8 AI+, with Intel Core Ultra 7 and Arc 140V GPU, offers an 8-inch 120Hz screen and 32GB RAM for $899, aiming to improve on earlier models.
  • Acer (Nitro Blaze Series): The Nitro Blaze 11, announced at CES 2025, features an 11-inch display and Ryzen 7 8840HS for premium gaming, with pricing yet to be confirmed.
  • Zotac (Zone Series): The Zone 2, with a 7-inch AMOLED and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, runs Manjaro Linux and 32GB RAM for high-end performance.

Established Handheld PC Brands

  • Ayaneo (Ayaneo Series): The Ayaneo 2S and Flip KB, with Ryzen 7 7840U and 7-inch OLED displays, start at $699, known for sleek designs but shorter battery life.
  • GPD (Win Series): The GPD Win Mini 2025, with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and a 7-inch 120Hz display, delivers compact power for $999, ideal for gaming and productivity.
  • OneXPlayer (OneXFly Series): The OneXFly F1 Pro, with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and an 8.4-inch 1600p screen, offers detachable controllers for $1,099.
  • AOKZOE (A1, A1 Pro, A2 Series): The A2, with Ryzen 7 7840U and a 7-inch 1080p display, balances cost and performance at $649, though support is limited.
  • Ayn (Loki Series): The Loki Max, with Ryzen 7 6800U and a 6-inch 1080p screen, is budget-friendly at $499 but faces cooling challenges.

Lesser-Known Manufacturers

  • Anbernic (Win600): The Win600, with AMD Athlon Silver 3050e and a 5.94-inch screen, targets retro gaming for $239 but struggles with modern titles.
  • Orange Pi (Neo Series): The Neo aims for budget gamers with undisclosed specs, but limited distribution raises reliability concerns.
  • Terrans Force (Handle 5): This niche device, with a 7-inch display and Ryzen 7 7840U, costs $799 but lacks widespread reviews.

Trends and Community Buzz

Valve’s Steam Deck dominates due to price and SteamOS, while Asus and Lenovo push Windows-based innovation. Fans on X praise the Legion Go S’s SteamOS adoption, but high prices ($800+) and Windows optimization issues spark debate. Enthusiasts favor Ayaneo’s compact designs, though crowdfunding risks for brands like AOKZOE raise concerns.

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What’s Next?

With AMD’s Ryzen Z2 series and Intel’s Lunar Lake powering 2025 devices, handhelds like the ROG Ally 2 are expected at Computex. The market, projected to hit 2 million units in 2025, faces challenges in affordability and software stability but promises a vibrant future.

Disclaimer: Details for lesser-known brands may be subject to change due to limited information.