IDC Estimates Just Under 6M Handheld PCs Shipped in Last 3 Years - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted on 01 March 2025 / 7,975 Views
New estimates from IDC claim PC handhelds - Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and more - shipped just under six million units from 2022 to 2025.
This breaks down to 1,620,000 shipped in 2022, 2,867,000 units in 2023, and 1,485,000 units in 2024. IDC also forecasts 1,926,000 Handheld PCs will be shipped in 2025.
The vast majority of the nearly six million figure is for the Steam Deck with estimates of "upwards of 3.7 million" shipped and "quite possibly crossed 4 million by now."
This does mean the Windows-based handheld PCs, like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw, shipped around two million units from 2022 to 2024.
Thanks, The Verge.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Bluesky.
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Niche products sell niche numbers; they're not really a mass market product like Switch or Playstation
Many forum members as well.
People need to remember... It's a PC.
And just like how consoles never replaced a PC...
Or how Mobile Android/iOS didn't replace mobile consoles... These devices will continue to exist in their own bubble and be supported just fine.
It exists as part of an "ecosystem". - Where companies like ASUS will try and sell you accessories and services and get you to buy more into their brand for things like Modems, Monitors, Docks, Peripherals and more... THAT'S where they are making the cash.
I entered into the ASUS ecosystem via their "TUF" line of motherboards back in the LGA2011 era and went on to buy keyboards, mice, routers, modems, displays, laptops because the brand was synonymous with reliability for me... And eventually got the ASUS ROG Ally.
That's the real point of these devices. Ecosystems.
People need to think bigger.
Its a mobile device, a Handheld (something i am not allowed to call the Switch despite it technically is one). Nothing replaces anything. PCs don't replace consoles and the other way round.
They are made for different purpuses. Both can do things the other can't.
Its the same for Mobile vs handhelds:
Both can do things you cannot do with the other device. Mobile also does not replace Handhelds (no matter how loud mass media shouted that out). Gaming on smartphones is a joke. Also these companies want you to play their games, they do not care where you play. Valve does not care if you buy a Steam Deck as long as you buy your games on Steam.
He literally just explained this to you, but you've worded it slightly differently to make it so that "PC's don't replace consoles".
"People need to remember... It's a PC", because it literally is one, OS and all.
If Valve did not care, they wouldn't have made the Deck in the first place, nor would they be updating and adding to their Steam OS.
I just have to ask, why are you doing this?.
Its a difficult definition in what these PC"handhelds" are... yes they are built around PC hardware. They have Steam OS. Is it a Mini PC in a handheld form or is it a PC in a handheld. I am not sure if i could use office there... if not, i am not sure if i would call it PC, because all these programmes like Exel, Word, Powerpoint (does it still exist?)... is one thing that makes a PC at least for me. If yes, i think it could be a bit complicated on this tiny screen with a handheld (console) layout of buttons but docked with an added mouse and keyboard, why not? Maybe its not a PC in a way a 0815 person would call it but yes you could use it as a PC...
What these things lack is exclusives that can only be played there!
These are all LITERALLY handheld PCS. The Steam Deck runs a modified version of Arch Linux I think. The other models all run Windows.
You can buy a dock, connect a keyboard and mouse and hook it up to a monitor and it's just a normal PC. I have a dock and sometimes I connect my Steam Deck to my TV to play.
Not sure what you mean by "lack exclusives", there's tons of games that are exclusive to PCs.
But i am not allowed to call the Switch a handheld despite the fact it is one technically and more users use it in handheld mode according even to Nintendo themselfes!
Who said you can't call the Switch a handheld? It is.
Back in 2017 i've been told that the Switch was a console first and i was a fanboy calling it a handheld because it was the most powerfull one back then and some teenies in their puberty had a huuuge problem with that fact! I had numerous discussions when i said that you need this plastic box called the Dock to play on the TV, even later in 2019 when the Lite came out and i asked why there is no Switch TV if its more of a HC i've been trashed with insults and attacks. Me as most others use it in HH mode.
Nobody here said you can't call the Switch a handheld, what someone said in 2017 is irrelevant.
The Switch is a handheld, the Steam Deck is a handheld PC.
PC's are not defined by a form factor.
We have had handheld PC's for decades.
We have had mobile PC's for decades.
We have also had HTPC's for decades, they sit in the same environment as the Xbox/Playstation.
They are handheld PC's. It's that simple... And there is zero need to complicate things with arbitrary definitions beyond that.
As for exclusives... Remember the PC has it's own exclusives.
I would argue genre's like Real Time Strategy games (Think StarCraft) are only really playable with a keyboard and mouse, locking that genre up on PC.
Same goes for MMO's which tend to be the domain of the PC.
Correct. Consoles are a PC by it's definition. Which is "Personal Computer".
There is reason why Sony had the PS1 advertise "Computer Entertainment Device" when the console booted.
And why Sony advertised their gaming arm as "SCE" or "Sony Computer Entertainment".
But I think people today tend to refer to the PC as a Windows/IBM compliant device.
But I am happy to include consoles as a PC if that is the way you wish to define it, I am not against using multiple categorizations for something.
They are literally a mobile PC.
Have you never ever seen a "pocket computer" before?. That's basically what these PC handhelds are.
Like I can use the Steam Deck for gaming, and then I can dock the thing, hook it up to my TV or monitor and also plug in a mouse & keyboard and literally use it like a mini desktop PC (it will even change to a desktop view mode on said monitor/TV).
Software like Excel/PowerPoint are not what make PC a PC, that is simply software.
The Steam Deck does not need exclusives, because Valve is not a console company. Everyone else (save for Nintendo) are moving away from the exclusive forever model and are porting over to other systems and ecosystems, because there is more money to be made over the long-term.
Also storefronts like Epic tried to make PC exclusivity a thing in a console-like manner and they are still the least popular storefront on PC and near universally disliked.
Epic showed up on PC, after having abandoned the platform for years, then they tried making exclusivity deals with publishers & Devs to make it so a select few games could only be sold on EGS, and nowhere else. This irked and angered a great deal of PC Gamers (myself included), because we do not want store exclusivity deals, we want the games to be available everywhere (this includes EA/Uplay/Battlenet/GoG/Steam, etc).
When it comes to PC, no one really cares about 1st party games being locked down to each storefront (Valve has TF2/CSGO/HL/Dota 2, EG have Fortnite, but in recent years they bought Rocket League to remove it from Steam, which to this day is considered a "dick move", since it wouldn't allow for new customers on Steam)., but when it comes to third party exclusivity deals, that's when people on PC will get pissed off.
Most PCgamers use a mix of Steam/GoG and Battlenet, so Epic vying for exclusivity deals hurts that, and becomes a strong-arming tactic, which isn't what wins you over on PC. It will win console gamers over, because that is all that has ever happened with that platform since it's inception, but on PC it's more about being able to play the games anywhere else).
Interesting... so on the PC front Stores seemto be "digital consoles" trying to get gamers attention it i get that right. So are there "Fanboys" of Steamstore, Epic Store, U Play, EA Store? Is there a war going on like with consoles? I always thought it was all about nVidia vs AMD?
There are people that happen to like Steam and other storefronts, but the majority of folks on PC like Steam/GoG over the other clients.
No there is no warring, there are only stupid people who do not see the full picture and like to argue in bad faith (and being anti-consumer in mindset).
Epic themselves like to play customers with that mindset to rally for them, like their stupid Apple vs Fortnite court case, where Timmy got kids to fight his battles for him on the net (which was honestly disgusting to see an old man do on Twitter).
Why are you bothered by Pem and me correcting him?.
He has been found to putting out wrong information when it comes to PC, and that's why people like me, Pem and others stand in to correct him. The fact you feel some weird need to defend this under "just his opinion" is odd to me, because you debated with me some articles ago on what you likely thought was "just an opinion" (I assure you, it was not).
Zero advertising for Steam Deck and still no retail availability outside of purchasing directly on Steam. Well, except for refurbished units with GameStop. Pretty good for a pet project.
The other three handhelds are available readily at retail and have only managed two million sold in three years between them.
Tbf barely anyone I know even knows the Rog Ally even exists, because most people don't even know of RoG branding.
They know about Steam though, but as we know, Steam Deck is a limited supply, and you can only order it directly through Steam, you cannot buy it anywhere else.
So we've got other handhelds like the Deck, where only the hardest of core gamers know where to buy and what they are, whilst the Deck is limited in both supply and can only be bought online via Steam. All in all, that explains the market penetration being what it is and it's lower sales volume.
At this point, anybody that wants a Steam Deck can buy one. It’s not supply-constrained anymore. Every model is available on Steam with a promised 3-5 day delivery period. The supply has not only caught up with demand, but the supply likely exceeds the demand.
All of the big box retailers in my area, including Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, carry the Ally and the Legion, as well as MSI’s handheld PC.
There are some countries that cannot order it completely though, but that is up to Valve to solve, and then there are people like me, who would prefer it being sold physically in other stores officially (not second hand), so different prices can be offered to entice people like me to buy at said different storefronts.
I doubt that the countries where SD isn’t available would contribute in any appreciable manner to its user base. Those other handheld PCs are widely available for retail in Europe and Asia. Collectively they’ve sold about 2 million worldwide. They’re a niche product for a small user base of hobbyists at best, and a temporary fad at wprse. Gaben understands this, which is why he isn’t pursuing mass market penetration.
That may be a case, but that still doesn't mean that those people wouldn't want to buy an SD. It's just that we do not outright hear those voices, let alone Valve listening to them, because again, Steam is the only real place you can ever obtain their devices.
The other handhelds are sold everywhere due to the nature of them all being 3rd party brands, and they need to be seen everywhere, whilst SD relies solely on Steam's popularity and brand power, which is likely why Valve still feels most comfortable in keeping them to only their storefront orders only.
Yes Gaben understands this, but this also isn't a negative thought process to have on his end. He knows there is a market that wants the SD, and he seems happy with the device's marketing and reach from his own store. It's the people here that seem to have this negative connotation that because it's not doing Switch numbers, it is somehow a "flop"/"bad" (also I see niche being thrown around on this site in the negative term, which is why I'm trying hard to believe you are not using it in the negative meaning).
It definitely isn't the "Switch killer" that Gaben loyalists and every PC gaming outlet were hyping it as a couple of years ago, either.
I don't think it was ever going to be seen as such.
Let's not forget that this happens vice versa with other systems, especially on this site as well.
It received an outsized amount of hype from media outlets for a device that has sold numbers that might have been respectable in 1979. And yes, it was hyped as a "Switch killer." It got the same kind of desperate hype that people accuse Veilguard or Avowed of getting.
Yes from those typical outlets that have also been hyping other games like Avowed and even Veilguard.
I don't take said outlets as gospel and barely bother reading into them, simply because modern journalism isn't core journalism, it's about clickbait/rage clicks with those types these days.
best bet is to just ignore the outlets and focus more on what is actually going on, compared to what they claim is going on.
Many things have been hyped as handheld (Nintendo/PSP/Vita)killers: N Gage, The Walkman of the 21st Century, Smartphones, Tablets, now PC "Handhelds"...) whats next? I think we should just accept that handhelds are here to stay when even Sony and MS show interest. I mean 150 million + Switches are not nothing...
I think it would have been wise from valve to give the Steam deck a soul. Create a specific physical game media for it like Vita/ Switch. Create exclusive games for SD. Add in an exclusive SDS (Steam Deck Store). Make exclusives that use it's unique features like the 2 touchpads. I know many people will contradict me but tell me: Nintendo's and Sony's handhelds did exactly this and sold much more. Why did Valve did not follow them?
The Deck already had a game specifically made for it, it was a Portal Spinoff game designed to make use of the Deck's control scheme layout.
Valve don't do physical memory carts like Nintendo do, as their storefront is digital, so really all you'd need to do is replace/upgrade your Deck storage and just download the games and run them from internal memory or a storage cart you can input into the device.
The thing is, Sony have their VR headset, but you don't see them spending billions to just crank out PSVR2 only games, because that doesn't make business sense to just focus on that one device, when they have a console install base to cater to.
Like that, Valve have their storefront and current games to tend to, so it makes sense that they update the Deck, work on Steam and update their games on Steam, than spending money on some novelty game for only the Deck, that can only ever be played on that device (which wouldn't make sense from a PC perspective).
Don't forget, Valve is a storefront/OS company, not really much in the way of a company that constantly churns out game after game after game (they are privately owned, which means they choose to make games they want to make when they wish to make them, which is why they aren't copying Nintendo/Sony, nor do they need to, as they are already successful in what they do).
About Sonys PSVR2 Headset! They technically have thebet VR headset you coukd dream of! Eye Tracking, Rumble wich is the first time a VR hesdset ever made it and you don't want to continue after Horizon. You only sell devices with exclusives! I would treat it like MS treated Kinect (for Xbox 360)! It sold 24 million units and had good exclusives. PSVR2 is now ~ 480$ so its bot that unaffordable anymore. They should have used it as a second standfoot like MS did with Kinect (Xbox 360 not one for heavens sake!).
This should clarify for a few people downplaying PS Portal sales and skepticle about a portable PS5 that hardware doesn't need to sell dozens of millions to be successful.
In the past consoles needed this to support a healthy userbase in able to supported dedicated software development. But if software is automatically compatible or just needs minimal optimising, then a small userbase is fine as long as the hardware sells at a profit
Was thinking the same, Portal sales are what? Like 2 mil now? And people said that's low but if Steam Deck has only ever sold 4million as a complete in demand device.
Key thing about both devices is the ability to have access to your library in a smaller package. It's why the Switch works so well, however Switch is an all in one package.
It was reported that Portal sold to like 1,5-3% of all PS5 users when numbers where around 61 million. That would be around 2,75 million if i optimistically round up. Nothing near mass market but definitly comparable to Steam Deck, Rog Alley & Co. As a niche product, yes we could say it has some sort of "sucess" but its a streaming only device vs native "handhelds" so it is indeed a bit different, so its a questionable comparrison. But if Sony decided to make their own PC "handheld", their brand power could indeed bring it to some sort of "market leading possition" in this niche field, similar to where PSVR (2) stands compared to other VR headsets... A PSP/ GBA level of sucess, let alone Switch/DS is a pipe dream...
Well according to the comments here, it's a "niche" product, and people here seem to value sales in the hundred millions as being successful. This is a chart website after all, people have slowly been moulded into boardroom level execs expecting higher sales volumes or thing will be a flop.
I would not say that people expect higher sales. Its just funny to see these numbers when some media in 2022 swore it would replace handhelds like the Switch. Nobody should be disappointed or angry (with me) if 3,7 million in 2 years (WiiU 3,56 million in 3 weeks/ PSVita ~1,1 million day 1) is not the outcome most people expected.
Yes but that is called "desiring to watch others eat crow", which in turn ends up becoming a focal point of "said person expects popularity, thus I expect more sales", so it does end up becoming just that, an expectations of even higher sales.
This becomes a semi problem when the customer is solely focused on the sales of something, rather than the product itself being good or not, and it is why I have been arguing for people to stop focusing on CCU data from Steam, and acting like a bunch of boardroom execs, thinking they can all determine sales, in a realm they do not dabble in, nor really care for (Like how you used Steam CCU Data for Spider-Man 2, despite you "never wanting to touch a PC", so why on earth should you ever care?).
In some way you are right: When i created my home cinema i was aware that i would be kinde of unique especially in my age at that time (24). It was considered for rich elder people. Nearly nobody has something like that because of its redicolously high price, but i enjoy it. The difference to consoles is that i always can buy something that supports it (BDs, DVDs...) but consoles that sell worse don't get a lot of games. But i get what you mean. If i have a great product i do not give a fuck how well it sells. I am enjoying modern surround sound in games that can't be matched by way cheaper soundbars or anything else but i don't care if i am a minority. Would you care about the fact that as a Ferrari owner you'd get outnumbered by VW users?
That is because this is a simple factor of human psychology. I've had two parents who have worked within that field in two different sectors (elderly and teenage/young adults), so I've learned a deal of how people can often desire to imitate something, even when they aren't entirely aware that they are.
Take for example the current gaming landscape of today. Most kids are focused on their cliques and what's currently trending. Then there are late teens to early and mid 20's, who take more focus on a game's sales/branding recognition, because they feel they have to invest, or they "lose" something by not doing it (I blame Coca Cola and other companies for slowly influencing that).
We have folks on here who focus heavily on the sales of something, instead of the games themselves, and whether or not they are fun to play, or to avoid/not desire a purchase. Slowly over time the focus on sales ends up emulating that which you would typically see in any given boardroom with C-suites and corp execs, where if something isn't "selling well", it is considered a failure/flop.
People have conflated that some outlets talked big about the Deck, that the ones reading from the outlets let their focus go from the Deck itself to the Deck's sales margins (completely ignoring the device and the merits it has entirely), which in turn has resulted in "oh it sold less than Switch, that means it's niche and will die" (because niche today is now being used as a negative term, and not a neutral factor).
Valve are content with the sales they've gotten so far, and the Deck itself will provide access to all the games the customer already owns within their Steam library, and they can also pick up and play their games on the Deck or their PC, so the device has that feature set going for it (which honestly saves people like me money, so I don't have to go rebuy all the $50-60 games again, like Nintendo want me to do most of the time).
Yes. These things are a niche for people who do not like to pay 60$+ for every game. The problem is, that not every Steam game runs on the Deck. Its below PS4 in Power and there is a good bunch of Steam games requireing a lot more than 1,6 TF. So a good part of this libary is not even playable there. If i have a standard HH, be it the 3DS, Vita Switch or an older system. I can rely on the fact, that every game in the Store or that i buy physical for these systems is also playable.
Yes and that is why Valve have been working with devs over time and devs in return, to make sure their games run on the Deck.
If you check Cornina's threads, you'll see he posts info regarding his Steam library growing more and more Steam Deck verified.
It's not entirely below PS4 in terms of power, not if you know about tweaking the Deck's voltages and overclocks, and there are plenty of easy guides to show you how to do this.
The Deck itself is not "exactly the same as the PS3 and far weaker than the PS4", if that's what you're thinking.
A lot of games don't even need the full flops btw. I believe you are putting more focus on AAA games, which do not make up the vast majority of games out there. Most games do not require a P{S4/PS5 level console to run those games, and the Switch/handheld devices and even mobile phones are proof of this.
Yes there are games that run on Switch, but Nintendo never stated they "run well", so by your logic, yes there are games that absolutely exist on Switch, but they are either locked at 30fps, a far lower res, low quality settings or do not run at a stable 30fps. There is no real 100% pristine Nintendo seal of premium crispy quality" these days, not even with Sony or MS for that matter.
?? Thats worse than i thought! I supposed the Steam Deck alone hit 5 million at the end of 2024?! But instead it seems to be down YoY for the year. I meam PSVR is at 5- 6 million sold. One thing is for sure. PC "Handhelds" are niche but they are also not the "Handheldkillers" (Switch) like some thought. Even If Sony was to make a Vita sucessor it would outsell this Kidsparty easily, even digital only. I guess the same would go even for an Xbox Mobile! So the Vita (18 million) and the WiiU (13,56 million) sold more than all PC "Handhelds" combined. Interesting...
They’re a novelty. They’re really better as emulation machines than they are as machines that play contemporary PC games. The Steam Deck is hit and miss as an emulation machine,
Honestly it looks like a great Emu machine. In fact all I've been seeing in terms of YT videos on the Deck are it's emulation range and reach.
I wouldn't really chalk up emulation to some novelty factor, as if that isn't as important as current day games (Which is a focal point console only players tend to look at, because they do not get to emulate the way PC players do, thus that factor to them can be seen as a novelty).
I guess a Laptop would be better for emulation because it is more powerfull has a bigger screen while also being some kind of mobile. And thats coming from someone who does not like PCs. A PC "Handheld" thats not upgradable, has lower resolution, less storage (2TB max with SD) has far less possibilities than a laptop.
Not really no. Laptops contain mobile GPU's and CPU's, and aren't as capable as a desktop setup would be for games that require more power.
There's nothing wrong with Nintendo currently using dated ROMS on their 2018 Switch system, so there really wouldn't be much of an issue with the Deck doing the same either (again, Dolphin and PSX Emu's work on the Deck and are two of the suggested Emu's to pair with the device).
You can upgrade parts of the Deck, it's just that Valve suggests you do not do so, otherwise you break it's warranty (just like how Nintendo/Sony do not want you homebrewing/modifying your PSP/Switch).
It's okay as an emulation machine. I have one. I mostly use it to emulate old arcade games that aren't available in Namco or Capcom collections or Arcade Archives, mostly from companies that have either abandoned their arcade catalog or simply don't exist anymore. Exidy's president recently released a bunch of Exidy's arcade ROMs, and because it was an American arcade company, its games (such as Targ, Venture, or Mouse Trap) aren't going to show up on Nintendo, Sony, or Steam storefronts. But it doesn't emulate arcade games perfectly, and I prefer to play the official releases of those arcade games that are available on my Switch or my PS5. I'm not really a PC gamer. The ones I have on the Deck are not available on Switch or PS5 and likely never will be for the reasons above.
I also use it to emulate the Atari 8-bit line, which was my favorite early 80s home computer line that has mostly faded into obscurity, but it does so very imperfectly. There's an actual mini Atari 400 that does that emulation much better.
I have the Steam Deck official dock, but the Steam Deck's dock is shit. It frequently disconnects or won't register on screen, and switching back and forth betwen desktop and Steam mode borks it. It's nothing like the ease of use and consistency my Switch gives me.
As far as games like Cyberpunk or Baldur's Gate 3 go, even though they're SD certified, they are much better experiences on PS5 rather than the Deck. It's not a substitute for either a console or a decent PC.
I feel like you're voicing regret for your purchase, I mean going by the "it fails at this, just use X/Y instead", talking points.
Again, from what I've seen around me on the net, it's been a great device for a myriad of games and purposes. I think because you're not a PCGamer, you're not in the mind to use the Deck the way other people are using it, which is likely why they come off as more happy with their purchase, whilst you do not, given your list of negatives and replacement suggestions.
I myself do not own a Deck, but I'm also not going to just see it as a "niche failure", because I'ma be real, I know you own one, truly I believe you, but I'm getting the certain vibe that you're not really 100% on the purchase you made.
Remind me again why Xbox is getting into this market?
This seems to me that if you are not Nintendo, you might as well forget it.
I don't think Steam Deck has really been trying to compete against Switch. If you have something of value to bring to the market and actually market it, the result might be different. Additionally, Steam Deck is just another way to play Steam games (and others). As a dedicated handheld with its own library, it would probably be not be considered very successful, but for Valve, it's probably just an added benefit to the existing ecosystem. Microsoft could do something similar if they find a way they think makes sense.
Because it's worth at least trying. None of those devices are heavily marketed or have the same brand power and awareness as Xbox when it comes to gaming hardware. With proper market and retail presence, it could very well make it worthwhile for them.
isnt the xbox handheld suppose to play your xbox library and function as a rog and play all windows games??? That would make it more appealing to a huge range of gamers.
Supposedly it will do all that and have other platforms like Steam access too. We will see what ends up happening if it happens. I could be a really neat device if they do it right.
"Because it's worth at least trying"
Tell that to Sega!
And that seems so stupid to me: More systems (HC, HH, PC), seperate (partly exclusive) game sales- more money. Want to buy a game on Xbox? Pay 60$! You want it also on PC? 60$ extra please! Want a game on a (theoretical) Xbox Mobile? Bay 50$! Care to do the maths? 170$= 3 games! Play anyware- Charitysoft- like some call it: 60$ for 3 games (HC, HH and PC). Nintendo did that over 30 years: 1989- 2021- Game Boy- 3DS)- we hade more choice (different games)! Sony did it from 2005- 2019 (PSP- PSVita)- more different games, more choice!
I'm not surprised sales are modest. I think there is demand to play PC games on a portable device, but these are too large and kinda expensive.
Instead of chasing power, I would like a portable PC that's kinda cheap, about the size of a Switch Lite, but capable of running lower end games really well. Stuff like New Vegas, Halo MCC and indie games. Even if it's only 30 fps.
The Switch couldn't have thrived if it were the size of Steam Deck. Size and price matters for portable consoles.
Is this world wide?
Switch is DOOMED
Headline: "Valve buying Nintendo for $120 billion...."
Never gonna happen as the japanese state would never allow Nintendo a company with cultural heritage status to be sold to a foreign company! Before that happens they revive Samurais to replace their military!😂
