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TechPowerUp's team conducted research to find out how the market for handheld consoles performs and where its users are mostly going. The large community poll of 22,649 PC gamers, asking a simple "Do you game on a handheld console?" paints a solid picture of the customer base that a handheld console maker can expect. The majority, at 65.3% of the polled gamers, have chosen the option "No," indicating that two-thirds of PC gamers spend time on their main desktop or notebook PCs without using an additional handheld console. Among the 34.7% of respondents (7,852 votes) who game on the go, Valve's Steam Deck leads with 2,798 votes (35.6%), narrowly edging out Nintendo's Switch at 2,785 votes (35.5%).
ASUS's ROG Ally follows with 913 votes (11.6%), while "Other" devices, including Android emulators, retro‑focused units like the Analogue Pocket, and various mini‑PC handhelds, account for 810 votes (10.3%). Boutique Windows handhelds trail further behind, with the Lenovo Legion Go claiming 280 votes (3.6%) and the MSI Claw 266 votes (3.4%). Out of the entire fleet of these handhelds, only the Nintendo Switch is a real console. Others are mini portable PCs, which can serve functionality far beyond those of a console. Gamers are fond of the added functionality, which is why the Steam Deck, running Linux and Windows-based handhelds from ASUS, MSI, Lenovo, and others, are so popular.
Handheld gaming has always carried a warm glow of nostalgia, and forum veterans were quick to reminisce about carrying around the bulky Game Boy and pioneering Game Gear before graduating to the sleeker GBA SP and DS. Some retro handhelds, like the Analogue Pocket, carry a deep childhood connection for forum members, while others playfully shrug off modern handhelds as "toys for kids," preferring to unplug on vacation or catch some sleep on long flights. Still, they admitted there's a certain mischievous fun in imagining themselves someday streaming PC games on a pocket‑sized powerhouse, to spark the enthusiasm in the youngsters.
Of course, it's not all about memories. Many people complained about awkward hand positions, tiny HUDs, and the sheer impracticality of playing PC titles without a mouse. Many, especially the older crowd commuting on trains, would rather jam to music or lose themselves in an ebook than squash their thumbs on a small screen. Then again, those with Wi-Fi 6-ready devices can't stop talking about the magic of seamless home-streamed sessions, and there's growing buzz around upcoming Arm-powered handhelds with built-in cellular, and no router required. And while this forum might skew Western, it's worth remembering that in places like Tokyo's rush‑hour subway, handheld and smartphone gaming aren't just common, they're a way of life. For everyone traveling, it's a nice way to "unplug" after a hard day of work. After all, consoles like the Nintendo DS and Switch have each sold over 150 million units globally, proving that portable gaming still has a loyal fan base.
View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source
ASUS's ROG Ally follows with 913 votes (11.6%), while "Other" devices, including Android emulators, retro‑focused units like the Analogue Pocket, and various mini‑PC handhelds, account for 810 votes (10.3%). Boutique Windows handhelds trail further behind, with the Lenovo Legion Go claiming 280 votes (3.6%) and the MSI Claw 266 votes (3.4%). Out of the entire fleet of these handhelds, only the Nintendo Switch is a real console. Others are mini portable PCs, which can serve functionality far beyond those of a console. Gamers are fond of the added functionality, which is why the Steam Deck, running Linux and Windows-based handhelds from ASUS, MSI, Lenovo, and others, are so popular.
Handheld gaming has always carried a warm glow of nostalgia, and forum veterans were quick to reminisce about carrying around the bulky Game Boy and pioneering Game Gear before graduating to the sleeker GBA SP and DS. Some retro handhelds, like the Analogue Pocket, carry a deep childhood connection for forum members, while others playfully shrug off modern handhelds as "toys for kids," preferring to unplug on vacation or catch some sleep on long flights. Still, they admitted there's a certain mischievous fun in imagining themselves someday streaming PC games on a pocket‑sized powerhouse, to spark the enthusiasm in the youngsters.
Of course, it's not all about memories. Many people complained about awkward hand positions, tiny HUDs, and the sheer impracticality of playing PC titles without a mouse. Many, especially the older crowd commuting on trains, would rather jam to music or lose themselves in an ebook than squash their thumbs on a small screen. Then again, those with Wi-Fi 6-ready devices can't stop talking about the magic of seamless home-streamed sessions, and there's growing buzz around upcoming Arm-powered handhelds with built-in cellular, and no router required. And while this forum might skew Western, it's worth remembering that in places like Tokyo's rush‑hour subway, handheld and smartphone gaming aren't just common, they're a way of life. For everyone traveling, it's a nice way to "unplug" after a hard day of work. After all, consoles like the Nintendo DS and Switch have each sold over 150 million units globally, proving that portable gaming still has a loyal fan base.
View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source
