The Handheld Gaming PC Dream: Is It Fading Away?

This month has been an exciting ride for me as I’ve been immersing myself in some engaging games like Magical Princess and Shanty Town. These titles are perfect candidates for handheld gaming, and it got me reminiscing about the golden days of console gaming when the idea of powerful hardware you could take anywhere felt like a dream. While older handhelds had their charm, with unique experiences you couldn’t find elsewhere, the current trend of handheld gaming PCs seems to be hitting a rough patch.

Recently, our friend Andy shared some jaw-dropping news on our ongoing updates about handheld gaming PC deals. He pointed out that the $1,000 (approx. Rs 278,000) Asus ROG Ally Xbox X is surprisingly one of the best-value gaming handhelds available right now. Sure, if you have the budget, the Asus packs an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, 24 GB of RAM, and a whopping 1 TB SSD, making it a solid choice. But what about those of us who are counting every penny?

The ongoing memory supply crisis has sent prices skyrocketing across the board for handheld devices. The Steam Deck, which many still consider the best budget handheld gaming PC, is a prime example. Last year, the cheaper LCD models were quietly phased out, leaving only the pricier OLED models. Fast forward to today, and the base 512 GB OLED model’s price has jumped from $549 (approx. Rs 152,620) to a staggering $789 (approx. Rs 219,340), while the 1 TB version has nearly doubled in price, from $649 (approx. Rs 180,420) to $949 (approx. Rs 263,820). So, for budget gamers, it seems like it’s a lost cause.

Despite these price spikes, the Steam Deck continues to fly off the shelves in North America, with both models selling out quickly after the price hike was announced in May. The 1 TB model is hard to come by in the UK as well, going for £779. It’s hard to imagine this trend being sustainable in the long run.

Let’s step back for a moment. I’ve been keeping an eye on SSD prices too, and they’ve been climbing since late last year. Research indicates we might see memory prices rise by 50% in Q3 alone, with a report suggesting that relief won’t come until 2028 when manufacturers complete new capacity increases.

In 2026, it’s not just handheld gaming PCs feeling the pinch; even the PlayStation 5 has seen its price swell three times over the past six years, now sitting at no less than $650 (approx. Rs 180,700). I remember picking up my launch-day PS5, but with the way prices are going, snagging a PS6 at launch seems less likely. If the PS5 Pro is already at $900 (approx. Rs 250,200), imagine how high the price for the PS6 will soar!

Maybe those predictions will come true, leading to more reasonable hardware prices by the time Sony rolls out their next-gen console in 2028 or 2029. But for now, handheld gaming PCs are struggling to find their place in this economic climate.

For anyone without a gaming PC, the $650 (approx. Rs 180,700) base PS5 might look like the smarter buy, especially since Sony isn’t bringing many of its exclusives to PC anymore. If you already own a gaming PC, it’s likely your priority is upgrading components, making the handheld gaming PC option feel less appealing.

Interestingly, gamers are still willing to spend on new hardware, yet handheld gaming PCs haven’t been their go-to choice. A recent report revealed that the Nintendo Switch 2 has become the favorite among gamers, contributing to a 69% year-over-year increase in hardware spending, reaching $500 (approx. Rs 139,000) million by March.

With the Switch 2 set to retail for $500 (approx. Rs 139,000) from September 1 in the US, it’s worth considering whether the recent rush to buy was spurred by fears of future price hikes. While many PC gamers might not care about Nintendo’s latest offering, the gaming landscape shows a shift toward gamers being more platform-agnostic. A report found that 76% of gamers play on multiple platforms, making the Switch 2 a noteworthy competitor even if it’s not as powerful as other portable gaming devices.

In conclusion, the high prices of top-tier handheld gaming PCs are making them unaffordable for many, while the better budget option struggles to compete against Nintendo’s latest. There’s a distinct possibility that handheld gaming might revert back to being a niche market for those with deep pockets, reminiscent of the time before the Steam Deck changed the game.

Smaller companies are already feeling the pinch, with Ayaneo halting pre-orders for its premium Next 2 gaming handheld when costs almost doubled. While Valve is unlikely to abandon the Steam Deck anytime soon, smaller manufacturers may struggle in this environment. As prices continue to rise, a significant portion of the audience could find themselves priced out. I sincerely hope I’m mistaken and that the future of handheld gaming PCs isn’t as grim as it seems.

Note: PKR figures are approximate, based on a rate of Rs 278.00 per USD. Exchange rates fluctuate — please check the latest dollar rate for exact pricing.