HP Considers Handheld Gaming PC with SteamOS

Sales of handheld gaming PCs are increasing every year. Major manufacturers like Lenovo, Asus, and MSI continue to release new products. However, one well-known PC manufacturer has been absent from the competition—HP.

According to a report from Notebookcheck in an interview with XDA, HP is now considering developing a handheld gaming PC based on SteamOS. This was confirmed by Josephine Tan, HP’s Senior Vice President and Division President of Gaming Solutions.

HP's delay in entering this market is apparently related to the Windows 11 operating system. Tan revealed her difficulties using Windows 11 on handheld devices. The operating system is not intuitive for a portable gaming experience.

Windows 11 Considered Ineffective for Handheld Gaming PCs

One of the main issues is the resume game feature, which is not as flexible as on devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. Because of this, HP initially had no plans to create a handheld gaming PC.

However, the situation has changed with SteamOS now available for various devices beyond the Steam Deck. One example is the Lenovo Legion Go S, which uses this operating system.

Although SteamOS has some limitations, such as compatibility with games that have built-in anti-cheat systems and lack of official support for frame generation, the user experience remains superior to Windows 11 on handheld devices.

HP Starts Looking at SteamOS for Handheld Gaming PC

Windows 11 has often been criticized due to various bugs, especially after the 24H2 update. Many handheld gaming PC users feel that this operating system is not optimized. Microsoft focuses more on desktops and laptops, so it does not provide a portable mode that could improve the gaming experience on handheld devices.

This situation is pushing more users to look for alternatives like Bazzite, a SteamOS-based system. Some enthusiasts have even installed it on devices like the Asus ROG Ally for a more stable gaming experience. If Microsoft does not adapt soon, Windows 11 could lose more market share in the handheld gaming PC industry.

Seeing this trend, HP is now open to exploring SteamOS as a solution for future handheld gaming PCs. With the popularity of portable gaming devices continuing to rise, this decision could be a strategic move for HP in competing in the handheld gaming market.