How Handheld Gaming PCs Are Made: From Chip to Chassis

Ever held a Steam Deck or ROG Ally and wondered how they squeezed a full-blown gaming PC into something you can throw in your backpack? It’s not magic... it’s a marvel of modern engineering. Here in South Africa, the buzz around these portable powerhouses is real. We're pulling back the curtain to show you exactly how handheld gaming PCs are made, from the first silicon chip to the final satisfying click of a button. 🚀

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller - Shock Blue / Hybrid D-Pad / 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack / Textured Triggers And Bumpers / Compatible for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10, Android And iOS / QAU-00010

R1599.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Mobile Gaming Controller - Phantom White / Full-sized Controller Form Factor / Full-sized TMR Thumbsticks / Unparalleled Case Compatibility / RZ06-03550200-R3M1

R2699.00In Stock

Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition XBOX/PC, 6 Remappable Buttons to Outplay Them All, 1000Hz Polling Rate for Competitive Play on PC, Wired Esports Controller - White / RZ06-05210200-R3M1

R2699.00In Stock

MARVO GT-84 Wireless Gaming Controller - Strong compatibility: PS4/PS3/Windows/IOS/Android - 6 hour battery life - Double Triggers And Analog Mumpers - 6-axis sensor and dual vibration feedback for an immersive gaming experience - Ergonomically designed for comfort with sweat-proof and anti-slip materials / GT-84

R399.00In Stock

Xbox Special Edition Series Controller - Pulse Cipher / Red transparent top case / Rubberised red grips / Metallic red triggers and D-pad / Bluetooth® technology / QAU-00165

R1899.00In Stock

MARVO GT-88 WIRELESS GAMING GAMEPAD / Compatible With PC / Analog Mini Sticks With Xbox Positioning / Double Triggers And Analog Mumpers / Rapid Fire With Turbo Mode / Dual Motors For Vibration Feedback / Soft, Sweat-resistant Coating / GT-88

R499.00In Stock

The Heart of the Handheld: Crafting the Custom APU

The journey of how a handheld gaming PC is made begins with its heart: a custom-designed Accelerated Processing Unit (APU). Unlike a desktop with a separate CPU and GPU, an APU combines both onto a single, power-efficient chip. This is the secret sauce.

Manufacturers like Valve and ASUS collaborate closely with chipmakers like AMD to create a bespoke piece of silicon. The goal is a delicate balancing act. The APU needs enough graphical grunt to run AAA titles smoothly but must sip power to avoid melting the chassis or draining the battery in an hour. They focus on optimising the Thermal Design Power (TDP)—the maximum heat a chip can produce—to ensure you get playable frame rates without needing a fire extinguisher.

From Blueprint to Your Hands: The Chassis and Controls

Once the chip is finalised, the physical shell, or chassis, is designed around it. This isn't just a plastic box; it's an ergonomic puzzle. Engineers spend months, sometimes years, prototyping different shapes and button layouts using 3D printing and extensive user feedback.

How does it feel after three hours of Elden Ring? Are the thumbsticks responsive? Is the weight balanced? These questions drive the entire manufacturing process. The final design must be comfortable, durable, and packed with high-quality controls. While the built-in controls are fantastic, many gamers love to personalise their setup with custom grips and other gaming accessories deals to perfect the feel.

More Than a Chip: Power, Storage, and Cooling Systems

A powerful APU is useless without the right support systems. The internal architecture of a handheld PC is a masterclass in space management.

Lightning-Fast Storage ⚡

To keep load times snappy, these devices rely on compact M.2 NVMe SSDs. These are tiny, blisteringly fast storage drives that allow games to load in seconds. It’s this technology that makes the experience feel so seamless. If you're looking to upgrade your desktop or laptop with similar speed, checking out the latest best SSD deals is a great place to start.

Custom Cooling and Battery Solutions

Cooling is a massive challenge. Engineers use miniature fans, custom heat pipes, and sometimes even vapour chambers to channel heat away from the APU and out of the vents. It's a tiny, intricate HVAC system. The battery is equally custom, shaped to fit every spare millimetre inside the chassis to maximise capacity. To keep gaming on the go during load-shedding, many South African gamers pair their handhelds with a high-capacity power bank from our range of tech essentials.

Turtle Beach Atom Mobile Game Controller with Bluetooth for Cloud Gaming on Android Mobile Devices with Compact Shape, Console Style Controls, Low Latency Bluetooth - Red / TBS-0766-05

R2499.00In Stock

Logitech F710 Wireless Gaming Gamepad / 2.4GHz Wireless / Broad Game Support / Familiar Button Layout / 940-000142

R849.00In Stock

PowerA Advantage Wired Xbox Controller - Sonic Style / 3-Way Trigger Locks / Officially Licensed for Xbox Series X|S / XBGP0229-01

R699.00In Stock

MARVO GT-88 WIRELESS GAMING GAMEPAD / Compatible With PC / Analog Mini Sticks With Xbox Positioning / Double Triggers And Analog Mumpers / Rapid Fire With Turbo Mode / Dual Motors For Vibration Feedback / Soft, Sweat-resistant Coating / GT-88

R499.00In Stock

ASUS ROG Ally X Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console / AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Extreme / 24GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 7" FHD (1920 x 1080), 120 Hz Refresh Rate, Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Panel / AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 1x USB 3.2 Type-C / 1 x Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / USB Type-C (w/ PD 3.0 Charging) / 1 x MicroSD Card Reader / 1 x Audio combo jack / Finger Print Sensor / 802.11 ax WiFi 6 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.2 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2-Speaker System with Smart Amplifier Technology / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 80Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 90NV00H2-M003E0

R18999.00In Stock

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Wireless Gaming Controller: Licensed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC / 6 Remappable Buttons / Fast Triggers / Customizable Thumbsticks / Wired Tournament Mode - White / RZ06-05200200-R3M1

R4999.00In Stock

Bringing Games to Life: The Screen and Sound ✨

The final pieces of the puzzle are the display and audio, your windows into the game world. The manufacturing process for handheld gaming PCs involves sourcing high-refresh-rate screens, often 7-inch LCD or OLED panels, that offer vibrant colours and smooth motion.

While the built-in speakers have improved massively, they can only do so much. To truly appreciate the cinematic soundscapes of modern games and pinpoint enemy footsteps in a competitive shooter, nothing beats a proper headset. A quality pair from our best gaming headset deals will unlock a whole new level of immersion that built-in speakers simply can't match.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console / Intel Core Ultra 7 258V / 32GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8" FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 120 Hz, Touchscreen Display / Intel® Arc 140V Graphics / 2 x USB Type-C (Supports Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Micro SD Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / 1x Fingerprint Reader / Intel® Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 Wireless LAN / Bluetooth 5.4 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2 × 2W Speakers, Hi-Res Audio ready / 6-Cell, 80Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / CLAW-8-AI-A2VM-067ZA

R18999.00In Stock

Xbox Series X/S Wireless Controller - Pulse Red / Enhanced Comfort / New Hybrid D-pad / Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth Technology / 3.5mm Audio Jack / QAU-00012

R1599.00In Stock

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Wireless Gaming Controller: Licensed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC / 6 Remappable Buttons / Fast Triggers / Customizable Thumbsticks / Wired Tournament Mode - White / RZ06-05200200-R3M1

R4999.00In Stock

FORCE PRO W Wireless Gaming Controller / 2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 (USB-C) / Up to 48 hours (w/o lighting & vibration) Battery Life / Compatible Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One X|S, Windows 10/11, Android 8 & later / S10-43G0260-C54

R2199.00In Stock

PowerA Advantage Wired Xbox Controller - Sonic Style / 3-Way Trigger Locks / Officially Licensed for Xbox Series X|S / XBGP0229-01

R699.00In Stock

Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless Controller V2 / Wrap-Around Rubberized Grip / 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack / Shorter Hair Trigger Locks / Compatible for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Android And iOS / FST-00004

R4999.00In Stock

From a microscopic APU to a perfectly balanced chassis, the process of making a handheld gaming PC is a testament to incredible innovation. It’s about shrinking the power of a desktop rig into a device you can enjoy anywhere.