AMD-powered devices drive the rise of handheld gaming PCs
The big picture: Released three years ago today, Valve's Steam Deck has become one of the most notable products in PC gaming hardware, creating an entirely new market segment. While manufacturers like GPD began selling handheld gaming PCs years earlier, estimates from IDC show that the Steam Deck vastly dominates the market. However, the potential for future growth remains uncertain.
The big picture: Valve is one of the most important and influential companies in the PC gaming market. It's also one of the most unique due to its private nature and unusually small workforce relative to its impact and competitors. A recent analysis of data uncovered through an ongoing lawsuit against the company highlights how Valve starkly contrasts with the world's biggest tech giants.
As the world's largest company, Apple also leads in R&D spending
The big picture: The competitive strength of hardware makers is often gauged by their research and development expenditure. However, an analysis of recent financial reports from various tech giants reveals that higher R&D spending does not always guarantee success. Intel's recent struggles and Nvidia's astronomical growth driven by the AI boom have broken conventional assumptions.