Lenovo Legion Go S: How SteamOS Outperforms Windows in Portable Gaming

The gaming handheld market is hotter than ever, and Lenovo’s Legion Go S is shaping up to be a major contender—with one huge twist. Recent test results and hands-on experiences are turning the long-held assumption that “Windows is best for PC gaming” on its head. In a dramatic shift that’s dominating headlines, the Legion Go S running SteamOS vastly outperforms its Windows 11 counterpart. The real shock? The advantage isn’t due to raw hardware—it’s born from the operating system. Here’s how Valve’s Linux-based SteamOS is changing the game for handhelds, and why this might be the moment to question if Windows should still be your default choice for portable PC gaming.

Performance: Same Hardware, Worlds Apart​

For years, handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck have defied expectations—delivering incredible battery life and solid performance from surprisingly modest hardware. The assumption was that Valve’s Steam Deck was special because of its design or hardware customization. But Lenovo’s Legion Go S has just provided compelling evidence to the contrary.
The pivotal moment arrived with a side-by-side test done by influential tech YouTuber Dave2D. He pit two Legion Go S units—each boasting the same AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, 8-inch 120 Hz display, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD—against one another. The only difference: one ran Windows 11, the other the just-released SteamOS build.

The Results: SteamOS Smashes Expectations​

Dave2D’s battery life results were nothing short of damning for Windows 11:

Game	Legion Go S (Windows 11, 55Wh)	Legion Go S (SteamOS, 55Wh)	Steam Deck OLED (SteamOS, 50Wh)
Cyberpunk 2077	1:31	1:54	2:06
Hades	1:58	4:17	4:33
Dead Cells	2:47	6:12	7:08

The most striking difference appears with lighter indie titles. “Dead Cells,” for example, lasted over twice as long on the SteamOS version—6:12 compared to just 2:47 on Windows.
These tests weren’t limited to battery either; frame rates were higher and stutter was less apparent on SteamOS, despite Windows’ (in theory) closer ties to PC gaming’s decades-old DirectX pipeline. The SteamOS-powered Legion Go S actually outpaced the venerable Steam Deck OLED, which uses a slightly smaller battery (50Wh vs. 55Wh).

What Explains the Chasm?​

Why is SteamOS so much more efficient? There are a few key contributors:

• Linux’s Lightweight Overhead: SteamOS, built on Linux, runs far fewer background processes compared to Windows 11, which constantly syncs with cloud services, updates, and telemetry. This leaves more juice—both CPU cycles and battery life—for gaming.
• Tamed Telemetry: There’s less “phone home” and background monitoring.
• Proton’s Maturity: Far from being an experimental layer, Valve’s Proton compatibility suite lets most Windows games run at native-like speeds. For the vast majority of Steam’s library, you won’t notice you’re on Linux.
• Optimized Drivers and Kernel: The SteamOS kernel, custom-tuned for gaming handhelds, can better manage power draw and hardware scaling.

The Surprise About Proton​

It’s natural to assume a layer like Proton, which translates DirectX to Vulkan on the fly, would add overhead and hurt performance. But in most cases, real-world results show it’s practically invisible. Proton’s compatibility database (protondb.com) is packed with “Gold” and “Platinum” ratings for games that run flawlessly—even outperforming native Windows installs in battery tests.

Not Just a Lenovo Thing​

It’s tempting to write off Lenovo’s results as a fluke. But there’s a wider movement afoot. Other tech reviewers and tinkerers have replicated similar results on entirely different hardware.

• A number of YouTubers, including those with gaming laptops and even older machines, have reported dramatic battery life and thermals improvements simply by ditching Windows for a streamlined Linux distro like Fedora or Ubuntu.
• In many instances, previously “retired” laptops gained a new lease on life, running cool and quiet for hours longer than before.

SteamOS: The Handheld Gaming Revolution​

What’s clear is that SteamOS isn’t just a fancy UI wrapper for Steam on Linux—it’s a fundamental rethinking of how gaming PCs can be optimized at the OS level for performance and efficiency.

Lenovo Legion Go S: The Specs​

Here’s what both the Windows and SteamOS versions of the Legion Go S share:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen Z2 Go (designed for handheld gaming)
• Display: 8-inch, 120Hz refresh rate
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB SSD with microSD slot (up to 2TB)
• Battery: 55Wh

For context, as of this week, the SteamOS version is retailing for $599 at Best Buy—often lower than its Windows sibling, which compounds the value argument for Linux on handheld PCs.

The Weakest Link: Anti-Cheat and Competitive Multiplayer​

SteamOS doesn’t win everywhere just yet. The biggest Achilles’ heel is anti-cheat—specifically, the increasingly common kernel-level anti-cheat systems used by hits like “Fortnite” and “Apex Legends.” These systems, designed for Windows, are deeply integrated at the OS level and currently offer no support for Linux, not even through Valve’s Proton.
For most single-player or co-op games, and especially for indies and AAA blockbusters that don’t require intrusive anti-cheat, SteamOS is a clear winner. But if your library leans heavily on competitive shooters, there’s still a lock-in to Windows.
There are some exceptions. For instance, “Marvel Rivals,” a hero shooter from NetEase, has reportedly worked without major issues on Linux across distributions. But such cases remain the minority.

Critical Analysis: The Case For—and Against—Ditching Windows​

Key Strengths of SteamOS for Handhelds​

• Battery Life: Nearly doubles playtime in some games. This is the headline advantage, and it’s quantifiable and repeatable across reviews and benchmarks.
• Performance & Stability: In side-by-side gaming, SteamOS regularly outpaces Windows even with similar graphics settings.
• Lower Cost: By avoiding Microsoft’s licensing fees, SteamOS models can ship for less—and you’re not paying a “Windows tax” for features you may not need.
• Open Ecosystem: The ability to sideload and tinker is considerably greater, from emulators to homebrew apps.

Potential Pitfalls and Risks​

• Game Compatibility: While Proton continues to improve, there are still edge cases where certain games—often those with DRM or non-standard launchers—don’t function.
• Anti-Cheat Barriers: If you’re an “Apex Legends” or “Fortnite” devotee, this is a deal-breaker for Linux handhelds.
• Peripherals and Software: Niche peripherals or bespoke game launchers (such as for EA or Ubisoft games) sometimes pose challenges on Linux that have long since been handled on Windows.
• Early Days for Updates: SteamOS for the Legion Go S is only just rolling out to users, and while initial support seems strong, it remains to be seen how quickly patches arrive compared to Valve’s own Steam Deck.

Testing Methodology: Can Results Be Trusted?​

Laptop Mag’s review is based on Dave2D’s controlled, side-by-side hardware comparison—a method widely considered the gold standard. Two systems, matched in every hardware aspect, running the same builds of the games, only differing in OS. Furthermore, results align closely with anecdotal and published evidence from users migrating gaming laptops and portables to Linux.
Still, skepticism around first-generation SteamOS support for non-Valve handhelds is justified. Long-term reliability and driver update cadence will only become clear with time and broader adoption.

User Experience: What to Expect​

For most users, the workflow of SteamOS is heavily streamlined. Booting drops you straight into “Gaming Mode,” a console-like environment with integrated library management, updates, and community features. “Desktop Mode” is readily available for advanced tasks.
SteamOS’s UI, as deployed on the Legion Go S, is a near clone of Valve’s on the Steam Deck, meaning the ecosystem is already mature and familiar to any Deck owners. Most users coming from Windows will experience a brief learning curve—especially if they want to add non-Steam games or emulators—but the basics are extremely accessible.

Game Library: How Much Works, How Well?​

Proton’s rapid pace of development means the lion’s share of Steam’s top titles now run without tinkering. For more obscure or brand-new releases, consulting ProtonDB (the community driven compatibility database) is recommended—a quick search can clarify if your personal “must-play” list is ready for Linux prime time.

The Future: Windows on the Defensive?​

The implications reach far beyond Lenovo’s handheld. For decades, Windows has been the default OS for PC gaming—with the Steam Deck as a rare challenger. If SteamOS can consistently deliver more battery life, higher performance, and better value on multiple hardware platforms, Microsoft may face real pressure to modernize Windows for efficiency, not just compatibility.
Given Valve’s expanding influence and the increasingly modular, hardware-agnostic nature of PC gaming, the value proposition of a Linux-based, optimized OS can’t be ignored. Already, major OEMs and smaller boutique builders alike are exploring SteamOS builds for their own handhelds and gaming laptops.

Recommendations: Should You Ditch Windows for SteamOS?​

If your priorities are battery life, performance, and cost—and your multiplayer needs don’t depend on anti-cheat-laden shooters—the answer is yes. The evidence is clear: SteamOS can make your gaming handheld faster, cooler, and longer-lasting, all while costing less out of the box.
For the hardcore competitive gamer, or anyone deeply invested in the broader Windows software ecosystem, a cautious wait-and-see approach is still wise.

What to Watch For​

Laptop Mag and other reviewers are preparing deep-dive lab tests on the Legion Go S SteamOS edition, with more granular data due soon. Key questions for the coming months include:

• How quickly does Lenovo push firmware and driver updates relative to Valve’s own hardware?
• Will SteamOS for third-party handhelds continue to improve at the same pace as Valve’s distribution?
• Can Proton and anti-cheat vendors find a compromise, unlocking the last locked doors for Linux gaming?

In the meantime, the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS edition emerges as the new “default” recommendation in the Windows handheld space—offering more hours of play, higher efficiency, and a glimpse of a future where Windows is no longer a requirement for cutting-edge PC gaming.

Final Thoughts​

The Legion Go S’s SteamOS story is bigger than Lenovo, bigger than any single device. It’s definitive proof of a new era for portable PC gaming—one that’s more open, more efficient, and less tethered to Microsoft’s aging desktop paradigm. As more manufacturers jump aboard and SteamOS adoption grows, the day may be coming when Windows is, at best, a fallback for those few titles still unwilling to play ball on the penguin’s turf.
For gamers—especially those buying new hardware—the tables have turned. In 2025, for most, it’s finally safe to ask: is it time to ditch Windows for SteamOS? The evidence, performance metrics, and wider movement say yes—at least, for everything that isn’t blocked by outdated anti-cheat technology.
One thing’s for sure: portable gaming PCs will never look at Windows the same way again.

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Source: Laptop Mag Gamers should be ditching Windows for SteamOS — here's why