Lenovo’s decision to ship the Legion Go S with Valve’s SteamOS turns a capable but unfocused handheld into a genuinely competitive, purpose-built gaming device — and in practical terms, that change matters more than the hardware revisions themselves. The SteamOS model trims the Windows desktop layer, reduces background overhead, and channels more of the Legion Go S’s power toward actual gameplay. The result is a handheld that feels faster, phone-smooth in menus, and noticeably more efficient on battery for many titles, transforming what was “just okay” into a contender that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Valve’s Steam Deck.
That said, the device is not a universal replacement for a laptop or a Windows desktop. For players who need absolute compatibility with every PC title, dedicated Windows antivirus and productivity apps, or specific anti‑cheat dependent multiplayer titles, the Windows handhelds retain their value. In short: the SteamOS Legion Go S answers the question “What if I want a console‑like handheld that runs PC games?” with a clear and capable yes. It does so while exposing the predictable trade-offs — battery limits, occasional driver polish tasks, and compatibility caveats — but it turns the Legion into a focused, enjoyable handheld for what matters most: playing games on the go.
Lenovo’s SteamOS play proves a simple, important thesis: on handhelds, the operating system is not an afterthought — it is a core component of the device’s performance equation. The Legion Go S SteamOS edition turns a competent piece of hardware into an accessible, smoother, and more efficient portable gaming machine. For the segment of the market it targets, that shift is night and day.
Source: ZDNET I retested Lenovo's PC handheld but with SteamOS - the difference was night and day
Background
Why the OS matters more than most reviewers expected
Handheld gaming PCs live or die by two constraints: thermal budget and battery capacity. Those two factors make the choice of operating system far more consequential on a handheld than on a desktop. Windows 11 brings breadth and compatibility, but it also carries background services, driver layers, and desktop UX metaphors that are ill‑fitted to a controller-first device. SteamOS, in contrast, is a Linux-based, console-oriented OS designed to boot into Steam’s Big Picture-style interface and run games with minimal overhead. That difference shows up as extra frames, lower power draw, and snappier UI behavior on identical hardware. Multiple hands-on reviews and retailer specs confirm that the Legion Go S’s move to SteamOS is not a marginal tweak but the central factor behind the device’s improved real-world performance.SteamOS licensing: Valve opened the door
Valve’s “Powered by SteamOS” initiative and subsequent announcements in early 2025 allowed OEMs to ship devices that boot directly into SteamOS. Lenovo was the first major partner to commit a mainstream handheld to that program, making the Legion Go S the first widely available third‑party device to ship officially with SteamOS preinstalled. This is significant for the industry: Valve’s branding and close integration with Steam means partners gain access to an OS tuned for handheld gaming while Valve broadens the SteamOS ecosystem beyond the Deck. Several industry outlets tracked this move and documented Valve’s new partner program and branding guidelines. (gamingonlinux.com, arstechnica.com)Overview: What Lenovo shipped and why it matters
The Legion Go S in brief
Lenovo offers the Legion Go S in multiple SKUs and operating system configurations. The SteamOS SKUs focus the product on gaming-first use, typically pairing the handheld with AMD’s mobile APUs (options include the Ryzen Z2 Go and the higher‑end Ryzen Z1 Extreme in select models), LPDDR5X memory, and a WUXGA 1920×1200 8.0‑inch display running at up to 120Hz. The SteamOS edition adopts a darker “Nebula” finish and emphasizes an uncluttered, controller-oriented experience. Major retailer pages and hands-on reviews align on the core hardware numbers: a ~55.5Wh battery, dual USB‑C ports, microSD expansion, hall‑effect analog sticks for drift resistance, and programmable back paddles — the physical baseline is solid. (bestbuy.com, gaming.lenovo.com)Key specs (verified)
- Display: 8.0‑inch 16:10 WUXGA (1920×1200) LCD, up to 120Hz, VRR support, ~500 nits peak brightness. (bestbuy.com, gamingonlinux.com)
- APU options: AMD Ryzen Z2 Go (lower-power SKU) and Ryzen Z1 Extreme (higher performance SKU). (gamingonlinux.com, tomshardware.com)
- Memory/storage: Configurations with 16GB or 32GB LPDDR5X, and NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSDs (2242 and 2280 compatible). (gamingonlinux.com, bestbuy.com)
- Battery: ~55.5Wh battery; Rapid Charge support.
- Weight & size: Roughly 1.6 lb (≈730 g); dimensions aligned with an 8‑inch handheld chassis. (gamingonlinux.com, bestbuy.com)
Design and ergonomics
A familiar, well‑executed handheld shell
Lenovo kept the Legion Go S’s chassis tight and ergonomic: sculpted grips, textured polymer surfaces to reduce slip, well‑placed triggers and paddles, and hall‑effect joysticks to mitigate the long-term drift that plagues cheaper handhelds. The SteamOS model swaps the white finish of some Windows SKUs for a darker Nebula purple but retains the same comfortable control layout. Reviewers agree the device sits comfortably in the hands for hour‑plus sessions despite being slightly heavier than the Valve Steam Deck.Controls: thoughtful details, and a notable small touchpad
Lenovo’s adjustable trigger travel, programmable paddles, and dual USB‑C ports are welcome practical touches. The right‑side touchpad remains small; on Windows it served as a cursor substitute for occasional desktop tasks, but on the SteamOS edition it’s largely relegated to in‑game bindings or secondary inputs — the pad’s small surface limits its viability as a precision aiming device in FPS titles. Multiple reviewers called it useful as a bonus but not a substitute for larger trackpads.SteamOS vs. Windows: the software story
What SteamOS brings to a handheld
SteamOS delivers a lean, controller-first interface that boots directly into Steam, removes most desktop services, and relies on Proton — Valve’s compatibility layer — to run many Windows-native games on Linux. On the Legion Go S this architectural choice produces three tangible benefits:- Lower idle and background CPU/GPU usage, freeing headroom for actual game rendering.
- Improved thermal and power efficiency, yielding higher sustained clocks with less thermal throttling. (gamingonlinux.com, engadget.com)
- Faster, more responsive UI and immediate access to per‑game performance profiles, simplifying on-the-fly tuning.
The trade-offs: compatibility and flexibility
SteamOS is no silver bullet. It relies on Proton to support many Windows-only titles, and some games — particularly those using kernel‑level anti‑cheat — remain problematic or unsupported. Non‑Steam launchers and some DRM/anti‑cheat ecosystems can complicate the out‑of‑the‑box experience for certain competitive games. For players who need native Windows apps (emulators, streaming clients, certain productivity tools), a Windows handheld still offers unmatched versatility. Reviews emphasize that for a pure Steam-focused gamer, SteamOS is often the better fit; for multi‑platform or productivity‑centric users, Windows still wins. (gamingonlinux.com, laptopmag.com)Performance: benchmarks and real-world play
The headline: SteamOS usually gives you more FPS and battery life
Independent testing across several outlets shows the SteamOS Legion Go S outpacing the same hardware on Windows by a noticeable margin in many games. Reported deltas vary by title and configuration, but credible lab tests and hands-on playbacks converge on the same pattern: SteamOS typically delivers a modest but reliable frame‑rate uplift (often in the single‑digit to low‑double‑digit percent range) and improved battery life in many scenarios. Tom’s Hardware, GamingOnLinux, Tom’s Guide, and other outlets each ran comparative tests and found consistent gains for SteamOS over Windows on the Legion Go S. (tomshardware.com, gamingonlinux.com, tomsguide.com)- Example lab numbers reported by multiple reviewers: in titles like Cyberpunk 2077, SteamOS units were observed to run several frames per second faster than identical Windows units at the same settings. GamingOnLinux and Tom’s Hardware measured results in the neighborhood of 10–20% FPS gain in heavy cases; lighter titles often saw proportionally larger benefits. (gamingonlinux.com, tomshardware.com)
Thermal behavior and fan noise
More effective use of the power envelope under SteamOS does not eliminate heat; it manages it more predictably. Reviewers reported that the Legion Go S still ramps fans under sustained load, and power draw in performance mode can be high, meaning fan noise is perceptible in heavy loads. One recurring practical note: SteamOS may let you tune performance more cleanly, but when you push the APU hard you still get the thermals and noise typical of any high‑TDP handheld. (blog.lon.tv, retrohandhelds.gg)The variability caveat
Performance depends on the exact SKU (Z2 Go vs Z1 Extreme), RAM configuration, driver maturity, and game optimization. The Z1 Extreme models deliver a larger performance uplift versus the Z2 Go, while Windows-to-SteamOS deltas can be smaller or larger depending on the particular title. Where possible, buyers should consult per‑game performance reports or run a quick compatibility check for their must‑play titles; ProtonDB and publisher notes remain useful resources.Battery life: better, but still bounded
What to expect in practice
SteamOS improves battery efficiency, but physical limits remain. For lightweight games (2D indies, turn‑based titles) reviewers reported comfortable multi‑hour sessions — often in the 2–4 hour range depending on brightness and refresh rate. For heavy AAA titles the battery tends to be constrained: reviewers measured roughly 1–1.5 hours of playtime at higher graphics and performance settings in many cases. ZDNet’s hands-on testing reported about 1 hour 15 minutes on a demanding AAA title and about 2 hours on a lighter title; other outlets reported similar or slightly better figures depending on settings. The practical upshot: SteamOS extends session times compared to Windows on the same hardware, but prolonged AAA play still requires a charger or strategic tuning of power profiles.How to extract more playtime
- Lower resolution or use frame‑scaling (FSR/AI upscaling) to push more frames at lower GPU cost.
- Use the SteamOS per‑title profiles to cap TDP/power limits.
- Reduce screen brightness and disable high refresh rate for long trips.
- Carry a USB‑PD power bank or the travel charger; the Legion Go S supports rapid charging which helps reduce downtime. (bestbuy.com, engadget.com)
Display: 8-inch 120Hz LCD versus Steam Deck’s OLED trade-offs
Lenovo chose a 8.0‑inch 1920×1200 IPS/LCD panel at 120Hz for the Legion Go S. That choice favors high refresh rates and smoother motion transmission, which reviewers consistently noted benefits fast‑twitch gameplay and UI responsiveness. Valve’s Steam Deck OLED uses a 7.4‑inch OLED panel at up to 90Hz, with superior black levels and color saturation but a lower maximum refresh rate. The headline trade-off is clear:- Lenovo: larger screen area + higher refresh rate = smoother motion and potentially better perceived input responsiveness. (gamingonlinux.com, tomshardware.com)
- Valve: OLED contrast and color depth + lighter weight + larger, more responsive trackpads. (theverge.com, steamdeck.com)
Where Lenovo’s SteamOS approach wins — and where it risks problems
Strengths
- Purpose-built UX: Boot‑into‑Steam simplicity and per‑game performance profiles are a compelling fit for handheld play.
- Measured performance gains: Multiple tests show SteamOS squeezing more frames and longer battery life from the same silicon. (tomshardware.com, gamingonlinux.com)
- Competitive hardware package: Large 120Hz display, hall‑effect sticks, dual USB‑C, and upgradeable storage make the device a strong hardware foundation.
Risks and weaknesses
- Compatibility blind spots: Anti‑cheat and some third‑party launchers can block or complicate play on SteamOS; competitive players should verify their essential titles.
- Battery and noise limitations: SteamOS reduces overhead but cannot completely overcome the fundamental battery and thermal physics of a compact handheld, especially under sustained high TDP.
- Fragmentation and support: A growing SteamOS ecosystem is good, but it also means OEMs and Valve must coordinate driver updates and QA to avoid platform fragmentation. Early adopters can expect occasional firmware or driver quirks that take time to resolve. (gizmochina.com, retrohandhelds.gg)
Price and buying guidance
Street pricing and SKUs
Retail pricing for the SteamOS Legion Go S varies by configuration and retailer. At launch and through retailer listings the Z2 Go / 16GB / 512GB SteamOS SKU typically lists in the $549–$600 range at major retailers, while Z1 Extreme / 32GB / 1TB SKUs sit higher, often in the $749–$829 range depending on configuration and promotions. Best Buy’s product page for a SteamOS Legion Go S Z2 Go 16GB/512GB listing shows a $599.99 price for the Nebula SKU at the time of review. Prices and promotions shift, so shoppers should verify the specific SKU and configuration before purchase. (bestbuy.com, engadget.com)Who should buy it — quick checklist
- Buy the SteamOS Legion Go S if you:
- Primarily play titles available on Steam and want a console‑like, controller‑centric handheld experience.
- Prefer a larger, higher‑refresh display and don’t mind slightly heavier hardware.
- Want hall‑effect sticks, good ergonomics, and upgradeable storage.
- Consider the Steam Deck or other alternatives if you:
- Need the broadest possible compatibility with trackpad-dependent titles or are sensitive to color and contrast.
- Play competitive titles that require kernel‑level anti‑cheat layers that may not function on SteamOS. (theverge.com, laptopmag.com)
What this pivot means for the handheld market
Lenovo shipping a SteamOS‑first handheld signals a meaningful industry shift. Valve’s decision to allow OEMs to carry the “Powered by SteamOS” brand reduces the friction for manufacturers who previously faced an awkward Windows trade-off: ship Windows and risk a poor handheld UX, or ship Linux and contend with compatibility perceptions. Lenovo’s approach demonstrates a third path: ship polished hardware and pair it with an OS optimized specifically for handheld play. If more OEMs follow, the handheld ecosystem will segment more clearly into two camps: Windows‑flexible and SteamOS‑focused. That bifurcation will likely accelerate Proton development and force publishers to consider Linux support more seriously. (gamingonlinux.com, techpowerup.com)Final analysis: practical verdict for WindowsForum readers
The Legion Go S SteamOS edition is not merely a rebrand — it’s a practical refocusing of what the device is for. When the operating system aligns with the primary use case — playing Steam titles in a handheld form factor — the user experience radiates improvement: system menus feel faster, game performance gains are measurable, and battery life for everyday play is meaningfully better than the previous Windows model on the same chassis. For most gamers who live inside Steam and prioritize a frictionless handheld experience, the SteamOS Legion Go S is now the model to consider.That said, the device is not a universal replacement for a laptop or a Windows desktop. For players who need absolute compatibility with every PC title, dedicated Windows antivirus and productivity apps, or specific anti‑cheat dependent multiplayer titles, the Windows handhelds retain their value. In short: the SteamOS Legion Go S answers the question “What if I want a console‑like handheld that runs PC games?” with a clear and capable yes. It does so while exposing the predictable trade-offs — battery limits, occasional driver polish tasks, and compatibility caveats — but it turns the Legion into a focused, enjoyable handheld for what matters most: playing games on the go.
Lenovo’s SteamOS play proves a simple, important thesis: on handhelds, the operating system is not an afterthought — it is a core component of the device’s performance equation. The Legion Go S SteamOS edition turns a competent piece of hardware into an accessible, smoother, and more efficient portable gaming machine. For the segment of the market it targets, that shift is night and day.
Source: ZDNET I retested Lenovo's PC handheld but with SteamOS - the difference was night and day
