When Lenovo unveiled its Legion Go S gaming handheld, tech enthusiasts and portable gaming aficionados quickly drew comparisons with established market leaders—especially Valve’s Steam Deck. At CES 2025, Lenovo introduced not just a single device, but two nearly identical variants differentiated primarily by their operating systems: one running Microsoft Windows and the other powered by SteamOS, Valve’s custom Linux-based OS designed for gaming. Yet in a surprising twist, it is the SteamOS version, which only recently began shipping, that turns out to be the game-changing iteration. Early benchmarking and critical testing reveal that this variant not only outpaces its Windows sibling in raw game performance but also extends battery life, tightening Lenovo’s challenge to Valve’s dominance in the handheld gaming sector.
The long-awaited SteamOS Lenovo Legion Go S comes at a time of increased scrutiny over the software that powers modern handhelds. Given that both versions of the Legion Go S are nearly identical in hardware—each with an AMD chipset, 55Wh battery, and similar displays—the differences in real-world performance and user experience highlight just how important the underlying operating system can be.
Prominent reviews, notably from Dave Lee (Dave2D) on YouTube, validate these findings with detailed testing. His data compares major AAA game titles across both operating systems, giving insight not just into frame rates but also thermal profiles, power usage, and gamer-centric features.
Most titles see a pronounced leap in performance—an astonishing 28% increase in Cyberpunk 2077, a notoriously demanding game. Witcher 3 and Doom Eternal see gains in the 15% range, and Helldivers 2 also benefits but to a lesser degree. The only outlier in the data is Spider-Man 2, where Windows retains a one-frame lead. Such differences are well within the margin of error and could be subject to future optimization.
These findings are supported not just by Dave2D’s thorough video evidence but also by other independent testers who’ve begun receiving early units. No major discrepancies appear between these reports, reinforcing the credibility of the performance differences found in early analysis.
This difference is not anecdotal: users and reviewers alike consistently see an hour or more of extra playable time. Several factors explain the advantage:
This higher wattage is a double-edged sword—it allows for more sustained performance, evident in higher frame rates, but also makes plugged-in play more attractive for those who don’t want to compromise battery longevity. For users playing longer sessions at home—or plugged into an external display—the Legion Go S suddenly looks like the premium, no-compromise choice.
Crucially, in terms of raw technical specifications, the Lenovo device leverages a beefier AMD APU, more memory, and improved thermal management. When these strengths are unleashed by a purpose-built OS like SteamOS, the Legion Go S outpaces Valve’s first-party challenger in virtually every metric that matters to power users.
This places a practical constraint on the Windows model’s appeal. Unless you need specific Windows-only applications or game titles with anti-cheat mechanisms unsupported in Proton, SteamOS delivers a more streamlined, powerful, and affordable experience on the same hardware. It’s a rare win-win, and it finally gives the Steam Deck a direct competitor with both price and performance appeal.
It’s worth watching how Lenovo responds to user-driven requests for updates and features. Valve’s success with the Steam Deck is as much about software updates and community engagement as it is about hardware, and Lenovo will be well-served emulating that cadence.
This shift poses existential questions for Microsoft in the gaming segment. Will Windows adapt to become more modular and gaming-friendly? Or will manufacturers increasingly turn to alternative platforms that maximize hardware potential? The Legion Go S’s success may catalyze change far beyond a single device lineage.
Equally, it’s a significant win for open-source initiatives. Valve’s investments in Proton and driver stacks not only benefit the Steam Deck and Legion Go S but set a precedent for other vendors to follow. If more manufacturers adopt and contribute to these platforms, gamers may soon experience a renaissance of choice and performance.
Prospective buyers should weigh their own needs for compatibility, modding, and power consumption. But for the vast majority of portable PC gamers, the SteamOS-powered Legion Go S is the handheld to beat.
The portable gaming landscape may never look the same again. As SteamOS continues to evolve and manufacturers recognize the power of fit-for-purpose operating systems, innovation—and healthy competition—can only benefit everyone who cares about gaming on the go.
Source: TechSpot SteamOS outperforms Windows on the Lenovo Legion Go S in both speed and battery life
How SteamOS Changes the Game for Lenovo Legion Go S
The long-awaited SteamOS Lenovo Legion Go S comes at a time of increased scrutiny over the software that powers modern handhelds. Given that both versions of the Legion Go S are nearly identical in hardware—each with an AMD chipset, 55Wh battery, and similar displays—the differences in real-world performance and user experience highlight just how important the underlying operating system can be.Prominent reviews, notably from Dave Lee (Dave2D) on YouTube, validate these findings with detailed testing. His data compares major AAA game titles across both operating systems, giving insight not just into frame rates but also thermal profiles, power usage, and gamer-centric features.
Performance Gains: The Numbers Speak Volumes
Benchmarks conducted by Dave2D spotlight how SteamOS can squeeze out more gaming muscle from the exact same hardware. Here’s a breakdown of what real-world data shows:| Game | Windows FPS | SteamOS FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 46 | 59 |
| The Witcher 3 | 66 | 76 |
| Doom Eternal | 66 | 75 |
| Helldivers 2 | Not specified | Slightly higher |
| Spider-Man 2 | Higher by 1 FPS on Windows |
These findings are supported not just by Dave2D’s thorough video evidence but also by other independent testers who’ve begun receiving early units. No major discrepancies appear between these reports, reinforcing the credibility of the performance differences found in early analysis.
Why Does SteamOS Outperform Windows 11?
Understanding why nearly identical hardware delivers substantially better gaming results on SteamOS than Windows 11 requires a look beneath the surface. Two core reasons emerge:- OS Overhead and Background Processes:
Windows 11, by design, undertakes multiple background tasks: telemetry, updates, indexing, and a host of system services that keep it running as a full-featured desktop OS. This activity consumes a slice of both processor cycles and memory, robbing games of resources they would otherwise fully utilize. SteamOS, in contrast, is purpose-built from Linux as a gaming-first platform. Valve strips away non-essentials, disables telemetry, and allocates the lion’s share of system resources to games. - Optimized Game Compatibility Layers:
SteamOS, especially with Valve’s Proton compatibility layer, has matured into a robust platform for running Windows games on Linux hardware. It translates DirectX calls to Vulkan at minimal overhead, often with fixes and tweaks targeted at gaming handhelds. While there might be isolated compatibility issues with new titles, for most of the AAA hits tested by Dave2D and others, Proton’s efficiency confers real-world frame rate boosts over Windows’ more generic approach. - Thermal and Power Management:
Linux-based systems allow for more aggressive power management, thanks in part to a different approach to CPU scaling and sleep state control. SteamOS capitalizes on this flexibility, reducing unnecessary wake events and pushing more effective sleep and suspend features compared to Windows—which, on handhelds, is sometimes hampered by driver inconsistencies and legacy support baggage.
Battery Life: Not Just an Afterthought
While raw performance improvements turn heads, it’s the battery life that makes the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S even more compelling. Despite identical 55Wh batteries in both variants, the SteamOS edition regularly lasts up to 40% longer in extended gaming tests.This difference is not anecdotal: users and reviewers alike consistently see an hour or more of extra playable time. Several factors explain the advantage:
- Superior Low-Power State Handling: SteamOS’s suspend-and-resume routines are highly tailored for gaming pauses, consuming fewer watts during sleep and quickly resuming to full power.
- OS Process Efficiency: With fewer background services, there’s less constant disk and CPU activity outside the active game window.
- Thermal Tuning: Cooler hardware operates more efficiently. SteamOS adjustments ensure that fans ramp up and down only as much as necessary, impacting battery drain.
Head-to-Head With Steam Deck: The New Challenger
Perhaps the most surprising revelation is that the Legion Go S, now equipped with SteamOS, not only bests its own Windows incarnation, but also eclipses Valve’s Steam Deck in most real-world performance tests. That’s more nuanced than it first appears, mostly because the Legion Go S achieves its results at a higher power draw: 40 watts at full throttle, compared to the Steam Deck’s 15W ceiling.This higher wattage is a double-edged sword—it allows for more sustained performance, evident in higher frame rates, but also makes plugged-in play more attractive for those who don’t want to compromise battery longevity. For users playing longer sessions at home—or plugged into an external display—the Legion Go S suddenly looks like the premium, no-compromise choice.
Crucially, in terms of raw technical specifications, the Lenovo device leverages a beefier AMD APU, more memory, and improved thermal management. When these strengths are unleashed by a purpose-built OS like SteamOS, the Legion Go S outpaces Valve’s first-party challenger in virtually every metric that matters to power users.
The Price Factor: SteamOS Model Undercuts Windows
Every hardware winner is eventually reduced to a comparison of price, and here too, SteamOS rewrites the script. At launch, Lenovo’s Legion Go S with Windows 11 retailed at over $700, while the SteamOS model hits store shelves at $600—a $100 price gulf that, in this segment, is hardly negligible. At the time of writing, retailers such as Best Buy already reflect this split.This places a practical constraint on the Windows model’s appeal. Unless you need specific Windows-only applications or game titles with anti-cheat mechanisms unsupported in Proton, SteamOS delivers a more streamlined, powerful, and affordable experience on the same hardware. It’s a rare win-win, and it finally gives the Steam Deck a direct competitor with both price and performance appeal.
Potential Risks and Remaining Questions
While initial reception for the Legion Go S with SteamOS is overwhelmingly positive, it’s imperative to acknowledge areas of caution:- Compatibility Caveats: Despite remarkable Proton progress, not every Windows game runs perfectly on SteamOS. Certain DRM systems and anti-cheat servers do not play nicely with Linux. Gamers invested in niche or newly-released titles should double-check compatibility databases before making the switch.
- Driver Support and Updates: The SteamOS version is tightly coupled to Valve’s Linux stack. Lenovo, historically a Windows-centric vendor, will need to maintain a robust support pipeline to ensure firmware, drivers, and security patches don’t lag behind. There’s risk in assuming long-term parity with Valve’s own devices, and early adopters should remain vigilant for community-reported issues.
- Modding and Third-Party App Ecosystems: While Steam Deck users enjoy a burgeoning ecosystem of modding tools, overlays, and community integrations, the Legion Go S is just beginning to carve out a userbase. Some advanced Windows tools or niche utilities may be missing, at least in the early months of release.
- Power Draw Considerations: The higher power consumption brings better performance, but it also reduces the appeal for off-grid gaming. If maximum portability and long gaming stints matter more than peak frame rates, traditional Steam Deck or other lower-draw solutions might be preferable.
Community and Developer Response
The community reception to Legion Go S with SteamOS has been immediate and enthusiastic. Forums, Reddit threads, and YouTube comment sections are rife with new performance reports, recommendations, and gameplay demonstrations. Developers, too, appear optimistic. As more handhelds enter the Linux-based gaming scene, studios are increasingly testing Linux/Proton compatibility during development, reducing the threat of game-breaking compatibility bugs over time.It’s worth watching how Lenovo responds to user-driven requests for updates and features. Valve’s success with the Steam Deck is as much about software updates and community engagement as it is about hardware, and Lenovo will be well-served emulating that cadence.
Critical Analysis: A Turning Point for Handheld Gaming
From a critical standpoint, the SteamOS Lenovo Legion Go S marks an inflection point in portable gaming hardware. For years, the handheld space was defined by proprietary consoles or Windows-powered devices that wrestled with full PC operating system baggage. SteamOS’s success on the Legion Go S proves that a lightweight, gaming-focused Linux environment can deliver not just parity but superiority, given the right optimizations.This shift poses existential questions for Microsoft in the gaming segment. Will Windows adapt to become more modular and gaming-friendly? Or will manufacturers increasingly turn to alternative platforms that maximize hardware potential? The Legion Go S’s success may catalyze change far beyond a single device lineage.
Equally, it’s a significant win for open-source initiatives. Valve’s investments in Proton and driver stacks not only benefit the Steam Deck and Legion Go S but set a precedent for other vendors to follow. If more manufacturers adopt and contribute to these platforms, gamers may soon experience a renaissance of choice and performance.
The Verdict: A Legitimate Steam Deck Contender… and More
With SteamOS, the Lenovo Legion Go S has vaulted from an interesting competitor into the lead pack—possibly even overtaking Valve’s own hardware for some users. Its strengths are undeniable: higher frame rates, vastly improved battery life, and a significantly lower entry price compared to its Windows twin. The performance metrics are clear, the community feedback is resoundingly positive, and the only real caveats are tied to the usual growing pains of a new device ecosystem.Prospective buyers should weigh their own needs for compatibility, modding, and power consumption. But for the vast majority of portable PC gamers, the SteamOS-powered Legion Go S is the handheld to beat.
The portable gaming landscape may never look the same again. As SteamOS continues to evolve and manufacturers recognize the power of fit-for-purpose operating systems, innovation—and healthy competition—can only benefit everyone who cares about gaming on the go.
Source: TechSpot SteamOS outperforms Windows on the Lenovo Legion Go S in both speed and battery life
