Valve’s Steam Deck has quickly become a powerhouse in the handheld gaming PC scene, largely thanks to its user-friendly SteamOS. Now, other companies want a piece of the action, and Valve appears more than willing to lend a hand.
During CES 2025, Lenovo made waves by unveiling their latest handheld PC, the Legion Go S, which runs on Valve’s popular operating system. This new device comes with SteamOS right out of the box and showcases an impressive array of features: an 8-inch screen with a variable refresh rate, Hall effect joysticks, and customizable trigger switches, offering things that even the Steam Deck doesn’t include.
Scheduled for a May release, the Legion Go S with SteamOS enters the market at $499.99, boasting tech specs that hold their ground against, and sometimes surpass, competitors like the Asus ROG Ally. At this price point, users get a device powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU, paired with a sharp 1,920 x 1,200 LCD screen that supports up to 120 Hz refresh rate with VRR. This setup ensures smooth gameplay without the annoying screen tearing. It’s further equipped with a microSD card slot, two USB4 Type-C ports capable of 65 W charging, a headphone jack, and the option for M.2 PCIe 2242 or 2280-size SSDs for additional storage.
Lenovo is also offering a $599.99 version of the Legion Go S running SteamOS, featuring the brand new AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, unique to Lenovo as per their press release. This version packs 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD.
Lenovo has taken a page out of Valve’s book with the Legion Go S by incorporating elements from the Steam Deck, yet they’ve added their own flair with features that gamers will love. Although there’s just one set of programmable back paddles, the triggers are highly adjustable—perfect for setting them up to mimic a quick click like a mouse. While touchpads are absent, Lenovo opted for an Xbox-style stick layout, complete with a D-pad and face buttons. Plus, there’s a fingerprint sensor tucked under the right analog stick for extra security.
For those inclined towards Windows 11, Lenovo isn’t leaving you out. A Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S is set to hit shelves this month. It starts at $729.99 with enhanced features like the quicker AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD shipping first; this will be followed by a more affordable $599.99 variant releasing in May, equipped with the Z2 Go, 16 GB of RAM, and the same 1 TB storage.
