SteamOS expands to other gaming handhelds with the Lenovo Legion Go S

SteamOS is gradually becoming a Windows alternative for portable gaming devices. After launching the Steam Deck with SteamOS, its own operating system, Valve is now partnering with third-party manufacturers so they can release gaming handhelds that support SteamOS.

On Tuesday, Lenovo revealed the Legion Go S at CES 2025. Unlike its predecessor, the Legion Go, this gaming handheld has a more traditional form factor with a large 8-inch screen surrounded by controllers on either side of the screen . Gone are the detachable controllers and kickstand on the back of the device.

But the most interesting part of the device is that it comes in several configurations. Customers will be able to choose between two AMD chipsets: the recently announced budget Ryzen Z2 Go processor and the Ryzen Z1 Extreme that Lenovo already uses for the Legion Go. Asus also uses the Z1 Extreme for the ROG Ally X.

Likewise, customers will be able to decide whether they want to purchase the Legion Go S with SteamOS preinstalled or Windows 11. While SteamOS is a much better experience for a gaming handheld with a better interface, better out-of-the-box experience and better sleep/wake support, some customers may prefer Windows if they download games through Xbox Game Pass or if their favorite multiplayer game relies on Windows-only anti-cheat software.

The Z2 Go version will be available for $599 with Windows 11 or $499 with SteamOS, while the Z1 Extreme variant will cost $729. Lenovo is launching the Z1 Extreme version in January, while the Z2 Go configurations will be available in May 2025. The entry-level device will come with 16GB of RAM, while the $729 one has 32GB of RAM.

As for the specifications, the 8-inch display has an aspect ratio of 16:10 and supports resolutions up to 1920×1200 with a variable refresh rate of 120Hz. The Legion Go S comes with a 55Wh battery, two USB 4 ports and a microSD slot. The device weighs 730 g (1.61 pounds) and comes with an extremely small touchpad for navigating the desktop interface.

Lenovo also plans to update the original Legion Go and even showed off an early prototype of the Legion Go 2 at CES 2025. The idea is that the Legion Go S and Legion Go will be two separate products that will be updated over time. in time and then.

While you might consider the Legion Go S a Steam Deck competitor, remember that Valve worked with Lenovo to tweak SteamOS for the new machine. Valve takes a cut of every Steam purchase, and the company seems to think growing the Steam ecosystem is more important than becoming the next big console maker.