Lenovo's Legion Go S, initially released with Windows, faced a tough reception due to its high price, poor battery life, and average performance. However, a new version, developed in partnership with Valve and running SteamOS, has completely changed its fortunes, making it a strong contender in the handheld gaming market.
The Game-Changing Shift to SteamOS
When Lenovo first launched the Legion Go S with Windows, it didn't really impress anyone. The device was expensive, the battery life was pretty bad, and the performance was just okay. It couldn't really compete with other handhelds out there. But then, something big happened: a new version came out, made with Valve's help, and it runs SteamOS right out of the box. This is a huge deal because it's the first handheld not made by Valve to run SteamOS officially.
Even though the hardware inside is exactly the same as the Windows version, switching to SteamOS made a massive difference. The Windows version was white, but this new SteamOS one comes in a cool dark purple. It's still plastic, but the internal parts are identical. This means we can finally compare an official Windows gaming handheld directly with an official SteamOS one, since they have the same guts.
Performance Boost
One of the first things you notice is how much better games run on SteamOS. For most games, you'll see a 5% to 15% performance increase compared to running them on Windows 11. This is because Linux, which SteamOS is based on, has less overhead than Windows 11. Just like the Steam Deck, games on the Legion Go S use Proton, a compatibility layer, and generally, performance is excellent for Steam titles.
If you compare the Legion Go with the Steam Deck OLED, the Legion Go can give you better performance, but it uses more power to do it. The Legion Go can go up to 33-40 watts when plugged in, while the Steam Deck only goes up to 15 watts. The Legion Go also has a version with the Z1 Extreme chip, which is faster but costs more. For many games, the sweet spot seems to be in the 15-25 watt range. The Steam Deck's chip is still great for less demanding 2D or indie games because it can run at very low wattages, which helps save battery life.
Battery Life and Sleep Functionality
The Windows version of the Legion Go S had terrible battery life, even with a 55-watt-hour battery. The fans would sometimes even kick in when the device wasn't doing anything. But with the SteamOS version, even with the same battery, the battery life is much, much longer. This is because Linux doesn't have all the background tasks and telemetry that Windows does.
SteamOS also brings amazing sleep and suspend features to the device. This is where the partnership with Valve really shines. It works perfectly, just like on the Steam Deck, which is pretty rare for a non-Valve device. Windows devices, including laptops, often struggle with power management. You might put a Windows device to sleep, and it looks like it's off, but the battery drains anyway. You can't reliably suspend games in the middle of playing on Windows. But on SteamOS, it just works. You put it to sleep, and it reliably goes to sleep, draining only 1% or 2% overnight. You can then pick it up days later and resume your game right where you left off. It's how it should be, and it's exactly like the Steam Deck.
User Experience and Cost
SteamOS offers a very intuitive, snappy, and responsive experience. There are no pop-ups, no Microsoft bloatware, and nothing to get in the way of playing. You can just pick it up and play. Even a young child could figure it out. On the other hand, Windows handhelds require you to boot into Windows, which is designed for a mouse, then load a launcher (sometimes two, like Lenovo's and Steam's), and deal with updates for everything. While many tech-savvy people are used to this, for most people who just want to play games, it's a hassle.
Sales figures show this clearly: the Steam Deck with SteamOS sells way more than Windows-based handhelds, even though Windows devices often have better screens, more power, bigger batteries, and can play any Windows game. SteamOS, unless you tweak it, mainly runs Steam games. But despite the advantages of Windows systems, people want a console-like experience with as little friction as possible, and Windows handhelds have a lot of friction.
Cost is another factor. Windows devices need a Windows license, which adds at least $50 to the price. So, SteamOS devices are naturally cheaper. The Steam Deck OLED is currently $550. The base model of the Legion Go was supposed to launch at $550 but will likely come out at $599, possibly due to tariffs. While the Legion Go might offer slightly better performance at the high end, the Steam Deck is better at lower wattages. However, the Legion Go S has a significantly better screen: it's bigger, higher resolution, has a faster refresh rate, and variable refresh rate, making games look super smooth. It's an LCD, not an OLED, but it's a great panel that many people might prefer over the Steam Deck OLED's screen. The touchpad on the Legion Go isn't as good as the Steam Deck's, but the overall ergonomics of the Legion Go are fantastic.
Key Takeaways
- Performance: SteamOS offers a noticeable performance boost over Windows 11 on the same hardware.
- Battery Life: SteamOS significantly improves battery life due to less background activity.
- Sleep/Suspend: SteamOS provides reliable and efficient sleep and resume functionality, unlike Windows.
- User Experience: SteamOS offers a seamless, console-like experience with minimal friction.
- Cost: SteamOS devices are generally cheaper as they don't require a Windows license.
- Screen: The Legion Go S has a superior screen compared to the Steam Deck OLED, despite being an LCD.
The Future of Handheld Gaming
This whole situation makes you wonder about Valve's strategy. If they're willing to put in the effort to create a custom-tuned SteamOS for another company's hardware, and do such a good job, why would they keep making their own hardware for much longer? It seems like it would make more sense for Valve to focus on software, where the profit margins are higher (like their 30% cut on game sales). These devices exist to sell games, after all. While Valve might want to keep making hardware, it's possible they could exit the hardware game sooner than we think.
It also makes you question Microsoft. Handheld gaming PCs have been around for a decade, and Microsoft has had all that time to improve handheld gaming on Windows, but it hasn't changed much. It's hard to ignore that simply removing Windows and replacing it with SteamOS makes a product so much better. Microsoft really needs to address this. SteamOS is awesome, and it's fundamentally changing the handheld gaming market.
