8.3/ 10 SCORE Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS Pros
Generally superb efficiency
Two USB-C ports means you’ll be able to, for instance, cost whereas linked to a hub
Trigger stops and Hall Effect joysticks permit for extra superior customization
Relatively large 8-inch display
Control structure is extra Xbox-like than the Steam Deck’s
Cons
Doesn’t have an OLED display (so it seems to be considerably low distinction) or help HDR, and makes use of a shiny — in different phrases, reflective — display to compensate
Longer battery life than a number of hours can be good
Fans can get loud
Speakers can get loud
It’s unfair to match a brand new machine with one which’s a few years previous, however Valve’s OG Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED are beginning to really feel a bit previous in contrast with shiny new units. As the primary of what I hope is a decent-size area of recent SteamOS-running {hardware}, I feel Lenovo has gotten loads of issues proper that I even discovered too quirky on Valve’s machine after I first received it, although. The SteamOS mannequin of the Lenovo Go S does dole out its personal share of disappointment, particularly given the $830 price ticket of the top-end mannequin I examined — the IPS, non-HDR show as a substitute of OLED is my greatest criticism — however the larger display, higher controls and machine structure compensate so much. Comparing it with the Nintendo Switch 2 makes little sense — your shopping for choice for a gaming machine must be guided by the video games you play, your price range and your age — and Steam and Nintendo’s platforms overlap solely somewhat on all counts. Similarly, one would possibly anticipate a comparability with Microsoft/Asus’ newly revealed ROG Xbox Ally. There’s much more overlap there, and for a Windows handheld, I just like the ROG Ally X it is primarily based on higher than the remainder, however the Xbox Ally continues to be water — not fairly vapor, however not fairly strong both — and Microsoft’s monitor report with stripping its working system right down to gaming necessities hasn’t been promising. If you could have an in depth library of Xbox video games or want the flexibleness of help for a number of launchers, like Epic Game Store’s, along with an Xbox app, then wait. And until Microsoft subsidizes it A LOT, it can in all probability begin within the $600-plus ballpark as properly. Ultimately, just like the Steam Deck, the Go S is for individuals who have loads of, or wish to run, Steam video games, together with Windows video games bought by way of Steam. Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS specs Price as reviewed $830Show 8-inch 1,920×1,200-pixel IPS, 97% P3, 500 nits, 120HzCPU AMD Ryzen Z1 ExtremeReminiscence 32GB LPDDR5X-7500Graphics Integrated 16-core AMD Radeon RDNA 3.5 with 11GB VRAMStorage 1TB (M.2 2242, 2280 upgradeable), microSD slotPorts 2x USB4, combo audioNetworking Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3Operating system Valve SteamOSWeight 1.6 lbs/735gDimensions 1.7 x 5.0 x 11.8 in/43 x 127 x 300 mmAvailable May 2025 The SteamOS variations of the Go S are available in two fashions: this top-end one and a $600 mannequin with an AMD Z2 Go processor, 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM. The latter processor is ill-suited to working Windows, which is partly why we discovered its efficiency so lackluster in its sister mannequin, but it surely must be higher working Steam OS. I discovered the higher-end mannequin’s efficiency strong for gameplay — it typically managed no less than 60-plus frames per second on most video games I attempted, besides Blue Prince, which I’m starting to assume is not very properly optimized. (About 90% or extra GPU utilization when it isn’t doing something? Hm.) You do have a pleasant set of choices over show stats and energy profiles. Lori Grunin/CNETBut I nonetheless want it integrated the newer Ryzen Z2 Extreme, regardless of the shortage of massive variations between the processors. The newer one has an up to date GPU and must be a bit extra energy environment friendly, which could have given this a slight enhance in each body charges and battery life. My most popular settings — which notably embody adaptive brightness disabled and bumped up increased than units often anticipate (adaptive is the default, however I typically discover it horribly distracting and too dim in my cave-like atmosphere) — aren’t conducive to lengthy battery life, and I often discover the battery depletes after a number of hours. Plus, when it will get going, the Go S’s followers can get nearly as loud as these of a gaming laptop computer. The cooling system is definitely designed extra like that of a laptop computer. The consumption vent spans your entire again, blowing air throughout the elements and venting the warmed air out the highest. The display compromiseThe very best cause to go together with an even bigger machine is the bigger display. While 8 inches would not appear a lot larger than the 7.4-inch display on the Deck — it is a rise of usable display space of solely about 8% — the completely different side ratios (16:10 for the Go versus 4:3 for the Deck) make the Legion’s display appear much more expansive.Plus, the display helps a refresh price of as much as 120Hz, with VRR help, whereas the Deck solely helps as much as 90Hz; a few of the video games I performed simply hit that 120Hz cap. The Go’s increased pixel density (283ppi versus 203ppi for the Deck) additionally makes small particulars a bit simpler to see. However, there is a large trade-off as properly. While textual content is mostly extra readable on an IPS panel just like the Legion’s as a result of antialiasing (on this case, blurring the perimeters a bit so you do not see the person pixels) works higher on an LCD than on an OLED panel, IPS screens are decrease distinction as a result of they simply cannot do absolutely the blacks that OLED can. The mixture of the excessive distinction and the best way OLED generates colours is what makes OLED screens look so vibrant. The Go makes use of a shiny display to compensate, which simply makes it extra reflective. Since I do not actually use the touchpads on the Steam Deck (prime) a lot, I’m effective with the tiny model on the proper aspect of the Legion (backside) beneath the left stick. And for those who look carefully, what looks as if a background for the thumbnails on the Go S is definitely the reflection of the brick wall on the shiny display. Lori Grunin/CNETPlus, the Go S’ display would not help HDR; until it is received the suitable {hardware} inside prepared for a firmware swap to flip, which I doubt, it by no means will. Depending upon your needs, that could be a deal killer for you, particularly as a long-term funding of your restricted price range. On the opposite hand, I used to be actually stunned after I purchased the Deck how a lot I’d use it — no less than 2 hours a day, it seems — so for my subsequent buy I’m prepared to spend extra, since I’m satisfied it isn’t YADINU (yet one more machine I’ll by no means use). You can at all times hook up with a standalone HDR show (that helps USB-C DP alt-mode), although that is clearly not handy for the kind of mobility you need from a handheld. The Legion’s elements are higher as much as the duty of enjoying at a better decision on a desktop monitor than the Deck’s, although. Bigger, however higher totalOne of my greatest considerations earlier than choosing up the Go S was that it could be too large for my fingers. But it appears my fingers develop to accommodate no matter I wish to sport on. Or, extra possible, the structure of the Go S would not require my fingers to make use of your entire aspect of the machine. And I haven’t got to fret about protecting the audio system on the underside of the perimeters. It weighs about 3.5 ounces greater than the Deck, but it surely’s properly balanced, and I did not actually really feel the additional weight, even after a few hours.And it is a lot simpler to achieve the Steam and settings menu buttons on the highest left and proper than having to maneuver my fingers to hit them beneath the contact pads on the Deck with my thumbs (it is in all probability much less of a stretch when you’ve got larger fingers than mine). I do not use the touchpads a lot; I do not assume I’ve sufficient effective motor management in my thumbs to make them something aside from irritating on such a small display, and it by no means appeared definitely worth the effort to coach myself on them. But for those who’re a fan of that form of enter, the Go S undoubtedly is not for you. The Windows model of the Go S in my fingers. Josh Goldman/CNETThere’s a tiny pad beneath the proper stick if you really want it, however I feel that it is actually for the Windows mannequin: I could not get it to work anyplace on the Go S, together with the Desktop interface. I did not spend loads of time (by my requirements) making an attempt to diagnose why, although.The Go S’s rumble within the grips is fairly delicate, no less than the best way I’ve it. You actually do not need a sturdy rumble until you utilize it informatively, like to trace explosion power, as a result of it makes use of extra battery energy. The Legion (left) is considerably thicker and a bit longer than the Steam Deck (proper). Lori Grunin/CNETThe different large variations between the Deck and the Go S are on the again; for one, set off stops. Though a part of me needs that they had three cease choices as a substitute of two, as a result of it feels to me like there’s nearly zero journey for the on place, I’ll take what I can get. Being in a position to set one aspect for quick capturing and the opposite for a deep pull when I’m utilizing the proper stick for aiming makes an enormous distinction. On the taketh-away aspect, the Legion has solely two again buttons moderately than 4 just like the Deck. I exploit them solely to remap the bumpers for video games that use them so much in gameplay (versus, say, simply settings navigation), like Hades 2, Have a Nice Death, Dead Cells and extra. It’s simply simpler and quicker to make use of my center fingers for them than to reorient my fingers to achieve the bumpers. Once once more, a hand dimension subject. The deep, rounded grip, set off cease management and right-hand again button subsequent to the Go S’s full side-to-side air consumption. Lori Grunin/CNETBut for some video games, having extra buttons to remap might take priority over different issues. Once once more, for those who want these 4 again buttons, the Go S is not for you.I just like the grips. They’re not fairly as outstanding because the prolonged grips on a tool just like the Xbox Ally or PlayStation Portal, however they are not as small as these on the Deck, which depends in your palms sitting on the rests on the backside — not fairly in the proper place for my fingers. The Legion’s grips are a effective, comfy compromise, with a slight texture to them for higher, um, grip. That stated, they did nothing to alleviate my sweaty fingers sticking to them uncomfortably. I additionally just like the place of the D-Pad SO far more than the Deck; in Hades 2, as an example, I consistently hit the D-pad after I miss or drop off the left stick by a hair, which principally interrupts the sport in the course of a struggle. The Go’s can also be an 8-way pad, and it is larger. I want its buttons had been shallower, although, since they take a reasonably deep press to hit backside, which makes them really feel much less responsive and form of mushy. The triggers are extra generously sized than on the Steam Deck. Lori Grunin/CNETAs for the Hall Effect joysticks, I’ve a love-hate relationship with them. The know-how helps forestall stick drift and theoretically lacks a lifeless zone, however you’ll be able to dial one in to your liking in SteamOS. They typically really feel smoother and extra exact to me than analog sticks, like these on the Deck, which is good in-game. But for navigating interfaces, they do not have the identical stepped feeling that helps preserve me from skidding previous one thing. That’s not an enormous deal, for the reason that D-pad is well-positioned for that goal.The audio system are simply OK — they will get pretty loud for 2 watts, however there’s solely a lot you are able to do in the kind of enclosure just like the Go’s, so for those who’re enjoying one thing with sound that issues, you will nonetheless wish to put on a headset. My one usability criticism is the low-contrast labels on the Steam, three-dot, view and choices buttons. Until I’ve used it lengthy sufficient for muscle reminiscence to set in, I nonetheless want to have the ability to see them. Yes, my eyes are growing old quickly because of spending about 18 hours a day taking a look at screens for the previous few many years, however I’m certain folks with less-than-stellar eyesight would admire the thought. SteamOS is not an ideal match both As a lot as I hate the too-thinly skinned Windows on these gaming handhelds, SteamOS’ Linux underpinnings solely lie somewhat deeper. But I managed to keep away from having to take care of SteamOS Desktop mode for a 12 months and a half, and actually, if I hadn’t needed to set up the GeForce Now app, I may in all probability have averted it for even longer, if not ceaselessly. But it is value a point out, as a result of not solely did the app cease working — I needed to manufacturing facility reset simply to put in it once more after the primary fail-go-round, solely to expertise it once more — however I could not get Dead Cells to run, both. (To be honest, I vaguely keep in mind having to put in a unique Proton model to get it to run on my Steam Deck, however nothing like that appeared to work on the Go.) And on the Steam Deck, SteamOS does have one noticeable benefit: Its Store interface is designed to filter verified video games. On the Go, you are introduced with “SteamOS compatible” filtering, which is NOT the identical. There are loads of “compatible” video games which have vital caveats with regards to Deck-like compatibility. You do not get the Steam Deck verified iconography within the retailer or a shortcut to the “Great on Deck” touchdown web page. It’s there underneath the class listings, but it surely’s one of many little issues that at present differentiates the expertise. I believe it is probably an oversight in both Valve’s API or Lenovo’s implementation, and that is one thing that is which, in my lay opinion, is a simple repair in a future software program improve.It might have appeared like I’ve loads of complaints in regards to the Legion Go S with SteamOS, however that is extra of a me factor than the machine itself, and it is a first go at implementing SteamOS on a third-party machine. At backside, the larger, denser display, higher management structure and really feel, and greater grips make it a winner — no less than till it is received extra rivals.