Valve’s Steam Deck has really made its mark in the world of handheld gaming PCs, thanks largely to its easy-to-use SteamOS. It’s attracting attention, and Valve is open to sharing the stage.
During CES 2025, Lenovo introduced the Legion Go S, a new handheld PC that comes with SteamOS. This device boasts an 8-inch screen with variable refresh rate (VRR), Hall effect joysticks, and adjustable trigger switches—features you won’t find on any Steam Deck.
The Legion Go S equipped with SteamOS is set to hit the market in May, priced at $499.99. It’s packing a punch with hardware that can rival—and sometimes surpass—the Asus ROG Ally and other formidable handhelds. For the entry price, you get an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU and a 1,920 x 1,200 LCD display capable of 120 Hz refresh rate, complete with VRR support. This means smoother gaming without the dreaded screen tearing. Plus, it’s got expandable storage options via a microSD card slot, two USB4 Type-C ports that charge up to 65 W, a headphone jack, and compatible storage slots for either M.2 PCIe 2242 or 2280-size SSDs.
There’s also a $599.99 version of the Legion Go S, also powered by SteamOS, featuring the exclusive AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD.
Instead of going off on a tangent, Lenovo took a page from Valve’s playbook with the Legion Go S while adding enticing new hardware features. For instance, though it has just one set of programmable back paddles, you can tweak the trigger’s travel distance, making it feel more like a mouse click. Lenovo chose an Xbox-style stick layout instead of touchpads, and they’ve added a fingerprint sensor below the right stick for extra security.
For fans of Windows 11, Lenovo hasn’t left you out. They’re releasing a version of the Legion Go S this month. The $729.99 variant features the speedier AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD, with a more affordable $599.99 model coming in May that offers the same processor, 16 GB of RAM, and 1 TB of storage.
