When Lenovo first teased the Legion Go S powered by SteamOS at CES 2025, I was excited by the premise of a premium handheld console running SteamOS. Of course, I’ve seen plenty of handheld gaming devices promise the world and deliver frustrating compromises. Fortunately, after spending time with the Legion Go S, I’m really satisfied with what Lenovo has accomplished here.
The Legion Go S powered by SteamOS is the first third-party handheld to ship with SteamOS pre-installed, offering a more powerful gaming experience than the Steam Deck itself. So this isn’t just another Steam Deck clone. The Legion Go S represents a genuine evolution in handheld gaming, combining premium materials, thoughtful engineering, and specs that would make many gaming laptops jealous.
Premium Touches That Matter
The Legion Go S’s construction quality becomes apparent immediately. The PC-ABS plastic with 15% talc feels substantial without being overly heavy at 740 grams. The Nebula Nocturne color scheme is understated but premium, with rounded edges making extended gaming comfortable.
Dual USB-C ports open up serious expandability for docking solutions and external displays. The user-upgradeable M.2 2242 SSD slot means you’re not locked into your initial storage choice – this is refreshing in an era of soldered storage.
Front-facing stereo speakers deliver surprisingly rich audio for a portable device, though serious gamers will likely prefer headphones for competitive play.
Display
That gorgeous 8-inch WUXGA display on the Legion Go S immediately grabs your attention. At 1920×1200 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio, you’re getting significantly more screen real estate than most handheld competitors, and Lenovo hasn’t wasted a pixel. That said, the1920x1200 resolution is less than last year’s Legion Go’s 2560×1600’s because Lenovo realized that having such a high resolution display on an 8.8-inch display was actually a bit of overkill. But a 1920×1200 on an 8-inch display hits the sweet spot.
The 120Hz variable refresh rate ensures buttery smooth gameplay whether you’re running lighter indie titles that can max out the refresh rate or demanding AAA games settling into 60fps. The 500 nits brightness and 100% sRGB color accuracy mean games look vibrant and detailed even in challenging lighting conditions.
The 10-point touch support feels natural and responsive, making navigation intuitive rather than an afterthought like on some competitors.
Lenovo has revamped the controls on the Legion Go S, so that they’re no longer detachable as they were on the Legion Go – but they are a lot more ergonomic.
The controls are also built to last and built for responsiveness: the Hall effect joysticks use magnetic sensors instead of traditional potentiometers, meaning there’s literally no physical contact to wear down over time.
After putting these through intense gaming sessions across multiple genres – from precise platformers to twitchy FPS games – I can confidently say they feel responsive and accurate. No dead zones, no mushiness, and most importantly, there’s less anxiety about needing a drift repair six months later. Furthermore, my hands aren’t cramping up the way they were while using the Legion Go.
The adjustable trigger switches on the back are another thoughtful touch, letting you customize throw distance based on your game preferences.
The Legion Go S is also lighter than the original Legion Go. The Legion Go S weighs 1.61 pounds (740g), while the Legion Go weighs 1.88 pounds (854g). The Legion Go S is also slightly smaller in overall dimensions. We found that the drop in weight is very helpful in making long gaming sessions much more enjoyable.
Performance
The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor comes paired with a healthy 32GB of of LPDDR5X-7500 memory that creates a handheld that genuinely doesn’t feel like a compromise. The thermal management system with customizable TDP settings (5-40W) lets you find the perfect balance for any situation.
The 30W Performance mode when plugged in delivers desktop-like gaming performance, while 10W Quiet mode ensures hours of gaming without distracting fan noise. The 15W Balanced mode hits works great for most portable scenarios.
The cooling system’s perforated galvanized steel backing efficiently manages heat while keeping the device comfortable during extended sessions.
SteamOS: The Gaming OS For Everyone
While Windows handhelds offer more flexibility, SteamOS on the Legion Go S feels like the focused, gaming-optimized experience most players actually want. Quick suspend/resume functionality means instantly picking up where you left off, and seamless Steam integration creates a console-like experience that just works. Not to mention fewer updates and less time spent configuring the device.
The Quick Access Menu makes adjusting performance settings, brightness, and refresh rates intuitive without interrupting gameplay.
Bottom line: Is the Legion Go S Worth It?
Sometimes it pays to wait for the second generation of a device, and the Legion Go S is the perfect example of that. While the original Legion Go is still an excellent high performance handheld gaming console, the Legion Go S makes vast improvements in terms of ergonomics and overall usability. Thanks to an improved design, it’s simply a lot more fun to play on the Legion Go S for longer periods of time than on its predecessor.
The Lenovo Legion Go S represents what happens when a company takes handheld gaming seriously without cutting corners. Yes, it’s positioned as a premium device with pricing to match, but the combination of that stunning display, drift-resistant controls, massive RAM allocation, and thoughtful engineering justifies the investment for serious portable gamers.
If you’re actually happy with your aging Steam Deck’s performance, the Legion Go S might feel like overkill. But if you want the best possible handheld gaming experience with SteamOS and don’t mind paying for premium components, this easily sets the new standard.
The Legion Go S succeeds where many gaming handhelds fail by not feeling like a compromised version of desktop gaming. It feels like the evolution of portable gaming we’ve been waiting for—hardware that finally matches modern game developers’ ambitions.
For those ready to embrace premium handheld gaming without compromise, the Lenovo Legion Go S sets a new standard that competitors will struggle to match.
The Lenovo Legion Go S is available at Best Buy for $599 for the 16GB RAM with a 512GB SSD and $829 for the 32GB RAM/ 1TB SSD model. For those who want more versatility Lenovo is also selling a version of the Legion Go S running Windows.