Mobile graphics hardware has finally improved to where PC gaming can go on the road, giving us PC gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck and the very popular Lenovo Legion Go. Many of these devices have Nintendo Switch-like removable controllers on the sides, but with graphics horsepower that makes demanding PC games look good on the go.
At CES 2025, Lenovo has introduced a new, even more compact version of their handheld in the Legion Go S, and it’ll be the first third-party handheld to run Valve’s SteamOS. Lenovo also teased a prototype of the next-generation Legion Go, which according to Lenovo could still see a commercial release sometime this year.
Mobile PC gaming gets even more portable
The Legion Go S is a smaller, lighter handheld that seems like it’s Lenovo’s attempt at a truly mobile-first handheld. Not only is it more portable, it’s better equipped to support gamers who want to play the same games on handheld and on a desktop PC, thanks to one version of the device running SteamOS, the operating system of the largest PC gaming platform.
Running Valve’s custom operating system will streamline access to the Steam store and, more importantly, cloud saves. Until now, we’ve only seen SteamOS on Valve’s own Steam Decks, but it looks like they’re happy to let others in on their operating system.
Comfort will be just as big a part of the appeal. The Legion Go S has an 8-inch display compared to the 8.8-inch display of the original Legion Go, and at 1.61 pounds, it’s about .2 pounds lighter. The smaller size alone should make it a little easier to hold for longer periods of time, a big complaint about the original Legion Go.
However, the Legion Go S doesn’t have detachable controllers like the Legion Go, which could be propped up on a kickstand and used with the detachable controllers for better home use. The Legion Go S seems like it’s going to make more sense for folks who just use their desktop gaming PC at home, and just need something optimized for mobile use.
Also to that end, the Legion Go S can be configured with the AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, which is exclusive to the Legion series. That’s a less powerful, more efficient processor that will trade a little performance for better battery life, a boon for anyone who needs something for a long commute.
But, the Legion Go S can also be configured with the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor found in the Legion Go, if you’d rather have the performance. The 55.5WHr battery in the Legion Go S is actually bigger than the 49.2WHr battery in the larger Legion Go, so battery life could be better either way.
Here’s another battery life trade-off — the Legion Go S has a 1920 x 1200 120Hz PureSight Touch display, as opposed to the 2560 x 1600 144Hz PureSight Touch display on the Legion Go. That might not be a sacrifice everyone wants to make, but differences in resolution are harder to notice on smaller displays, and it just might be that a lot of mobile-first folks will prefer the extra battery life.
Despite the smaller size, the Legion Go S still has a microSD card slot, which is great news considering how much storage a lot of today’s PC games require. Like the Legion Go, the Legion Go S will also have two USB 4.0 ports.
The Legion Go S can also be purchased with Windows in a glacier white model, but the SteamOS version, which comes in black, looks like the best deal, convenience of SteamOS aside. Despite having the same specs, the Windows and SteamOS versions of the Legion Go S will have very different prices.
The Windows version will be available sometime this month starting at $730, which is more expensive than the Legion Go currently is. Wait until May, and you’ll see the SteamOS version become available for just $500. Lenovo says cheaper configurations of the Windows version will arrive in May starting at $600, but we’re not sure what those configurations will look like.
The next-gen Legion Go looks a lot more comfortable
While they’re not ready to commit to a release date, Lenovo is also showing off a prototype of what could be the Legion Go 2 at CES. It’s not necessarily the finished product, but the upgrades we’re seeing so far are all good ones. The prototype still has detachable controllers, but they’re more rounded and ergonomic, which should make them more comfortable for extended use. Lenovo is also introducing rounded D-pads, which is big news for the Street Fighter heads out there.
The battery in the prototype is much larger than in the original, jumping from 49.2WHr to 74WHr. But, the extra battery power will be needed, because this prototype makes the jump to an OLED display (still 8.8 inches, like the original). It’ll also be configured with the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, the next generation of the processor found in the original.
Ergonomics were one of the biggest complaints about the original Legion Go, so Lenovo is clearly looking to apply the feedback they’ve received in the past year. We’ll have to see how the potential Legion Go 2 continues to evolve towards a possible release later this year.
Legion gaming goodies for everyone
While the handhelds took center stage, Lenovo used CES to introduce a full refresh of many other machines in their Legion gaming line. Their high-powered gaming laptops are all getting yearly refreshes, including the Legion and Legion Pro 5 and 7 lines.
All of those laptops are getting next-generation Intel or AMD processors and Nvidia 50-series mobile GPUs with Lenovo’s Coldfront Hyper thermal system, which uses souped-up fans and copper piping to keep all that hardware cool. Look for those laptops to launch between March and June.
Lenovo also has a tantalizing pair of 34-inch curved gaming monitors, headlined by the Legion Pro 34WD-10 Gaming Monitor. That monitor has a 2560 x 1440 OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate and 800R curvature. It’ll benefit from an algorithm designed to reduce the risk of burn-in over time, too. And, for the sad times when it won’t be used for gaming, the monitor can be split up into up to three virtual monitors for multitasking. Expect that monitor in March with a $1,000 price tag.
The Legion Tower series of desktops will also get the expected hardware refreshes, with next-gen Intel and AMD options available with Nvidia’s 40-series of desktop GPUs. All the desktops in the lineup have a glass cover on the side that can be removed without tools, so if you’re keen to upgrade components years down the road, Lenovo is making sure that’s as easy a task as possible. The new Legion Tower desktops will start rolling out in April with the high-end Legion Tower 7i, with the Legion Tower 5i series arriving in May.