Lenovo Legion Go S Review: The Fastest SteamOS Handheld?

Legion Go S vs. Steam Deck OLED: A Spec Comparison

• 🚀 The Lenovo Legion Go S is the first non-Valve handheld to run SteamOS, featuring the Z1 Extreme processor, 32GB LPDDR5X RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
• 💡 In contrast, the Steam Deck OLED uses an older Zen 2 CPU and RDNA2 GPU, with 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD.
• 🔌 The Legion Go S boasts superior port selection with two USB 4 ports, compared to the Steam Deck's single USB-C.

Ergonomics and Display

• ✋ Despite being heavier (1.6 lb vs. Steam Deck's ~1.4 lb), the Legion Go S offers comfortable ergonomics with rounded edges and anti-slip texture, though its larger size can be fatiguing.
• 🎯 The screen is a competent 8-inch, 1920x1200, 120Hz display, but falls short of the Steam Deck OLED's superior 7.4-inch OLED screen in color contrast, response time, and brightness.
• 🔊 The Legion Go S features richer, fuller sounding speakers due to its thicker chassis, though the Steam Deck OLED's speakers are slightly louder.

Performance and Power Consumption

• ⚡ The Z1 Extreme chip in the Legion Go S delivers significantly higher performance, with 45-75% more FPS than the Steam Deck at the same resolutions and settings.
• 🧠 The extra RAM on the Legion Go S prevents crashes in memory-intensive games that the Steam Deck struggles with.
• 🔋 When running at full power (38W), the Legion Go S offers superior performance but drains battery faster (approx. 1.5 hours) than the Steam Deck (24W max, ~2 hours).
• ⚖️ In balanced mode (24W), the performance gap narrows, with the Legion Go S still showing a 27-57% FPS advantage.

Battery Life and Charging

• 🔌 Battery capacities are similar (55.5Wh for Legion Go S vs. 50Wh for Steam Deck OLED), resulting in comparable battery life across similar power profiles.
• ⚡ The Legion Go S supports 65W rapid charging, offering a significant advantage in recharge speed over the Steam Deck.

Value and Conclusion

• 💰 The Legion Go S (SteamOS version) is priced at $829.99, making it about 27% more expensive than the Steam Deck OLED ($650).
• 🤔 While the Legion Go S offers superior performance, the Steam Deck OLED is recommended for its better screen and overall value, especially considering potential future Steam Deck models.
• ⚠️ The original Legion Go is highlighted as a strong value proposition, especially when running SteamOS, offering significant savings over the Go S.
• 💡 The Windows version of the Legion Go S is deemed poor value compared to other options like the ROG Ally X.