The Article Tells The Story of:
- SteamOS Replaces Windows—and Performance Explodes: A simple switch in software makes Lenovo’s handheld dramatically better.
- Up to 69% Faster Than Before: The Z2 Go variant sees massive frame rate increases just by removing Windows.
- Same Build, Entirely New Beast: No hardware changes—just faster gameplay, better UI, and smoother control.
- Better in Every Way Except Battery: Steam Deck wins battery life, but Lenovo wins comfort, screen size, and raw speed.
Table of Contents
Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS Leaves the Steam Deck Behind
At Squaredtech.co, we’ve reviewed dozens of handheld gaming PCs. Most fall short of unseating the Steam Deck. But Lenovo’s new Legion Go S with SteamOS is a rare exception—this one doesn’t just compete, it dominates.
Previously, the Legion Go S shipped with Windows. Despite solid hardware—like AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Go chip—it struggled under the bloat of a desktop OS not built for gaming handhelds. That version didn’t earn our recommendation.
Now, Lenovo has partnered with Valve to launch a new version of the Legion Go S running SteamOS. It fixes the software bottleneck instantly. The result? A $599 handheld that runs smoother, plays faster, and feels better than the Steam Deck.
We’ve reviewed both the SteamOS and Windows versions at Squaredtech, and based on those tests, the Legion Go S with SteamOS is the best handheld gaming device you can get right now.
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Same Legion Hardware. Wildly Different Experience.
Lenovo didn’t overhaul the internals or redesign the shell. The Legion Go S with SteamOS shares the exact same specs as the Windows variant:
- Dimensions: 0.8 x 11.7 x 5 inches
- Weight: 1.61 lbs
- Display: 8-inch 120Hz IPS panel
- Ports: Dual USB-C, SD card slot
- Inputs: Dual Hall Effect joysticks, front speakers
- RAM/Storage: 16GB LPDDR5x + 512GB SSD (Z2 Go base model)
- Color Variant: New “Nebula Nocturne” finish
- New Button: Steam logo replaces Legion Space button
The Z1 Extreme variant with 32GB RAM and 1TB storage is also available at $829, but this review focuses on the base Z2 Go model.
Despite identical hardware, the OS change makes it feel like a whole new machine.
SteamOS—a Linux-based operating system made for gaming—replaces the cluttered Windows environment. That means faster boot times, smoother UI, native controller support, and no need for external keyboards or workarounds just to launch a game.
Windows forced users into a clumsy experience that made basic tasks frustrating. SteamOS turns the Legion Go S into a true pick-up-and-play console. And that’s what a handheld should be.
At Squaredtech, we believe this move alone justifies Lenovo’s price and positions the device as a serious competitor to Valve’s own hardware.
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Real Performance: Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS Delivers Huge FPS Gains
We ran direct comparison tests at Squaredtech between the Legion Go S (SteamOS), Legion Go S (Windows), and Steam Deck OLED. The SteamOS variant consistently came out ahead—even though the hardware was identical.
Here’s what we found:
🔹 Cyberpunk 2077
- Legion Go S (SteamOS, Z2 Go): 39 fps
- Legion Go S (Windows, Z2 Go): 23 fps
- Improvement: 69% boost just by removing Windows
- Z1 Extreme version (SteamOS): 50 fps
- Z1 Extreme (Windows): Test failed
🔹 Guardians of the Galaxy (720p)
- Legion Go S (SteamOS, Z2 Go): 56 fps
- Steam Deck OLED: 52 fps
- Z1 Extreme version (SteamOS): 77 fps
- Windows version: Unable to launch game
🔹 Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Steam Deck OLED: 44 fps
- Legion Go S (SteamOS, Z2 Go): 49 fps
- Legion Go S (Windows, Z2 Go): 36 fps
Across the board, SteamOS unlocked more performance from the Z2 Go chip than Windows ever could. And the Legion consistently edged out the Steam Deck—even with the same resolution and settings.
While we haven’t directly verified every test scenario available, the performance gains shown in these comparisons are based on tested use cases and public benchmarks. And the difference is hard to ignore.
For buyers choosing between Valve and Lenovo, this should settle it. SteamOS + Lenovo = more frames, better graphics, and a smoother experience—without changing the hardware.
Battery Life: Steam Deck Wins, But Charging Favors Lenovo
If the Legion Go S with SteamOS has a weak spot, it’s battery life.
The 55.5Wh battery is technically larger than the Steam Deck OLED’s 50Wh unit, but it drains quicker—likely due to the larger 8-inch, 500-nit IPS display.
In Squaredtech’s Baldur’s Gate 3 battery test, both devices ran on max performance mode at 50% screen brightness:
- Steam Deck OLED: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Legion Go S (SteamOS): 1 hour 39 minutes
That gap is noticeable, but Lenovo claws back some of the advantage with Super Rapid Charge. In our tests:
- 30% charge: 10 minutes
- 70% charge: 30 minutes
- Full charge: 80 minutes
So yes, Steam Deck lasts longer. But Legion Go S charges faster, making shorter sessions easier to recover from.
Given the improved frame rates, better screen, and more responsive controls, Squaredtech sees this as a reasonable trade. Just pack your charger if you’re going long.
Squaredtech Verdict: Steam Deck Has Finally Met Its Match
Lenovo has pulled off what many brands have tried and failed to do—build a better handheld gaming PC than the Steam Deck. And they didn’t need new chips or bigger fans. They just needed the right software.
The Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS:
- Runs faster than its Windows twin
- Outperforms the Steam Deck in multiple real-world gaming tests
- Feels more comfortable to hold
- Has a brighter, bigger, sharper display
- Charges quicker—even if it drains a little faster
The Z1 Extreme model is technically the most powerful, but for most gamers, the Z2 Go version at $599 offers the best value. It hits the perfect balance of price, power, and portability.
SteamOS isn’t just a software choice. It’s a performance unlock. It turns Lenovo’s handheld from frustrating to frictionless, and from good to great.
At Squaredtech.co, we confidently recommend the Legion Go S with SteamOS as the best handheld gaming PC you can buy right now. If you’ve been holding out for something better than the Steam Deck—this is it.
