Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) review – OS upgrade delivers mind-blowing performance boost

The first gaming handheld with Steam OS, that isn't called a Steam Deck, is here, and it's excellent.

This is the Lenovo Legion Go S with Steam OS, the world’s first officially licensed handheld powered by SteamOS, an operating system built specifically for gaming. In my Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows) review, I said that "you're probably better off either waiting for the SteamOS version of this handheld or getting a Steam Deck OLED", rather than committing to buy one. So, now the SteamOS version of Lenovo's device is here, is it worth the wait?

The Legion Go S with Steam OS can be configured with up to an AMD Z1 Extreme processor and up to 1TB of internal storage, but the version we're testing here is the model with the AMD Z2 Go processor and 512GB of storage, and is priced at £499 / $599 / AU$$903 (rough conversion). That's just £20 more than the Steam Deck OLED, and on paper, the Legion Go S has better specs.

Lenovo Legion Go S (Steam OS) design and features

Just like the Windows version that we tested a few weeks ago, the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S has an 8-inch, 1920x1200 resolution display, which is 120Hz, 500 nits peak brightness, and has a variable refresh rate. In fact, this device is identical to the Legion Go S with Windows we tested previously, apart from two things: the colour and the operating system.

This is the exact same device from a technical point of view, other than it runs Steam OS instead of Windows 11. It's even got the same design, with Hall Effect joysticks, a very small touchpad, a D-pad, four menu buttons, triggers, bumpers, and an SD card slot, along with two USB 4.0 ports on the top of the handheld.

The colour, which is Nebula Nocturne, a blue/purple colour, is absolutely stunning, and I much prefer this to the white of the Windows version and the black design of the Steam Deck OLED. Although I really liked the retro MSI Claw 8 AI+ colour, I'd say this is the best-looking handheld I've tested to date. It really is stunning in person.

Lenovo Legion Go S (Steam OS) performance

But, the big selling point of the device is that it's the world’s first officially licensed handheld powered by SteamOS. SteamOS is Valve’s Linux-based operating system that's optimised for gaming, while retaining access to the power and flexibility of a PC. By default, the Steam Client serves as the user interface and provides connectivity to Steam online services, but you can still access the standard Linux desktop by switching to desktop mode and using it as a PC. If you didn't know, only the original Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED, both manufactured by Valve, are the only other handhelds running this OS right now.

So, with Windows 11 being very much not optimised for gaming, or gaming handhelds in general, in my previous experience, will SteamOS actually lead to better performance? Well, in a nutshell, yes, absolutely. It's benchmark time, baby, and strap in, because this is wild.

Here's the Legion Go S Windows 11 version against the Steam OS version in four popular Steam games:

Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows 11) vs Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) Cyberpunk 2077 benchmarking tool (Medium graphics setting)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows): 16fps (average)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 26fps (average)

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered (Medium graphics setting)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows): 10fps (average)
  

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 16fps (average)

Elden Ring (Medium graphics setting)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows): 29fps (average)
  

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 36fps (average)

Black Myth: Wukong benchmarking tool (low graphics settings, FSR 100% resolution scale)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows): 11fps (average)
  

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 22fps (average)

For context, here's the Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) against the Steam Deck OLED running at the lower resolution of 1280x000, which matches the latter's native resolution.

Lenovo Legion Go S vs Steam Deck OLED Cyberpunk 2077 benchmarking tool (Medium graphics setting)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 47fps (average)
• Steam Deck OLED: 34fps (average)

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered (Medium graphics setting)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 28fps (average)
• Steam Deck OLED: 21fps (average)

Elden Ring (Medium graphics setting)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 46fps (average)
• Steam Deck OLED: 38fps (average)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmarking tool (highest graphics setting)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 49fps (average)
• Steam Deck OLED: 40fps (average)

Black Myth: Wukong benchmarking tool (low graphics settings, FSR 100% resolution scale)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 39fps (average)
• Steam Deck OLED: 30fps (average)

Finally, here's the Lenovo Legion Go S compared to the MSI Claw 8 AI+, a device that's almost double the price.

Lenovo Legion Go S vs MSI Claw 8 AI+ Cyberpunk 2077 benchmarking tool (low graphics setting)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 32fps (average)
• MSI Claw 8 AI+: 42fps (average)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmarking tool (high graphics setting)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 36fps (average)
• MSI Claw 8 AI+: 46fps (average)

Black Myth: Wukong benchmarking tool (low graphics settings, FSR 100% resolution scale)

• Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS): 22fps (average)
• MSI Claw 8 AI+: 30fps (average)

Now, although the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is clearly the better device in terms of performance, you'd expect that, considering there's a £400 difference between the two devices. So, when you look at price-to-performance metrics, even in the games it performed worst in, comparatively against the MSI Claw 8 AI+, with the Go S, you're clearly getting better price-to-performance, as you're definitely not getting double (or half) the performance.

In terms of battery life, I was a bit disappointed to see really similar performance levels between the Windows and the Steam OS versions. The Windows version managed just about an hour and a half on Cyberpunk 2077 in performance mode, which matches what we saw with the Windows version. However, this is around half an hour less than the Steam Deck OLED manages, which is still the king of efficiency, even if it is at a lower resolution.

Lenovo Legion Go S (Steam OS) final thoughts

In conclusion, then, the Legion Go S with SteamOS retains the strong design and hardware choices made with the Windows version, but adds a truly gaming-optimised operating system, giving it better performance pretty much across the board. I can confidently say, if you're going to buy the Legion Go S, don't get the Windows version, get this one!

But, there are compromises. SteamOS doesn't do everything perfectly; it can't play games from other launchers, for example, and it can't play every game in the Steam library. For example, on the Windows version, I could boot upF1 25, or EA FC 25 for that matter, butEA's anti-cheat doesn't play nice with Linux, and you just can't get them to launch in SteamOS.

Then there's the price, too, which, yes, is only £20 more than the Steam Deck OLED. But you get half the storage and half the brightness, you don't get an OLED display, you get a smaller battery, and it's quite a bit heavier than its Valve rival, almost 100g in fact. But you do get the higher resolution and higher refresh rate display.

If performance at a value is all you care about, the Legion Go S with Steam OS is the handheld to go for right now. In terms of the value that it offers, it really is a compelling option for the price, and it should certainly make you think twice about spending £899 or £799 on more expensive handhelds, when this is available for under £500.

It's a bit trickier against the Steam Deck OLED, though. If you choose the Go S, there are tradeoffs and compromises to be made, so it's going to come down to personal preference and what you want from a handheld.

But, there's no denying that this device is a serious rival to the Steam Deck OLED in the more value-oriented gaming handheld space, and I'm really excited to see which other brands can work with Valve to get SteamOS on their handhelds in future. Because the world's first licensed one is pretty damn sweet.