Battle of the SteamOS Handhelds

We’re in the period of handhelds, and there is no denying that the Steam Deck led the approach for handheld gaming PCs to prosper. However are trendy iterations lastly dethroning the first monarch? Lenovo most actually threw down the gauntlet.

The Lenovo Legion Go S is now our favourite handheld gaming PC, and one enormous function it has in frequent with the Steam Deck is that it runs SteamOS. Should you don’t know, the Legion Go S is presently the solely third-party handheld gaming PC that formally helps SteamOS.

SteamOS is one of the main the explanation why the Steam Deck is beloved, and why we beloved the Legion Go S a lot. However when you’re trying to find a handheld gaming PC with this way-better-than-windows OS, which do you get?

Legion Go S vs. Steam Deck: Specs

We’ve established that the Legion Go S and Steam Deck each share SteamOS, however which may run it higher?

As a lot as the Steam Deck is a fan favourite, it’s getting a bit outdated — it launched in 2022. That’s not too way back, nevertheless it’s packing an AMD 4-core, 8-thread Zen 2 CPU and 8-core RDNA 2 GPU. These launched in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The Lenovo Legion Go S sports activities the AMD Z1 Excessive chipset (launched in 2023), which features a Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3 GPU.

However does a number of years actually make that a lot of a distinction? Effectively, sure. Matching the Steam Deck’s decision at 1280 x 800, the Legion Go S managed to run one of the most terribly optimized video games at 30 frames per second (aka Monster Hunter Wilds). Capcom’s newest entry in the Monster Hunter franchise is straight up unplayable on the Steam Deck, at a mean of 19 fps. I’m really stunned it ran in any respect – I’ve seen the sport crash on a pal’s Steam Deck.

That’s to not say that you just’re getting caught with a horrible chipset when you resolve to go together with the Steam Deck. It will probably run loads of AAA video games on decrease settings, even Cyberpunk 2077. It received’t be as good as the Legion Go S, however if you’d like the naked minimal, it really works.

Outdoors of their chipsets, the Steam Deck is outfitted with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for the LCD mannequin and a 512GB or 1TB SSD for the OLED variation. In the meantime, the Legion Go S options 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. 16GB of RAM is strong, however 32GB undoubtedly helps when you’re attempting to run extra taxing video games.

The Steam Deck continues to be a strong piece of gaming tech, however when you put it in a room with the Legion Go S, you received’t discover any Steam Decks in Ba Sing Se.

Winner: Lenovo Legion Go S

Legion Go S vs. Steam Deck: Battery Life

Battery life is a bizarre one to check and discuss with handheld gaming PCs as a result of it so closely varies relying on what you play. However when pitting the Legion Go S and Steam Deck towards one another, there’s a “easy” reply.

On the PCMark 10 Battery Take a look at, the Legion Go S lasted 6 hours and 25 minutes whereas the Steam Deck survived 8 hours and eight minutes. Now, I put “easy” in citation marks as a result of only a few individuals, if anybody, is utilizing handheld gaming PCs the approach that PCMark 10 is testing them.

You may get a number of hours out of every of them at a time, and what you play will affect how lengthy it lasts. I bought a strong couple hours out of the Legion Go S whereas enjoying The Messenger earlier than I needed to cost it.

However in idea, the Steam Deck ought to final slightly longer. I doubt it’ll be 1 hour and 43 minutes longer, however longer nonetheless. Simply don’t let this be what closely impacts your shopping for resolution.

Winner: Steam Deck

Legion Go S vs. Steam Deck: Design and Consolation

There are vital design variations between the Legion Go S and the Steam Deck. Some could come right down to desire, however I legitimately imagine the Legion Go S is superior on this regard.

The Legion Go S isn’t good, however the general button format on its face resembles a conventional Xbox controller, which is comparatively comfy. In the meantime, the Steam Deck buttons are all in… distinctive (fallacious) locations. All of the conventional buttons are squeezed collectively in the high corners of the system, and that’s to make room for the twin trackpads at the middle. This may increasingly simply be me, however you would not pay me to play video games with these issues.

Regardless of my gripes with the Steam Deck’s button format, the Legion Go S is a chunky boy. A lot in order that I must put extra strain into holding it up, and sometimes my fingers will get tingly from the lack of blood stream. I’m not saying that’ll occur to you, however needless to say this factor weighs a strong 1.6 kilos. That will not appear to be a lot, however whenever you’re holding it up for a number of hours, you’ll discover it. The Steam Deck is slightly lighter, at 1.4 kilos. Once more, these numbers are deceiving — it will make a distinction.

Until you’re dying to make use of a trackpad, otherwise you need the lightest SteamOS handheld gaming PC, then the Legion Go S affords the superior gaming expertise.

Winner: Lenovo Legion Go S

Legion Go S vs. Steam Deck: Show

That is the place issues get slightly tough. The Legion Go S was set as much as win this spherical immediately. It sports activities an 8-inch, 1920 x 1200, 120Hz show. These are some strong specs for a handheld gaming PC, however there’s arguably one flaw: it’s an IPS panel.

There’s nothing essentially fallacious with an IPS panel, however I used to be there when the Nintendo Change OLED launched, and let me inform you, it utterly modified how handheld gaming felt. I wasn’t carrying round a display anymore, I used to be holding a window, a tear in time and house into my favourite worlds… that’s hyperbole, nevertheless it was actually freakin’ fairly, okay?

The place Steam Deck shines is its OLED show. Clearly, I love OLED shows, a lot in order that I might forgive its decrease specs, like its 7.4-inch show measurement, 1280 x 800 decision, and 90Hz refresh price.

However I bought to say, I snuggled in mattress with the Legion Go S one night time, and I couldn’t assist however be awestruck by the beautiful background artwork of The Messenger as I suffered a sequence of horrible deaths at the fingers of some OSHA-violating Wile E. Coyote traps.

So sure, technically OLED will look extra daring on account of its infinite distinction and self-emitting diodes, however the Legion Go S has a lot going for it that I would surrender the OLED, however I’ll weep for it.

Winner: Lenovo Legion Go S

Legion Go S vs. Steam Deck: Worth

As you’ll be able to see, the Lenovo Legion Go S is killing the Steam Deck, however when you haven’t already guessed, it’s going to kill your pockets, too.

The Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS and the Z1 Excessive chipset prices prices $829 at Best Buy. In the meantime, the costliest mannequin of the Steam Deck (OLED, 1TB SSD) prices $649 on Steam. That’s practically a $200 distinction.

You’ll be able to technically get the worse Legion Go S with Ryzen Z2 Go and 16GB of RAM for . Should you go together with the Steam Deck’s LCD mannequin, it can save you the most cash, because it runs for $399, which is technically cheaper than a $599 at Finest Purchase ($450).

You’ll be able to actually see which has the higher worth, however which affords the higher worth? It is determined by what you need. Do you simply desire a handheld gaming PC with no frills? Then the LCD Steam Deck is the approach to go. However you probably have the disposable revenue, the Legion Go S is value the additional $200. You’ll be able to’t deny the efficiency achieve and even the increase to show specs. Yeah, it’s not OLED, however 1080p/1200p is the customary for handheld gaming PCs in 2025.

Winner: Steam Deck for least expensive / Lenovo Legion Go S for worth

The Winner: Lenovo Legion Go S

Handheld gaming PCs are enhancing yearly, and the Lenovo Legion Go S looks like a pure evolution of the handhelds that got here earlier than, and a large leap for the second handheld to make use of SteamOS.

From efficiency to design, the Legion Go S is the higher handheld gaming PC. For its worth and battery life, the Steam Deck nonetheless has lots going for it, and particularly so when you’re hooked up to OLED shows like I’m. Sadly, I can’t recover from the wonky button format. Should you’re a console gamer, the Legion Go S will really feel like the smoothest transition.