Lenovo Legion Go S: The First Third-Party SteamOS Handheld
Lenovo's upcoming Legion Go S gaming handheld marks a significant milestone: it's the first non-Valve device to ship with SteamOS. This collaboration expands SteamOS beyond the Steam Deck, offering consumers a new choice in handheld PC gaming.
The Legion Go S, launching in May 2025 for $499, will feature Valve's smooth, console-like Linux-based SteamOS experience. This contrasts with competitors like the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI+, which utilize Windows, often resulting in a less optimized portable experience. Valve has been working towards third-party SteamOS adoption for years, and the Legion Go S represents the culmination of that effort.
Revealed at CES 2025 alongside the more powerful Legion Go 2, the Legion Go S offers a lighter, more compact design while maintaining comparable performance to its predecessor. The SteamOS version will come in a single configuration: 16GB RAM/512GB storage.
Lenovo Legion Go S Specifications:
SteamOS Version:
- Operating System: Valve's SteamOS
- Launch Date: May 2025
- Price: $499 (16GB RAM / 512GB storage)
Windows Version:
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Launch Date: January 2025
- Price: $599 (16GB RAM / 1TB storage), $729 (32GB RAM / 1TB storage)
Valve guarantees feature parity with the Steam Deck, ensuring consistent updates across all SteamOS devices (excluding hardware-specific adjustments). A Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S will also be available, offering a more familiar operating system at a higher price point. While currently exclusive to the Legion Go S, Lenovo's success with the SteamOS version could influence future SteamOS partnerships. Furthermore, Valve plans to release a public SteamOS beta in the coming months for other handheld gaming PCs. This opens up the possibility of experiencing SteamOS on devices like the Asus ROG Ally.
