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Lenovo has always had a raft of introductions at the Consumer Electronics Show, but for 2025, its handheld gaming PCs will be the headline.
This is the new Legion Go S that comes in not just a Windows version, but SteamOS as well — the first device to use Valve’s handheld-oriented platform besides the Steam Deck.
Techopedia went behind the scenes to see the two gaming consoles as well as a prototype second-gen Legion Go ahead of the show.
It’s clearly a good time to be a fan of portable gaming.
Key Takeaways
- Lenovo introduces the Legion Go S, its first SteamOS-based handheld.
- Two versions are available: SteamOS for $500 and Windows for $600, both launching in May 2025.
- The gaming portable consoles feature 8-inch, 1200p LCD with 120Hz refresh and Hall Effect analog sticks.
- They are powered by AMD Ryzen Z2 Go or Z1 Extreme, offering solid performance.
- The new consoles promise to widen the SteamOS experience with higher performance and sharper displays.
Legion Go: New Hardware, Familiar Steam
Both Legion Go S models (a dark violet for SteamOS and white for Windows) have 8-inch, 1200p LCD touchscreens with a 120Hz variable refresh rate.
Unlike the regular Go, though, the controllers are fixed in place rather than Nintendo Switch-style detachables. That keeps costs down, but it does mean you’ll have to hold all of the 1.6lbs device in your hands rather than propping it up on a table.
I found it reasonably light in my hands-on time and enjoyed the controller feel, but it’s heavy enough that you might want to take periodic breaks if you’re going to play for hours.
Both analog sticks use the Hall Effect (increased accuracy via electromagnetic sensors), so they should not be prone to drifting. There’s also a D-pad and a tiny but surprisingly effective trackpad, along with satisfying (if unspectacular) triggers and shoulder buttons.
SteamOS is just like it is on the Steam Deck: an optimized portal for accessing your Steam games. The same advantages and issues apply.
The touch-friendly interface, remote play, and Steam cloud saves are massively appreciated but partly offset by the need for the Proton code translation layer (to allow Windows games to work on Steam) and the lack of third-party game stores.
That’s what the Windows model is for, of course, and the revamped Legion Space software offers AI game coaching and stream clip editing on that system.
The Legion Go S uses AMD’s new, Lenovo-only Ryzen Z2 Go as its entry point, and there will also be a Z1 Extreme variant (about 15% faster, I’m told).
Neither chip will outperform a dedicated gaming laptop, and demanding games might push it too far without lowering settings (Halo Infinite sometimes stuttered at default settings in a brief trial run). Still, this is plenty if you’re willing to lower graphics details or play less demanding classics and 2D titles.
The New Legion Family
Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS version):
- Runs Valve’s SteamOS
- Possibly a step up from the Steam Deck
- Launching in May 2025 for $500 with a 512GB SSD
Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows version):
- Runs Windows with a new flavor of Legion Space software, offering features like AI game coaching
- Launching in May 2025 for $600 with the same hardware configuration as the SteamOS model
Legion Go Refresh (2nd Gen):
- Refreshed model of the original Legion Go
- Features an 8.8-inch 1200p OLED screen (instead of the 1600p LCD in the predecessor)
- Likely launching later in Q2 2025, with new Ryzen Z2 Extreme chipset options
I had the opportunity to talk to Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais about the hardware. He characterized the Legion Go S as part of an effort to widen the range of SteamOS experiences.
If the Steam Deck is the entry point, Lenovo’s handheld is a step up for gamers who want more performance and a sharper display. Don’t be surprised if there are eventually numerous Steam-based devices, provided this foray catches on.
As for the revised Legion Go? While the Switch-like design remains very much intact, the prototype now centers on an 8.8-inch, 1200p OLED touchscreen (versus its predecessor’s 1600p LCD) with a 144Hz refresh rate.
While the resolution drop is not great, it should produce a decidedly more vibrant look than the existing LCD. I couldn’t yet try the new Go as it is not in its final form.
There are slight tweaks to the design, with rounded controller corners and a circular D-pad. You will more likely appreciate chip options that include the new Ryzen Z2 Extreme, which should make more games playable.
If you’ve felt existing handheld PCs were slightly lacking, you should be pleased when the new Go arrives sometime in the second quarter…
The most appealing part of the new lineup might be the pricing.
While Lenovo has yet to set a price for the new regular Go, the Legion Go S will be available in January 2025 in a $730 high-spec version with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Wait until May and the SteamOS version with a 512GB drive will be available for $500, while the Windows equivalent will show up that same month for $600.
Either is well under the existing $700 Legion Go and might be a better value than the current $649 Steam Deck OLED with its smaller 800p display and more modest power limits.
