Lenovo's Legion Go S: The First Third-Party SteamOS Handheld
Lenovo has unveiled the Legion Go S, a groundbreaking handheld gaming PC, marking the first third-party device to ship with Valve's SteamOS. This collaboration expands SteamOS beyond its original home on the Steam Deck.
The Legion Go S, launching in May 2025 for $499, offers a compelling alternative to Windows-based handhelds. Unlike competitors like the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI+, which utilize Windows, the Legion Go S leverages SteamOS's optimized Linux-based system for a smoother, console-like experience. This has been a key advantage for the Steam Deck, and now extends to a broader audience.
Initially rumored, the Legion Go S's SteamOS version was officially confirmed at CES 2025. Lenovo also announced the Legion Go 2, a higher-end model, but only the Legion Go S will initially offer the SteamOS option. The SteamOS version features 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. A Windows 11 version is also available, launching in January 2025, with configurations starting at $599 (16GB RAM/1TB storage) and reaching $729 (32GB RAM/1TB storage).
Valve assures full feature parity between the SteamOS versions on the Legion Go S and the Steam Deck, ensuring consistent updates. Furthermore, Valve plans to release a public SteamOS beta in the coming months, allowing users of other handheld gaming PCs to experience the operating system. Currently, Lenovo holds the exclusive license for a SteamOS-powered handheld, but this may change depending on the success of the Legion Go S.
