Lenovo Legion Go S: SteamOS Comes to a Third-Party Handheld
Lenovo has made history with the announcement of the Legion Go S, the first third-party handheld gaming PC to officially ship with Valve’s SteamOS. Previously exclusive to the Steam Deck, this expansion marks a significant step for Valve in broadening the reach of its Linux-based operating system. While competitors like the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI+ offer powerful alternatives, SteamOS has consistently distinguished itself through its optimized user experience, offering a smoother, more console-like feel compared to the Windows-based alternatives. This advantage, coupled with years of development, has culminated in the release of SteamOS on a non-Valve device.
The Legion Go S, unveiled at CES 2025, arrives in two versions. One version, powered by Windows, will launch in January 2025, starting at $599 (16GB RAM / 1TB storage) and reaching $729 (32GB RAM / 1TB storage). The other, the SteamOS variant, will follow in May 2025, priced at $499 (16GB RAM / 512GB storage). This latter version offers a more compact and lightweight design compared to its Windows counterpart and ensures complete feature parity with SteamOS on the Steam Deck, receiving identical software updates outside of hardware-specific adjustments. While the flagship Legion Go 2 currently lacks a SteamOS version, future availability will depend on the success of the Legion Go S.
This collaboration between Lenovo and Valve is currently unique. However, Valve’s announcement of a public SteamOS beta for other handhelds in the coming months suggests future expansion beyond the Lenovo partnership. This beta will allow users of devices like the Asus ROG Ally to experience SteamOS firsthand. The release of the SteamOS-powered Legion Go S signals a significant shift in the handheld PC gaming market, providing consumers with expanded choice and platform options.