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, offering consumers a new option in the competitive handheld market.
The Legion Go S, launching in May 2025 for $499, boasts a 16GB RAM/512GB storage configuration. This SteamOS version leverages the operating system's renowned smooth, console-like experience, a significant advantage over Windows-based competitors like the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI+. Valve assures full feature parity with the Steam Deck, including identical software updates, excluding hardware-specific adjustments.
For those preferring Windows, Lenovo offers a Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S, launching in January 2025. This version offers configurations of 16GB RAM/1TB storage ($599) and 32GB RAM/1TB storage ($729). While the flagship Legion Go 2 currently lacks a SteamOS variant, future availability depends on the Legion Go S's market reception.
Beyond the Legion Go S, Valve's commitment to broader SteamOS adoption is evident. A public beta is slated for release in the coming months, enabling users of other handheld gaming PCs, such as the Asus ROG Ally, to experience SteamOS. This move significantly broadens access to the optimized Linux-based experience. Currently, Lenovo holds the exclusive license for a SteamOS-powered handheld, but this could change as Valve continues its expansion efforts.
