Lenovo Legion Go S Review 2026: The Best Non-Valve Handheld
The Lenovo Legion Go S launched in 2026 as a more affordable alternative to the original Legion Go. It targets the mid-range handheld market with lower performance specs and a lower price point, positioned between the Steam Deck and the full Legion Go in both capability and cost.
Legion Go S Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z1 (non-Extreme) or Z2 depending on configuration |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Display | 8-inch IPS, 1920×1200, 120Hz |
| Storage | 256GB or 512GB NVMe |
| Battery | 55.5Wh |
| OS | Windows 11 or SteamOS (depending on configuration) |
| Price | From ~$499 (Windows) to ~$699 (SteamOS configurations) |
How It Compares to the Steam Deck OLED
The Legion Go S has a larger 8-inch display at higher resolution (1920×1200 vs 800p) and a faster 120Hz refresh rate. The Steam Deck OLED has an OLED panel with significantly better contrast and color quality. For most games, the Legion Go S display looks sharper due to the higher resolution, but the Steam Deck OLED display looks richer due to OLED technology.
Performance depends on which processor configuration you choose. The Ryzen Z1 (non-Extreme) is slower than the Steam Deck in GPU tasks. The Z2 configurations are faster. Check the specific model before buying.
Battery life on the Legion Go S is competitive with the Steam Deck OLED at 4 to 7 hours depending on game demands.
SteamOS Version
The Legion Go S is one of the first third-party devices to officially ship with SteamOS. This is significant: it means you get the clean SteamOS Gaming Mode interface, better power management, and Proton compatibility without any installation hassle. Lenovo has worked with Valve on driver support for this configuration.
If you want SteamOS and do not specifically need the OLED display of the Steam Deck, the Legion Go S SteamOS at a lower price point is a compelling option.
Who Should Buy the Legion Go S
The Legion Go S makes the most sense for buyers who want a larger screen than the Steam Deck (8 inches vs 7.4 inches), prefer the 16:10 aspect ratio for productivity and gaming, and are comfortable with either Windows or SteamOS. The price advantage over the full Legion Go 2 is significant at $499 to $699 vs $1,199.
It is not the right choice if you specifically want an OLED display, the LCD panel, while good, does not match the Steam Deck OLED’s visual quality. For the best display in a gaming handheld, the Steam Deck OLED at $789 still wins that category.
For the full market comparison at current 2026 prices, see our best handheld gaming PC rankings.