Lenovo Legion Go S: the first third-party portable console on SteamOS
What we know
Lenovo has unveiled Legion Go S, the first portable console from a third-party manufacturer to run SteamOS. The device can be a direct competitor to Valve's Steam Deck, offering a different design, an 8-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and an exclusive AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor.
Here's What We Know
The Legion Go S has abandoned detachable gamepads and stands in favour of an ergonomic body with RGB lighting, a larger battery, and improved triggers. This console will be available in two versions: Windows and SteamOS. The Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S will be available in January 2025 for $730, and the SteamOS model is expected to be released in May 2025 for $500.
Why is it interesting?
Lenovo is expanding the SteamOS ecosystem, giving gamers more choices among portable devices. Valve also plans to release a beta version of SteamOS for other portable devices no earlier than March 2025, which indicates the growing support for this operating system.
For the most curious
The Legion Go S features an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, and variable refresh rate (VRR). The Windows version will have a maximum configuration of 32GB of LPDDR5X and 1TB of storage, while the SteamOS version will have a maximum of 16GB of LPDDR5X and 512GB of storage. A Windows version with 16 GB of LPDDR5X will also be available in May for $600. The 55.5 Wh battery provides a long operating time, and the presence of two USB 4 ports and a 3.5 mm audio jack adds to the convenience of use. The console weighs 930 grams.
Through its partnership with Valve, Lenovo plans to expand SteamOS support in future models, depending on user feedback. This opens up new opportunities for gamers looking for an alternative to existing portable consoles.
SteamOS is a Linux distribution developed by Valve for its Steam Deck portable console. SteamOS has a focus on game optimisation and touch control. Valve also has a separate section in its Steam store where gamers can check the compatibility of their favourite games with SteamOS. By releasing a console on SteamOS, Lenovo gains access to this library.
