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This Might As Well Be the Steam Deck 2

The Lenovo Legion Go S just became the first handheld to ship with official SteamOS—no mods, no forks, just Valve's polished Steam Deck experience on more powerful hardware. With a stunning 1200p screen and competitive pricing, this might be the handheld to beat.
This might as well be the Steam Deck 2

This Might As Well Be the Steam Deck 2

The Lenovo Legion Go S just became the first handheld to ship with official SteamOS—no mods, no forks, just Valve’s polished Steam Deck experience on more powerful hardware. With a stunning 1200p screen and competitive pricing, this might be the handheld to beat. Here’s why it’s turning heads.

Key Takeaways

  • SteamOS, officially: This isn’t a mod—it’s the same OS that runs the Steam Deck, offering a seamless console-like experience.
  • Two chips, two choices: The Z1 Extreme (premium) and Z2 Go (budget) models deliver different performance tiers, but both shine with SteamOS.
  • Screen superiority: A 1200p display blows the Steam Deck’s 800p screen out of the water.
  • Surprising value: The $600 SteamOS model undercuts the Steam Deck OLED’s price while offering better hardware.
  • Early quirks: SteamOS is still new here—expect minor bugs like unresponsive RGB lights or mouse nubs.

The SteamOS Revolution

What Makes It Special?

For the first time, you can buy a non-Steam Deck device with Valve’s official OS. The Legion Go S uses the exact same recovery image as the Steam Deck, meaning updates and features roll out in lockstep. No more wrestling with Windows or third-party Linux distros like Bazite (RIP).

Installation: Easier Than You Think

Installing SteamOS is shockingly simple:

  • Disable Secure Boot in the BIOS.
  • Flash the SteamOS recovery image to a USB drive.
  • Boot and let it wipe your drive (goodbye, Windows).
That’s it. No partitions, no complicated commands—just plug-and-play simplicity.

Performance Showdown

SteamOS vs. Windows vs. Bazite

I ran benchmarks across three games to see how SteamOS stacks up:

  • Resident Evil 4:
- Z2 Go (SteamOS): 49 FPS

- Z1 Extreme (SteamOS): 58 FPS (a 20% jump!)

  • Marvel Rivals:
- Z1 Extreme hit 65 FPS, with minor dips during intense effects.
  • Cyberpunk 2077:
- Mixed results—SteamOS matched Windows, but YouTuber Dave2D reported higher FPS (59 vs. my 49). Verdict: SteamOS delivers near-Windows performance with far less hassle.

The Hardware Advantage

Why the Legion Go S Stands Out

  • Screen: 1200p resolution makes games look crisper than the Steam Deck’s 800p panel.
  • RAM: The Windows version packs 32GB (vs. 16GB on SteamOS), but you can dual-boot for flexibility.
  • Price: The $600 SteamOS model is a steal compared to similarly specced Windows handhelds.

The Catch? Fan Noise

At full load, the Legion Go S sounds like a jet engine—far louder than the Steam Deck. If quiet operation matters, take note.

The Future of Handheld Gaming

SteamOS on third-party devices is still in its infancy, but the Legion Go S proves it’s viable. Bugs like unresponsive controls or inconsistent RGB lighting need ironing out, but the foundation is solid.

For now, here’s my advice:

  • Want plug-and-play? Grab the $600 SteamOS model.
  • Need Windows for Game Pass or anti-cheat games? Buy the Windows version and install SteamOS later.
Either way, the Legion Go S is a legitimate Steam Deck alternative—one that might just redefine the handheld landscape.

Meta Description: The Lenovo Legion Go S is the first handheld with official SteamOS support, offering a Steam Deck-like experience with a sharper 1200p screen and powerful AMD chips. Is it the ultimate portable PC?

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