TechGamingGaming AccessoriesThe Steam Deck is dead – I tried a new SteamOS handheld that marks its futureLenovo’s Legion Go S shows there’s life beyond the original Steam Deck yetWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechGamingGaming AccessoriesThe Steam Deck is dead – I tried a new SteamOS handheld that marks its futureLenovo’s Legion Go S shows there’s life beyond the original Steam Deck yetWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Lenovo’s Legion Go S shows there’s life beyond the original Steam Deck yet
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
TheSteam Deckand follow-up Steam Deck OLED have been mighty popular with their fanbase – but I get the sense that Valve neverreallywanted to manufacture the hardware for its handheld gaming device. It’s a lot of work.
Well, atCES 2025, the reveal of a third-party SteamOS handheld, the Lenovo Legion Go S, paves the way – and it’s “the first of many” from various potential makers, signalling what I think could be the death of the Steam Deck and the birth of, well, spiritual Steam Deck-like successors.
Lenovo is no stranger to hardware, with itsoriginal Legion Goa solid entry to the Windows market. While it’s confirmed that a Legion Go 2 will also exist in the future – complete with detachable controllers – it’s the all-in-one handheld, the Go S, that hits a much sweeter price point. Indeed, at $499 (no other regional pricing is available at the time of publishing), it’s $100lessthan its Windows equivalent.
So why is the SteamOS version the one to buy? Lenovo’s take is really interesting. The use of an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor (or AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor – a pricier option) makes the Legion Go S a more powerful proposition than the original Steam Deck.
Image1of6(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
Image1of6(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
Image1of6
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
That can only be good for gamers – keeping in mind, of course, that the battery life will likely take a bit of a hit as a result (it’s 55.5Whr, and the processor can go 40W at max – so you’ll maybe get an hour at peak, perhaps three at lower power).
The AMD Ryzen Z2 Go was originally designed for a Steam Deck successor, but with Valve denying that’s coming, that’s further fuel to my argument that, just maybe, the Steam Deck proper is over – and it’s down to third-parties to bring the hardware while Valve works on its software.
Being able to pivot resources from hardware to refining and growing its software proposition can only be a good thing. While that will remain consistent across all devices, it’ll be a customer choice in what specification they purchase – if, of course, enough companies get behind the SteamOS handheld idea (Acer’s just-revealed Nitro Blaze 11isn’t on the platform, for example).
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
So what may read as a negative headline actually, to me, seems like a potential future positive. If Valve sticks to the software and a variety of SteamOS handhelds appear, there’ll be more customer choice at a range of price points, opening up the market to a wider volume to get on board.
Having seen and played on Lenovo’s Legion Go S at CES 2025, I think it’s a very impressive bit of kit indeed. The 8-inch 1920 x 1200 resolution panel has a better-than-Steam-Deck 120Hz refresh rate. And in its distinct Nebula Violet finish it looks the part too.
Today’s best Lenovo Legion Go deals$699.99$649View$699.99View$749.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Lenovo Legion Go deals$699.99$649View$699.99View$749.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Lenovo Legion Go deals
$699.99$649View$699.99View$749.99View
$699.99$649View
$699.99$649View
$699.99$649View
$699.99$649
$649
$699.99View
$699.99View
$699.99View
$699.99
$699.99
$749.99View
$749.99View
$749.99View
$749.99
$749.99
Show More Deals
Show More Deals
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
TOPICSCES
TOPICS
Amazon upgrades Kindle Colorsoft already – new model addresses customer complaintsAmazon’s full-colour e-reader fixes a problem that was plaguing its display
Amazon’s full-colour e-reader fixes a problem that was plaguing its display
Disney+’s most eagerly-awaited new Marvel series also looks to be its most brutalDaredevil: Born Again clearly won’t be for the faint of heart
Daredevil: Born Again clearly won’t be for the faint of heart
I went to Kyoto to try Technics' new flagship earbuds – here’s what’s newTechnics is claiming some big gains with the AZ100
Technics is claiming some big gains with the AZ100
The best of CES 2025: 21 top gadgets from the showThe Consumer Electronics Show 2025 didn’t disappoint. These are T3’s award-winners from the Las Vegas event
The Consumer Electronics Show 2025 didn’t disappoint. These are T3’s award-winners from the Las Vegas event
Satechi’s SM3 Slim is the mechanical Mac keyboard we’ve always wanted from AppleThis impressive keyboard won’t look out of place in your Apple setup
This impressive keyboard won’t look out of place in your Apple setup
This clever iPhone upgrade gives you massive storage without the Apple priceNo room on your iPhone? This MagSafe adapter gives you huge space
No room on your iPhone? This MagSafe adapter gives you huge space
Hisense’s new wireless surround system looks like a serious rival to SonyHisense’s wireless surround system packs a low-end punch that rival’s could struggle to match
Hisense’s wireless surround system packs a low-end punch that rival’s could struggle to match
My favourite CES 2025 announcement initially seems boring – but it could change entertainment foreverThe next wave of TVs, games consoles, projectors and streamers are facing huge upgrades
The next wave of TVs, games consoles, projectors and streamers are facing huge upgrades
Forget your steam decks, Asus just updated its powerful gaming tabletThe Asus ROG Flow Z13 gets a big update for 2025, making it the ultimate gaming all-in-one
The Asus ROG Flow Z13 gets a big update for 2025, making it the ultimate gaming all-in-one
Microsoft wants to ditch Windows for future Xbox gaming handheldsXbox’s console operating system could shape how we use future handhelds
Xbox’s console operating system could shape how we use future handhelds
