SteamOS Evaluation by Legion Go S: A Genuine Competitor to the Steam Deck
In the realm of handheld gaming devices, two powerhouses have emerged: the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS and the Steam Deck. Both devices offer a unique gaming experience, but they cater to different preferences, particularly in terms of performance and battery life.
### Performance
The Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS boasts a more powerful SoC with a roughly 30W power budget, allowing it to deliver better raw gaming performance. This is thanks to its Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor (previous-gen) and up to 32GB of RAM in higher-end models, compared to the Steam Deck’s 16GB. In side-by-side tests, such as Cyberpunk at 1280x800, medium settings, the Legion Go S achieved about 55 FPS, versus about 45 FPS for the Steam Deck, showcasing a clear performance edge.
The Steam Deck, on the other hand, is designed to maximize battery life, with a lower power envelope of 15W. Despite this, it still manages to run games smoothly, albeit with a slight performance trade-off.
### Battery Life
The Legion Go S, with its higher power consumption, has comparatively worse battery life. Its 55.5Wh battery provides about a couple of hours of gaming under intensive use with SteamOS balanced power mode. The Steam Deck, with its lower power consumption, offers longer gameplay times on a single charge.
### Usability with SteamOS
Both devices run SteamOS, offering a similar user experience tailored for gaming. The Lenovo Legion Go S represents the first non-Valve device officially licensed for SteamOS, running the OS cleanly without Windows bloat, providing a smooth and convenient gaming experience similar to the Steam Deck.
The Steam Deck is known for a very polished SteamOS experience with minimal setup required for most games, while the Legion Go S complements this with a larger screen and more ergonomic design, including Hall effect joysticks and a good overall build. However, running games or software outside Steam compatibility might require some troubleshooting, and SteamOS may not fully replace Windows for all non-Steam titles.
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| Aspect | Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS | Steam Deck | |-----------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------| | **Processor & Performance** | Ryzen Z1 Extreme, higher power budget (~30W), 16~32 GB RAM, ~55 FPS in Cyberpunk | Lower power (~15W), 16 GB RAM, ~45 FPS in Cyberpunk | | **Battery Life** | 55.5Wh battery, ~2 hours intensive gaming | Longer battery life due to lower TDP and optimization | | **SteamOS Usability** | Official SteamOS license, smooth Steam integration, larger screen, ergonomic design | Very polished SteamOS experience, highly optimized UI and workflow |
### Conclusion
The Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS excels in raw gaming performance due to more powerful hardware and higher power draw, making it a better choice for users who prioritize performance and don't mind shorter battery life. The Steam Deck remains the more efficient device with better battery endurance and a very mature, polished SteamOS experience.
Both provide excellent SteamOS usability, but the Lenovo Legion Go S pushes the boundaries of performance in the SteamOS handheld space, marking a new era beyond the Steam Deck’s launch. The Lenovo Legion Go S is available in a deep "nebula nocturne" purple colour and costs $600. Its performance is significantly improved when running SteamOS compared to Windows.
- Gizmodo might find the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS an interesting addition to their technology reviews, given its superior performance in handheld gaming devices, compared to the Steam Deck.
- In terms of the future of handheld gaming devices, reviews of the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS could hint at a shift towards more powerful technology for a better gaming experience, contrary to the Steam Deck's focus on battery life.
- Gadget enthusiasts who prioritize technology performance over battery life would find the reviews of the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS highly relevant, as it offers a more powerful gaming experience compared to the Steam Deck.
