Stuff Verdict

It’s keenly priced, has outstanding ergonomics and performance that meets the Steam Deck head-on – but the Legion Go S is let down by software woes. The SteamOS version should sidestep them very soon

Pros

Brilliantly comfortable shape and crisp controls

Bright, colourful 120Hz display

Sensible price makes it a true Steam Deck alternative

Cons

Modest chipset and high screen resolution not the best combo

Touchpad is frustratingly small

Windows still sucks on a small screen; roll on SteamOS

Introduction

When the Steam Deck landed and tore up the PC gaming handheld rulebook, rivals were left scratching their heads on how to compete with Valve’s bespoke software and aggressive pricing. More heroic hardware meant a much bigger bill, and Windows has never felt at home on a small screen. Lenovo has taken a different approach for the Legion Go S. It’s the first handheld certified by Valve to run SteamOS, and matches Valve for value.