Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) vs Valve Steam Deck OLED

The Legion Go S (SteamOS) undercuts the Steam Deck OLED's starting price while offering a bigger 8-inch 120 Hz screen and genuine Hall-effect sticks — something the Steam Deck still lacks. The Steam Deck OLED counters with a lighter body, an OLED panel with HDR, and Valve's more mature, longer-refined SteamOS implementation.

Spec comparison

SpecLenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS)Valve Steam Deck OLED
Starting price$499$549
OSSteamOSSteamOS
Screen size8"7.4"
PanelIPSOLED
Refresh rate120 Hz90 Hz
Resolution1920 × 12001280 × 800 (16:10)
Weight736 g640 g
Battery55.5 Wh50 Wh
APURyzen Z2 GoSteam Deck OLED APU
Max TDP30 W15 W
Hall-effect sticksYesNo
TrackpadsNo2× 32.5 mm haptic trackpads (improved fidelity)
GyroYesYes

Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS)

Pros

  • SteamOS runs the same hardware faster, quieter and more efficiently than Windows
  • Excellent SteamOS suspend/resume
  • Hall-effect sticks and triggers; dual USB4

Cons

  • Minor friction with non-Steam launchers on SteamOS
  • Still a modest 4c / 8t Ryzen Z2 Go
  • IPS panel and moderate 55.5 Wh battery

Valve Steam Deck OLED

Pros

  • Excellent 90 Hz HDR OLED (1000 nits HDR) with 110% P3
  • Bigger 50 Wh battery and Wi-Fi 6E vs LCD
  • Best-in-class SteamOS suspend/resume; twin haptic trackpads

Cons

  • Same Zen 2 / RDNA 2 APU — no performance gain over LCD
  • No VRR; 800p ceiling limits sharpness
  • Potentiometer (non-Hall) sticks

Who should buy which

Buy the Legion Go S (SteamOS) if you want a bigger screen, Hall-effect sticks and a lower starting price on the same efficient OS.

Buy the Steam Deck OLED if you want the most polished SteamOS experience and a vivid HDR OLED panel, even without Hall-effect sticks.

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