Head-to-head · Best Handheld Gaming PCs

Lenovo Legion Go S (Z2 Go, SteamOS) vs Steam Deck OLED

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

The short answer

Steam Deck OLED comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.2 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Visual quality enthusiasts — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Handheld Gaming PCs

Lenovo Legion Go S (Z2 Go, SteamOS)

4.2

4 sources1 derived$849.99as of Jul 31

The Lenovo Legion Go S gets pitched as the better Steam Deck, and its AMD Z1 Extreme chipset, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD back that up on portable AAA gaming. PCMag's Zackery Cuevas called it a 'better Steam Deck' that surpasses expectations, and digitalchumps reviewer Will Silberman watched it run demanding titles like The Last of Us Part II smoothly. Reviewers criticized the loud fan noise and the limitation that blocks background game updates during sleep mode. Gamers who want SteamOS compatibility and high performance should look; anyone who values quiet operation or battery efficiency shouldn't.

Strengths

— Runs graphically intensive games smoothly with consistent framerates
— Features an 8in WUXGA LCD touchscreen with 120Hz refresh rate and VRR
— Powered by AMD Z1 Extreme chipset with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD for high performance

Watch-outs

— Fan runs loudly even during light usage
— Game installation and updates cannot be done while device is in sleep mode

$849.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Handheld Gaming PCs

Steam Deck OLED

4.5

4 sourcesall derived$1,075as of Jul 31

The Steam Deck OLED's headline change is the screen, and reviewers backed it up on color accuracy, HDR support, and the 90Hz refresh rate. Birchtree rated the display well above the original LCD model, calling it 'spectacular' and 'eye-searingly delightful.' Wi-Fi 6E, slightly longer battery life, and quieter fans round out the update. Reviewers still hear the fans in a quiet room, and the battery gain is modest. It's for anyone who wants better visual quality and performance than the original Steam Deck offered, less so for those chasing endurance or silence.

Strengths

— OLED screen delivers exceptional color reproduction and HDR support with 1,000 nits max brightness
— 90Hz refresh rate improves game smoothness and reduces input latency
— Quieter fans compared to the original Steam Deck model

Watch-outs

— Fan noise still audible in quiet environments, though improved from original
— Battery life improvement is marginal and not as good as Nintendo Switch

$1,075 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Lenovo Legion Go S (Z2 Go, SteamOS)

The Lenovo Legion Go S outperforms the Steam Deck OLED and Valve Steam Deck OLED in terms of hardware specs, featuring a Z1 Extreme chipset and 32GB RAM, making it superior for graphically intensive games. Unlike the ASUS ROG Ally X, it avoids the Xbox UI but suffers from loud fan noise and lacks the OLED screen quality of the Valve model.

Steam Deck OLED

The Steam Deck OLED excels in display quality over the Valve Steam Deck OLED with its vibrant HDR and 1,000 nits peak brightness, though the latter offers better battery life and a more refined overall experience. Compared to the MSI Claw 8, it lacks the larger 8-inch screen and superior battery capacity, but provides a more polished SteamOS experience.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Lenovo Legion Go S (Z2 Go, SteamOS)	Steam Deck OLED
Processor	AMD Z1 Extreme	Revised AMD 'Van Gogh' 6nm
Display	8in WUXGA (1900 x 1200)	7.4" OLED
Memory	32GB	16GB LPDDR5 6400MT/s
Storage	1TB M.2 SSD	512GB and 1TB options
Battery	~55.5Wh	—
Graphics	AMD Ryzen Z2 Go	8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.6GHz
Refresh Rate	120Hz	90Hz

← See the full ranking of best handheld gaming pcs