2025 was a banner year for the best handheld gaming consoles. We saw new and updated systems from Asus, MSI and Lenovo. And these weren’t just spec bumps, as SteamOS finally left Valve’s ecosystem, and we finally got a more handheld-friendly version of Windows. There were several handhelds to choose from, but one stood out above the rest.
And which handheld was that? If you’ve read my articles or have seen our handheld videos on the Tom’s Guide YouTube channel, then you know it’s the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS. This machine has exactly what I’ve wanted from a handheld, namely, it runs on SteamOS and packs the still-powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip. That one-two punch helps it compete with the more powerful Legion Go 2 and ROG Xbox Ally X.
Here’s why the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS is my favorite gaming handheld of 2025.
SteamOS is the magic sauce
SteamOS is the most handheld-friendly operating system since it is specifically designed to work for such systems. Because of that, it’s easy to navigate through menus and jump straight into your games. If you’re familiar with the Steam Deck OLED or Steam Big Picture mode on desktop, you’ll feel right at home.
Unlike with Windows 11 handhelds such as the original Asus ROG Ally, you won’t spend an inordinate amount of time setting up the Legion Go S. Like the Steam Deck, you can start playing games in less than ten minutes. This is impossible on a Windows 11 handheld. This alone makes the Legion Go S more palatable to the average person.
The Legion Go S might not be the most powerful handheld available, but the fact that it runs on SteamOS gives it a huge advantage over machines that run stock Windows. It’s the first third-party manufacturer to utilize SteamOS on a handheld, but I suspect it won’t be the last. In that sense, we can view the Legion Go S as a pioneer.
Strong handheld performance
I reviewed the high-end SteamOS Legion Go S, which packs an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip and 32GB of RAM. You might not get the best performance out of the box; however, with the right settings, you can enjoy extremely smooth gameplay for a handheld.
For instance, at 1200p resolution, medium graphical settings and FSR disabled, Doom: The Dark Ages runs at a pretty poor 25 frames per second. The frame rate can hit 35 fps with the frame-boosting FSR enabled, and between 56 to 61 fps if you drop the resolution to 800p. Games don’t look as sharp at that lower resolution, but they also don’t look terrible.
While the Legion Go S with SteamOS doesn’t deliver mind-blowing performance, it’s still a very capable machine if you’re willing to spend some time fiddling with a game’s settings. Seeing this kind of performance on a handheld is quite impressive.
Comfortable design
The Legion Go S ditches the removable controllers of the Legion Go (and Legion Go 2) and instead has a uniform design that’s similar to the Asus ROG Ally X or MSI Claw A8. While detachable controllers are cool, I prefer this kind of handheld design. Not only is this design classy, but it also helps the Legion Go S feel more comfortable to hold.
I’m a fan of the asymmetrical Hall Effect thumbsticks, which accurately respond to even the most subtle movements. I also can’t forget about the rounded D-pad, which is pretty darn good for fighting games. The big face buttons and easy-to-reach shoulder buttons are also great.
Though the Steam Deck is still more comfortable to hold since it’s thinner and lighter, the Legion Go S is still one of the most ergonomic handhelds available.
Bottom line
The Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS was tailor-made for me since it features my favorite handheld OS on a device with strong performance and an ergonomic design. It’s a great system on its own, but it also promises a brighter future for handhelds since we’re no longer shackled to Windows on non-Valve machines.
Though it’s admittedly pricy, the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S is worth the money if you want something more powerful than the Steam Deck that offers the same user-friendly interface. It’s not the Steam Deck 2, but it’s close enough for me.
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