The gaming world was buzzing with anticipation for Lenovo's new handheld gaming PC, the Legion Go S. This device, running SteamOS, made its first appearance at CES 2025 with a price tag of $499. 99. This price point seemed to put it in direct competition with Valve's Steam Deck, especially since it was positioned between the Steam Deck's LCD model at $399 and the OLED model at $549.

However, things took an unexpected turn when the Legion Go S became available for preorder at Best Buy. The price had increased to $549. 99, with a release date set for May 25th. This price hike was confirmed by Jeff Witt, a communications director at Lenovo. The initial price of $499. 99 had seemed just right for what the Legion Go S offered. It had some advantages over the Steam Deck, such as Hall effect joysticks, a larger 8-inch screen with a variable refresh rate, a comfortable design, and adjustable triggers. But the Ryzen Z2 Go chip inside didn't impress reviewers. In fact, the Windows-based models of the Go S that were tested performed worse than the Steam Deck.

The switch to SteamOS might fix some issues, especially the clunky experience of running Windows on a handheld device. But it's uncertain whether this change will boost the performance of the Ryzen Z2 Go chip. The gaming community is left wondering if the Legion Go S can truly compete with the Steam Deck, especially at its new, higher price point. The Legion Go S has a lot to prove, and gamers are eager to see if it can deliver on its promises.

Lenovo's Handheld Gaming Surprise

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