New benchmarks reveal a stark performance and efficiency disparity between the Windows and SteamOS variants of Lenovo’s Legion Go S (Ryzen Z2 Go) gaming handheld. While Lenovo unveiled both versions at CES 2025 in January, the SteamOS model only recently began shipping, and early tests suggest it dramatically outperforms its Windows counterpart.
New benchmarks from YouTuber Dave2D show significant frame rate gains for Valve’s Linux-based operating system. In titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the SteamOS version saw a substantial jump to 59 FPS on low-medium settings, compared to the Windows model’s 46 FPS. Similarly, The Witcher 3 climbed from 66 FPS on Windows to 76 FPS on SteamOS, and Doom Eternal went from 66 FPS to 75 FPS. While Helldivers 2 also saw improvements, the gains were less dramatic (about 5 FPS), with Spider-Man 2 being the lone exception, showing a 1 FPS drop on SteamOS.
It’s also worth noting that the SteamOS-powered Legion Go S generally outperforms the Steam Deck in most games at the same power level (15W). The difference is further increased when pushing the Legion Go S to its limit (33W).
Despite packing the same 55Wh battery, the SteamOS version delivers significantly longer battery life than the Windows model, almost matching that of the Steam Deck OLED. This could be explained by Linux’s cleaner base installation, lacking the background tasks and telemetry inherent in Windows 11. The well-optimised sleep and suspend functionality in SteamOS further contributes to the handheld’s improved battery life and overall user experience.
The Lenovo Legion Go S with the Ryzen Z2 Go is now available worldwide at around $600/€580. A Ryzen Z1 Extreme-powered model is also available for around €730 (16GB RAM) and €830 (32GB RAM).
KitGuru says: These results lend credence to earlier claims that Windows was holding back the Legion Go S’s potential as a Steam Deck contender. With the SteamOS version now available, it emerges as a potent challenger to Valve’s Steam Deck, offering better performance at a similar price point.
