Legion Go S powered by SteamOS review: A purpose-built OS makes all the difference
For fans of SteamOS, this version of Legion Go S makes for an interesting and more powerful alternative to Valve's Steam Deck. $830 at Best Buy
Like its sibling, the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S features a very straightforward design. A big difference between the two is that this model features a dark purple body instead of the white shell on the Windows variant. Thanks to its large 8-inch 1200p display and sizable grips, it's a bit chunkier than rivals like the Steam Deck or the ROG Ally X. At 500 nits, brightness is above average compared to typical handheld PCs. However, because Lenovo uses an LCD panel, colors aren't quite as vibrant and you don't get those pure inky blacks like you do on a system with an OLED screen such as the original Legion Go. Sam Rutherford for Engadget
I like that Lenovo included Hall effect sensors for its joysticks, along with a toggle that lets you adjust the pull depth of the triggers. Plus, the addition of a second USB-C port allows you to charge the device while keeping other accessories plugged in. There's also a pair of programmable paddles on the back and a handy microSD card slot for expandable storage.
The biggest departures from the flagship Legion Go are that this model's joysticks and buttons cannot be detached and its built-in touchpad is significantly smaller. This means the latter is better suited to moving the cursor around SteamOS in desktop mode or to navigating menus than it is as a true alternate control scheme while playing games. You also don't get a fingerprint reader, which I think should be a standard inclusion on handheld gaming PCs at this point. Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The Legion Go S powered by SteamOS is available in multiple configurations. Our $830 review unit features an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Unfortunately, this means I wasn't able to run true apples-to-apples performance tests with the Ryzen Z2 Go-equipped version of the Windows Legion Go S I reviewed earlier this year. But given the lackluster results from that model, I generally wouldn't recommend any handheld powered by that chip, even though that version is significantly more affordable. If budget is a concern, Valve's Steam Deck remains the better option.
Even though the Go S with SteamOS features the exact same chip, I actually saw slightly better performance here compared to the original Legion Go. With both systems set to a 15-watt TDP (total device power), the Legion Go S edged out the Windows model in Cyberpunk 2077 at 800p on medium graphics by pumping out 58 fps versus 54 fps. By comparison, the Steam Deck OLED managed 53 fps. And in Control at 800p on medium, it was a similar situation, though the gap was even smaller. The Legion Go S hit 29 fps, beating out the OG Legion Go (27 fps) and the Steam Deck OLED (24 fps). Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The cause of the SteamOS model's improved horsepower is hard to pinpoint — especially as performance varies from title to title — but it's generally due to Valve's platform having less overhead and system processes than Windows-based rivals. And if that wasn't enough, the SteamOS UI is better designed for a dedicated gaming machine, as turning on the system boots you right into your game library as opposed to spitting you out into Microsoft's classic desktop view. There are also some minor tweaks in Valve's OS to support features like the built-in RGB lighting on the Legion Go S — something the Steam Deck doesn't have.
For fans of SteamOS, the main reason aside from price to pick a Steam Deck over the Legion Go S (or vice versa) is that each system features different performance targets. Valve's handheld has a TDP that tops out at 15 watts, and at lower power levels, it features better energy efficiency than the Legion Go S. This makes it more suitable for people who regularly play older games or less demanding 2D fare. Alternatively, Lenovo's handheld has a max TDP of 33 watts (or 40 when plugged into the wall), which makes it more adept at handling resource-intensive modern titles. So if you want higher frame rates (which you probably do), a Z1 Extreme Legion Go S with SteamOS has way more headroom to push pixels even harder. Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Featuring a mid-size 55WHr battery, longevity on the Legion Go S when running SteamOS doesn't really stand out. However, I found that on average, it runs up to 30 minutes longer than its Windows counterpart across a number of titles. When playing Metal Slug Tactics, it lasted just shy of three hours (2:50) compared to closer to an hour and a half for the Windows 11 model (2:33). It was a similar situation in Elden Ring , where the SteamOS version was able to continue for an extra 15 minutes after its sibling conked out.
The Legion Go S powered by SteamOS is a simple and well-built gaming handheld with an even bigger screen than Valve's portable and arguably better ergonomics. When configured with a Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, it's a better choice for playing more demanding modern games without feeling forced to switch to a Windows-based device. It also has a more optimized UI than its Microsoft-powered rivals while retaining handy features like Hall effect joysticks and dual USB-C ports. Sam Rutherford for Engadget
With Z1 Extreme models starting at $830 instead of $600 for the Z2 Go configs, though, it's not quite as affordable as I thought it would be back when it was first announced at the beginning of the year. But even so, it's nice to have options. And as just one of two handhelds on the market that come with SteamOS pre-installed, the Legion Go S makes an interesting argument as a bigger and more powerful upgrade to the Steam Deck.
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And there's no need to download companion software to your computer, so you can tweak your board from any computer, as long as you have access to a browser. Keychron also offers 3D printing diagrams of the C1 Pro 8K's plate on its website, so modders can print their own if they have a preferred plate material. The C1 Pro uses a metal plate by default. There are three switch options from Keychron at checkout. The C1 Pro uses Keychron's Super pre-lubed switches: red (linear), brown (tactile) and banana (tactile, panda-style), with varying characteristics to choose from when ordering the keyboard. The red linear switches have the lightest operating force and a 19.5mm spring, so they are great for responsive, fast gaming performance. As for the brown tactile switches, expect 'bump' feedback when typing. These have a gentle sound but use a very short 15.2mm single-stage spring and require a firm 55g actuation force, so this won't be as comfortable as the banana. The banana super switches are the ones I tested and, as someone who spends all-day-every-day typing, I can say with certainty that they are great to work with. These switches have a much lighter operating force of 47g versus the browns, and a longer two-stage spring, for a bouncy, comfortable feel that somewhat mitigates the firm tray-mounted PCB. While the previous C1 and C1 Pro boards polled at 1,000Hz, the Keychron C1 Pro 8K has a polling rate of up to 8,000Hz, reducing latency and making this a viable keyboard for serious gaming. Although the high polling rate is an option, it can prove a drain on system resources. Luckily, you can customize it for your preferred typing or gaming experience. The polling rate can be altered from 125Hz to 8,000Hz in Keychron Launcher. It means you don't need a keyboard specifically for typing or gaming; this one can do it all. You can also set different profiles in the Keychron Launcher, so you could have one configuration for gaming, and one for work. I played Counter-Strike 2 using the keyboard, and I didn't notice any latency issues. The C1 Pro 8K is incredibly lightweight, which isn't necessarily a must for a mechanical keyboard, but I was able to take it with me on the train in my work bag, and it didn't weigh me down at all. It weighs just 1.83 pounds, which is far lighter than the 3.91-pound Keychron Q3 HE that I usually use. The lightweight nature of the board means you can move it around your desk with ease and get the best positioning super quickly. But this difference in weight is down to the C1 Pro 8K's ABS case and having no battery or wireless hardware, as it's wired-only. As if it weren't already good enough, priced at only $54, the Keychron C1 Pro 8K is a total budget dream. For the money, this keyboard is a great starting point for customization. It has all the potential to be an ideal gaming keyboard with the right switches and keys. But equally, it could be kitted out to be one of the best productivity keyboards. The downs of this keyboard are very minor, but the wired-only connection may prove annoying to anyone who enjoys a wire-free workspace. The switches can also be hard to remove without the right technique. The Keychron C1 Pro 8K is a wired-only keyboard, which can prove slightly cumbersome. One of the perks of having a wireless keyboard such as the Keychron Q1 Pro is that you don't have wires cluttering your desk. That being said, this does have its perks, such as the lack of battery, helping make the C1 Pro 8K a lighter keyboard. And you don't have to worry about polling rates decreasing over wireless connections (as there are none). Despite being hot swappable, the C1 Pro 8K's switches were tricky for me to remove, to say the least. After pulling for 15 minutes, I could not get the switches to budge. Tom's Guide Staff Writer Nikita Achanta, who is well-versed in the world of keyboards, also had trouble with these switches, so it's not just my lack of muscle. Just to make sure we weren't losing our minds, we removed the switches of the Gamakay TK75 Pro, and they came out with ease. However, our Reviews Editor, Peter (who I'm sure is a keyboard whisperer), got the switches off without a hitch — this required him to unclick one of the fastening clips, then lever the switches down before the second fastening clip could be undone. In his words, it was fiddly. I scratched the plate slightly in my attempts, and while this doesn't affect the performance or look of the keyboard itself, it was annoying. The Keychron C1 Pro 8K has very easily become my favorite mechanical keyboard. Once you look past the wired-only design and the slightly fiddly switches, it's totally dreamy. It's perfect for any typist, with an ergonomic key rake and adjustable angle. My wrists weren't straining when I was typing, and the OSA keycaps guided my fingertips to each key with ease. This is the fastest typing result I have had with any keyboard, and that is also largely down to the bouncy and responsive switches. With 8,000Hz polling, it's also ideal for anyone who wants to use the same keyboard for office work and serious gaming. And since there is no battery, the keyboard is extremely light, meaning it can be positioned on any gaming desk with ease. For the price, the customization potential is insane. With Keychron Launcher, it is easy to get the right setup for your ideal productivity use, but the hot swappable switches mean this could become one of the best gaming keyboards, too. I would recommend this keyboard to literally anyone, and the retro look with the signature Keychron lighting is the cherry on top of the cake for me.
