Lenovo Legion Go 'S': A Budget-Friendly Handheld Gaming Device on the Horizon

Lenovo might be shaking up the handheld gaming market with a new, more affordable device – the Legion Go 'S'. If the leaks are anything to go by, this could be a budget-friendly spin on their existing Legion Go, offering gamers a cheaper way to dive into PC gaming on the go.

From the leaked renders, the Legion Go 'S' looks sleeker and a bit more minimalist compared to the original. One of the biggest changes? The controllers don’t detach this time around. Instead, Lenovo seems to be leaning towards a design similar to the Asus ROG Ally, with fixed grips and triggers. The device also features RGB-outlined analog sticks, a circular D-Pad, and even what looks like a little TrackPoint-style nub mouse – a fun nod to Lenovo’s signature laptop design. Plus, it’s expected to come in a clean white finish, which is a nice touch for gamers who like their tech to stand out.

In terms of power, the Legion Go 'S' will likely be a bit of a downgrade from the original Legion Go. The leaks suggest it will run on an AMD Ryzen Z2 APU with Zen 3+ cores, which isn’t as powerful as the Ryzen Z1 Extreme (with Zen 4) in the current model. The screen is also rumored to shrink down to 7 inches, compared to the original’s larger 8.8-inch display. But honestly, for the price, that might not be a dealbreaker for many gamers.

One of the most exciting parts of this leak is the possibility that the Legion Go 'S' could run on SteamOS, Valve’s Linux-based operating system. A dedicated Steam button spotted in the images hints at this shift, which would be a bold move from Lenovo. If true, this would make the Legion Go 'S' one of the first third-party handhelds to adopt SteamOS, potentially offering a smoother gaming experience without the extra overhead of Windows.

As for the price, the Legion Go 'S' could land somewhere between $300 and $400 – making it a tempting option for budget-conscious gamers. To put that in perspective, the original Legion Go launched at $700, but you can find it for around $485 now. A more affordable version could be a great entry point for those who want handheld PC gaming without breaking the bank.

While nothing is official yet, all signs point to Lenovo making some kind of announcement at CES 2025. If you’re in the market for a handheld gaming device but don’t need top-tier specs, the Legion Go 'S' might just be worth keeping an eye on.