The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is here, with meaningful upgrades over its predecessor. The star of the show is the 8.8-inch OLED panel that helps games look their absolute best. Toss in the ergonomic detachable controllers and strong AMD Ryzen Z2-driven performance, and you have one impressive Windows 11 gaming handheld.However, as great as the Legion Go 2 might be, it’s very expensive. The fact that it runs on pure Windows, has poor battery life, and requires you to seriously tinker with in-game and system settings to get the best performance also dampens what should otherwise be a slam dunk of a handheld.Of course, Lenovo has another option for you to consider — the Legion Go S. To be specific, the model that runs on SteamOS. While this device might not pack the latest AMD APU or detachable controllers, its lower price and greater ease of use might make it a more compelling choice than the Legion Go’s successor.The Legion Go 2 and Legion Go S rank among the best handheld gaming consoles, but how do they stack up in a direct comparison? More importantly, which one is right for you? I’ll compare each handheld’s strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which handheld to buy.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 impresses thanks to its vibrant 8.8-inch OLED panel, comfortable design, detachable controllers and strong gaming performance. Unfortunately, its high asking price, poor battery life and Windows 11 OS prevent it from being an easy recommendation.

View DealLegion Go 2 vs Legion Go S: Specs (tested)Lenovo Legion Go 2Lenovo Legion Go SPrice$1,349$899Display8.8-inch (1920 x1200) OLED 144Hz touchscreen8-inch WQXGA (1920 X 1200) LCD 16:10ChipsetAMD Ryzen Z2 ExtremeAMD Ryzen Z1 ExtremeOSWindows 11SteamOSRAM32GB32GBStorage1TB1TBBattery74Wh55.5WhPorts2x USB-C, 1x microSD slot, 1x headphone jack1X Micro SD card slot, 2X USB-C, 1X headphone jackConnectivityWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3ColorsEclipse BlackNebulaDimensions11.64 x 5.38 x 1.66 inches (with controllers attached)11.77 x 5.02 x 0.88 inchesWeight2.03 pounds (controllers attached)1.63 pounds

Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go S: PriceLet’s start with the thing that’ll likely be the big determining factor for most folks, and that’s price. While neither of these Lenovo handhelds is exactly cheap — especially compared to the $319 at the time of writing — gaming PC, the Legion Go 2 costs $1,349, while the Legion Go S goes for $899. The Legion Go 2 is the more expensive option.Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go S: InterfaceThe Legion Go S runs on SteamOS, while the Legion Go 2 runs on Windows 11. SteamOS is designed for handheld controls and doesn’t have all the bloat of Windows 11. Since you can’t navigate through most of Windows (especially the desktop), you’re forced to move the mouse cursor with the right analog stick, or otherwise use your finger like you would on one of the best tablets. This can be a chore, even on the large 8.8-inch screen.Going back to performance, Windows 11 also seems to contribute to slowing down gaming performance and battery life, which is something we noted when we installed SteamOS on the ROG Ally X and saw improved performance and battery life. This could be why we didn’t see a dramatic performance improvement on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme-powered Legion Go 2.Windows 11 might have greater game compatibility and system customization than SteamOS, but Valve’s OS is designed for handhelds, so it’s easy to jump into your favorite games without a hassle. This is evident not only on the Steam Deck, but on Lenovo’s own Legion Go S with SteamOS.Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go S: Which handheld should you buy?The Lenovo Legion Go 2 impresses thanks to its OLED panel, ergonomic design and strong gaming performance. If you’re willing to spend up to $1,479 and spend time adjusting a game’s graphical and video settings to get the best performance — not to mention deal with Windows — then you can have a good time using Lenovo’s latest handheld.On the other hand, if you don’t want to spend over $1,000 for a gaming handheld and want to avoid Windows, then the Lenovo Legion Go S is the better choice.