At a Glance
- Lenovo drops Legion Go 2 price to $1,200, swaps Windows for SteamOS, and gains up to 10 FPS.
- New handheld keeps Ryzen Z2 Extreme, 32 GB RAM, up to 2 TB storage.
- Benchmarks show up to 10 FPS gains over Windows 11 on the same hardware.
- Why it matters: Gamers get a cheaper, Linux-based handheld with better performance and a console-like interface.
Lenovo’s latest handheld, the Legion Go 2, is coming back with a fresh operating system and a lower price tag. The new version keeps the same powerful specs but swaps Windows 11 for Valve’s SteamOS, offering a more console-like experience and measurable FPS gains.
New Specs and Operating System
The June-launch model retains the Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, 32 GB of RAM, and optional 2 TB of storage that defined last year’s top-end variant. The key change is the inclusion of SteamOS, a Linux-based OS from Valve that adds a dedicated Steam button for quick menu access.
- Dedicated Steam button for menu access
- Console-like interface
- SteamOS is Linux-based
Performance Comparison
In side-by-side tests, the same hardware running SteamOS (or its Bazzite variant) consistently outperformed the Windows 11 build, delivering 2 to 10 FPS higher in a variety of titles. SteamOS, however, does not integrate Xbox account games, though Epic Games Store and GOG can still be installed.
| Feature | Windows 11 | SteamOS |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 | Valve SteamOS |
| Game Library | Xbox account games, FSE missing | Steam library, no Xbox integration |
| FPS Gain | baseline | +2-10 FPS |
| Price | $1,350 | $1,200 |
The revised model is priced at $1,200, a $150 drop from the Windows 11 edition, and Lenovo has not announced whether a lower-spec SteamOS edition will be offered. The 2025 Legion Go S line showed SteamOS versions outperforming Windows across all models.
Upcoming Laptop Lineup
Lenovo also plans several cheaper gaming laptops for 2026. The 15-inch Legion 5i will feature an OLED display, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, and Intel Core Ultra 386H processor, starting at $1,550. The 16-inch Legion 7a will launch at $2,000 with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 CPU and up to 64 GB of RAM, expected in April.
Key Takeaways
- Lenovo cuts Legion Go 2 price to $1,200 and swaps Windows for SteamOS, gaining up to 10 FPS.
- SteamOS delivers a console-like interface and better performance on the same hardware.
- New laptops in 2026 bring competitive specs at entry-level prices.
With SteamOS, Lenovo is turning its handheld into a more affordable, console-style gaming experience, while its upcoming laptops promise competitive specs at entry-level prices.
