New SteamOS Legion Go 2 finally solves the biggest gripe with Lenovo’s flagship handheld gaming PC — but also removes support for one of my favorite features

by

It’s no surprise Lenovo is making a big impact at CES 2026, considering the company has a wide range of new products being released this year.

Lenovo recently announced a new version of its Legion Go handheld gaming PC, called the Legion Go 2. This new model will run on SteamOS and is expected to be released just a few months after the first Legion Go 2 (which runs Windows) becomes available in October 2025.

I’ve been watching the reactions, and it seems like a major complaint about this handheld device – its operating system – has finally been addressed with Windows 11. It really seems to be what many gamers were waiting for.

The original Legion Go was already very good – I rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars. But SteamOS is simply better suited for handheld gaming, offering a more streamlined, console-like feel that many users prefer over Windows. Even with the recent Xbox Full Screen Experience update for the Legion Go 2, SteamOS still has an edge.

However, switching from Windows means losing one of the Legion Go 2’s best features. SteamOS doesn’t automatically work with fingerprint scanning, so the fingerprint reader won’t function if you use the SteamOS version of the device.

The most premium SteamOS handheld yet, with an equally premium price

If you’re hearing this and think it’s not new, you’re right! Details about the Legion Go 2 (running SteamOS) were actually revealed last month, before the official announcement planned for CES 2026.

This announcement officially confirms the existence of the high-end SteamOS handheld, and now we finally know when it will be released and how much it will cost. Be warned – it’s going to be pricey! But that’s because it’s packed with top-of-the-line features for a handheld device.

The Legion Go 2 will start at a high price of $1,199, and a more premium model is also expected. While the exact number of versions available isn’t known yet, at least two configurations are planned to release as early as June 2026.

Buying a handheld gaming device for over $1,000 is a big investment for most people. However, according to our Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Rubino, the Legion Go 2 justifies the cost with its enhanced features and superior performance compared to other options.

Let’s take a look at those specs and features.

The SteamOS version will use SteamOS as its operating system instead of Windows. It will also feature up to an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, providing significantly improved CPU and graphics performance compared to the processor in the original Steam Deck.

From what I understand, the Legion Go 2 is going to offer a noticeably better gaming experience than the Steam Deck. It should handle games with much more ease, and even play some titles that the Steam Deck simply can’t run.

The Steam Deck also offers some features you won’t find on the competing ROG Xbox Ally X. These include precise Hall Effect joysticks, a convenient built-in kickstand, detachable controllers for flexible gameplay, an FPS mode that lets you use a controller like a mouse for better aiming, a touchpad, and a larger, vibrant 8.8-inch OLED screen.

As an analyst, I’ve been looking into why SteamOS seems to be a real upgrade for Legion Go 2 users, and it comes down to a couple of key things. First, a lot of people prefer SteamOS because it’s more streamlined – it feels like using a console instead of a full PC, which really enhances that dedicated gaming experience. Beyond that, Valve’s Linux-based OS is just better optimized for handheld devices. This leads to improved efficiency, meaning longer battery life and better overall performance.

The ROG Xbox Ally X comes with Windows, but switching to SteamOS significantly improves performance – it delivers smoother frame rates, faster startup times, and can boost frames per second by as much as 32% (according to Tom’s Hardware). We expect the new Legion Go 2 will likely see similar benefits.

As I’ve found in my testing, one significant drawback of SteamOS is that it doesn’t currently recognize or utilize the fingerprint reader built into the power button. It simply doesn’t work with the system.

I’ve tried out a lot of handheld gaming devices, and I really appreciate the convenience of logging in with a fingerprint scan instead of a PIN. It gets me into games much quicker. However, some fingerprint readers on these devices just aren’t very reliable – I’m thinking specifically of the ASUS ROG.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to repeatedly try the fingerprint reader on my Xbox Ally X before resorting to entering my PIN. My Legion Go 2 (running Windows) consistently recognizes my fingerprint for login, which makes it disappointing that the same feature doesn’t work reliably on the SteamOS version of the Ally.

It wouldn’t be surprising if someone created a custom fingerprint reader for SteamOS. While it’s not a common request, that just makes it an interesting project for Linux fans who enjoy tinkering with the system.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 stands out as the most adaptable and high-quality handheld gaming PC available from top manufacturers. It’s become even more attractive to gamers now that it supports SteamOS.

Now that the Legion Go 2 has a new version of SteamOS, are you more interested in this handheld gaming PC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Read More

2026-01-07 04:10