SteamOS outperforms Windows on the Lenovo Legion Go S in both speed and battery life

[DragonSlayer101]

What just happened? Lenovo showcased two versions of its Legion Go S gaming handheld last January at CES 2025. While the Windows model launched in February, the SteamOS version has only just started shipping (with nearly identical hardware specs). Benchmarks released by popular YouTuber Dave Lee suggest that the latter is noticeably faster and more battery-efficient than the Windows version.

Tests conducted by Dave2D show that Cyberpunk 2077, Doom Eternal, and The Witcher 3 benefit the most from Valve's Linux-based operating system. Frame rates also improve in Helldivers 2, although the gains are less dramatic.

In Cyberpunk 2077, the Windows model could only hit 46 fps in low-medium settings, while the SteamOS version sees a noticeable jump to 59 fps. Witcher 3 also shows similar results, going from 66 fps on Windows to 76 fps on SteamOS. Doom Eternal hits 66 fps on Windows and 75 fps on SteamOS. The only exception is Spider Man 2, which actually drops a frame on SteamOS.

Battery life on SteamOS is also vastly superior than on Windows despite both devices sporting the same 55Wh battery.

Lee believes that it is because Linux doesn't have the same background tasks and telemetry that Windows 11 does. Another factor aiding the improved battery life and overall experience of the handheld is the well-optimized sleep and suspend functionality in SteamOS.

Interestingly, the Legion Go S with SteamOS also offers better performance than the Steam Deck in most games, though it requires more wattage to achieve the higher frame rates.

While the Lenovo device cranks up the power draw to 40 watts when plugged in, the Steam Deck tops out at just 15 watts.

These tests support earlier claims that Windows was holding back the Legion Go S from becoming a serious Steam Deck challenger. With the SteamOS version now available, it becomes the first true competitor to Valve's popular gaming handheld.

Price is another factor in SteamOS's favor. The Windows-powered Legion Go S costs over $700, making it significantly more expensive than the SteamOS model, which is listed at $600 at Best Buy.

While we'll have to wait for full reviews, early benchmarks suggest that the SteamOS Legion Go is clearly the one to go for if you've got your heart set on a new Lenovo gaming handheld.

Charts and benchmarks by Dave2D

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SteamOS outperforms Windows on the Lenovo Legion Go S in both speed and battery life

 

[The Talking Tech]

Even Microsoft is considering SteamOS for their upcoming Xbox handheld instead of using a pure Windows based OS...But who knows, knowing how often Microsoft stupidly operates I wouldn't be surprised if they go against SteamOS just to appease Microsoft investors instead of making the right decisions for the products they make.

 

[WhiteLeaff]

Impressive. The biggest software company in the world losing out to Linux, shame on Microsoft.

That's also what I've been saying for a long time: Apple's secret isn't ARM, it's the optimizations of the software ecosystem that make it seem so efficient.

 

[NumberNine]

Amazing how much gaming you can get done without all the first party spyware.

 

[m4a4]

A general purpose OS does worse against the handheld-optimized gaming OS, on a handheld gaming device.

What a surprise /s

 

[opckieran]

M$ has spent the last two decades turning Windows into messy, confused Spyware. There's only so much that optimization can do to cover up for the mess that Windows has become. This trend will not shift back in M$ favor either.

 

[mikaelad]

Phoronix recently tested AMD Ryzen AI Max+ in Windows 11 vs Ubuntu. The difference was something to note:

Running Ubuntu 25.04 out-of-the-box on the HP ZBook Ultra G1a powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 led to 30% better performance than Microsoft Windows 11 Pro as shipped out-of-the-box by HP.

https://www.phoronix.com/review/amd-strix-halo-windows-linux

If you think about what kind of performance increases we have been getting between the CPU generations in the last few years, 30% is almost a leap of the last two to three upgrade cycles combined...

 

[Theinsanegamer]

A general purpose OS does worse against the handheld-optimized gaming OS, on a handheld gaming device.

What a surprise /s

"optimized"? SteamOS is just Arch, it's not some dedicated OS like the vita or 3DS.

And steamOS can still run general purpose software too. Windows has just become such a bloated mess of spy and nagware that it cant beat the speed of Linux even with native API support on its side.

You put linux on a normal gaming PC and compare the same games on that system VS windows, you will see the same thing. Windows just blows now.

Phoronix recently tested AMD Ryzen AI Max+ in Windows 11 vs Ubuntu. The difference was something to note:

Running Ubuntu 25.04 out-of-the-box on the HP ZBook Ultra G1a powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 led to 30% better performance than Microsoft Windows 11 Pro as shipped out-of-the-box by HP.

https://www.phoronix.com/review/amd-strix-halo-windows-linux

If you think about what kind of performance increases we have been getting between the CPU generations in the last few years, 30% is almost a leap of the last two to three upgrade cycles combined...

This is why SteamOS is built on Arch and not Debian.

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

A general purpose OS does worse against the handheld-optimized gaming OS, on a handheld gaming device.

What a surprise /s

The video stated that these were Windows native games, running through the Proton compatibility layer. It is in fact a bit surprising that Windows is now so bloated that running games designed for Windows on another OS is now the faster way to do so.

And of course Microsoft is a giant company with lots of people working on Windows; almost all of the power-saving & optimization tricks that benefit gaming handhelds would also apply to laptops as well. I mean the Legion Go is simply using rebadged laptop parts internally. Microsoft failing its laptop customers so badly is just kind of sad.

 

[m4a4]

"optimized"? SteamOS is just Arch, it's not some dedicated OS like the vita or 3DS.

And steamOS can still run general purpose software too. Windows has just become such a bloated mess of spy and nagware that it cant beat the speed of Linux even with native API support on its side.

You put linux on a normal gaming PC and compare the same games on that system VS windows, you will see the same thing. Windows just blows now.
This is why SteamOS is built on Arch and not Debian.

And what is SteamOS built mainly for and targeting again?

If you don't believe they've done optimizations to utilize the hardware (and software) better for gaming, you need to come back to reality and actually think about what you just claimed.
And I couldn't care less about how "general purpose" Linux can be (good luck with it being as compatible as Windows), because we all know that SteamOS is not being used for that on a handheld gaming device the majority of the time.

To sum up (again): I hope to god the handheld-gaming-focused OS does better than the general-purpose-focused OS when it comes down to gaming on a handheld.

 

[mikaelad]

This is why SteamOS is built on Arch and not Debian.

Not sure what you mean with this? If Ubuntu is 30% faster than Windows 11, how do you think Arch would do? Better I assume?

 

[Nictron]

Makes me excited for SteamOS for desktop!

Dual boot for games & work. Perfect!

 

[dangh]

And what is SteamOS built mainly for and targeting again?

If you don't believe they've done optimizations to utilize the hardware (and software) better for gaming, you need to come back to reality and actually think about what you just claimed.

Steam os is using standard Linux kernel, standard mesa, standard proton, and it is all purpose Linux os where you can run databases, coding ide, llm, video processing apps, virtual machines and so on. As on any other linux, in fact, you can install any other linux on Steam Deck and you will have similar performance, sometimes even better as steamos is not bleeding edge. Fedora have better performance on sd with standard install, and bit longer battery life as well.
What steam deck offers is just a nice interface for standard linux functions or settings, and qol tools, well integrated with the hardware.

So no. Linux is linux. Steam deck is nice, but not uncommon. And if stock windows is slower than stock fedora it is telling.

 

[Tantor]

And what is SteamOS built mainly for and targeting again?

If you don't believe they've done optimizations to utilize the hardware (and software) better for gaming, you need to come back to reality and actually think about what you just claimed.
And I couldn't care less about how "general purpose" Linux can be (good luck with it being as compatible as Windows), because we all know that SteamOS is not being used for that on a handheld gaming device the majority of the time.

To sum up (again): I hope to god the handheld-gaming-focused OS does better than the general-purpose-focused OS when it comes down to gaming on a handheld.

Yes, it's true that Steam OS has been groomed for gaming. But even general purpose Linux beats Windows. And it raises the question why MS doesn't create a comparable gaming mode for Windows. A Super Dos mode that shuts down irrelevant processes. Windows is known for being a power hog. A dedicated Super Dos mode should improve efficiency.

One wonders if AI may have something to do with it. MS recently revealed that over 30% of their code is generated by AI. That obviously saves them money. But is AI generated code as efficient as human code? Or is it a collage of code snippets that are patched together? Frankenstein code. I don't know.

One thing is for sure. Linux is easier to install, update, and maintain than Windows.

 

[m4a4]

you can install any other linux on Steam Deck and you will have similar performance, sometimes even better as steamos is not bleeding edge. Fedora have better performance on sd with standard install, and bit longer battery life as well.

Cite that. Vanilla SteamOS vs Vanilla [Popular Linux Distro] on Steam Deck.

Linux isn't as perfect as you want it to seem. So don't BS me.
And don't try to go beyond the average handheld user's experience either. In general, your claim does not hold up against my general claim.

 

[m4a4]

Yes, it's true that Steam OS has been groomed for gaming. But even general purpose Linux beats Windows. And it raises the question why MS doesn't create a comparable gaming mode for Windows. A Super Dos mode that shuts down irrelevant processes. Windows is known for being a power hog. A dedicated Super Dos mode should improve efficiency.

I mean, yeah. That was a point I also implied. I wasn't saying Windows should be great at gaming. It's meant to be general purpose, and it generally does everything good. They can't hyper-focus on gaming, as that might affect other aspects of the OS (a downside to how complicated and simple Windows is).
Edit: Also, it has more legacy to support too. That'll bloat it down a bit more.

One thing is for sure. Linux is easier to install, update, and maintain than Windows.

No. Windows "just works" in comparison to Linux. It's (still) not at a point where that all can be claimed with a straight face.

 

[airbornex]

So the same hardware runs cooler, faster, and longer on SteamOS and costs $100 less? Why am I not surprised?

 

[AnilD]

Honestly, this just confirms what we’ve all kind of known... Windows is a resource hog for underpowered hardware. SteamOS is clearly better optimized for this form factor, and the difference in both frame rate and battery life on identical hardware must be embarrassing for Microsoft.

 

[DrSuess]

I would hope a purpose build OS would outperform a general purpose OS. One would think there would be optimizations that could be made to tailor performance for gaming.

 

[yRaz]

Cite that. Vanilla SteamOS vs Vanilla [Popular Linux Distro] on Steam Deck.

Linux isn't as perfect as you want it to seem. So don't BS me.
And don't try to go beyond the average handheld user's experience either. In general, your claim does not hold up against my general claim.

The lack of education on a tech website frustrates me. Over the last few years it has become so easy to learn I often compare its ease of use to somewhere between XP and Windows 7.

So when I see people talking bad about Linux, its frustrating. Not because im angry about people talking bad about Linux, but because I know how little effort it takes to learn and the posts bad mouthing it often take more effort to write than it does to learn modern Linux.

 

[Watzupken]

A general purpose OS does worse against the handheld-optimized gaming OS, on a handheld gaming device.

What a surprise /s

So you know, Linux is also a general purpose OS. I’ve gradually been moving away from Windows and frankly, I’ve rarely miss using Windows. It was a good OS, but it’s become a bloated spyware and telemetry tool for Microsoft. These “value added services” are probably the reasons why Windows is struggling to compete with a lighter OS. Basically, these bloat are not free as one may perceive because it’s (1) siphoning your personal information, and (2) making your hardware work harder than necessary. The caveat is that not all software works on Linux, but for most users, it should be a non-issue in my own experience.

 

[yRaz]

So you know, Linux is also a general purpose OS. I’ve gradually been moving away from Windows and frankly, I’ve rarely miss using Windows. It was a good OS, but it’s become a bloated spyware and telemetry tool for Microsoft. These “value added services” are probably the reasons why Windows is struggling to compete with a lighter OS. Basically, these bloat are not free as one may perceive because it’s (1) siphoning your personal information, and (2) making your hardware work harder than necessary. The caveat is that not all software works on Linux, but for most users, it should be a non-issue in my own experience.

I moved to open source and free replacements for most things. for things that I can replace, there is always WINE. becoming fluent in WINE is the first thing anyone trying to switch to Linux should do. not because we need to run Windows software, but making the transition smoother by making it so you don't have to duel boot.

 

[Watzupken]

Honestly, this just confirms what we’ve all kind of known... Windows is a resource hog for underpowered hardware. SteamOS is clearly better optimized for this form factor, and the difference in both frame rate and battery life on identical hardware must be embarrassing for Microsoft.

I feel the benefit is not just limited to this form factor to be honest. I’ve been running Linux on my home laptop and desktop, and it’s evident that the system is overall more responsive, quieter (since the fan don’t usually ramp up as often and as fast), and longer battery life on the laptop. I had reinstall Windows back on my laptop due to work related reasons. The only reason why Microsoft is essential is because almost all software are compatible with the OS. But for basic use like surfing net, gaming (barring games with anti-cheat software), word processing, etc, I rarely find any issues or challenges with Linux. There is no perfect OS at the end of the day, so it’s down to whether you can or can’t accept the trade offs.

 

[m4a4]

The lack of education on a tech website frustrates me. Over the last few years it has become so easy to learn I often compare its ease of use to somewhere between XP and Windows 7.

So when I see people talking bad about Linux, its frustrating. Not because im angry about people talking bad about Linux, but because I know how little effort it takes to learn and the posts bad mouthing it often take more effort to write than it does to learn modern Linux.

And it's so disappointing to me when tech people who like linux are not realistic about the pitfalls of linux and can't fathom or admit that the majority of people who might use an OS wouldn't have the patience or time to get everything working (like with an OS that has a multi-billion dollar company behind it).

Seriously, linux isn't perfect. Don't act like a little bit of studying will remedy all of linux's problems for everyone...

 

[m4a4]

So you know, Linux is also a general purpose OS. I’ve gradually been moving away from Windows and frankly, I’ve rarely miss using Windows. It was a good OS, but it’s become a bloated spyware and telemetry tool for Microsoft. These “value added services” are probably the reasons why Windows is struggling to compete with a lighter OS. Basically, these bloat are not free as one may perceive because it’s (1) siphoning your personal information, and (2) making your hardware work harder than necessary. The caveat is that not all software works on Linux, but for most users, it should be a non-issue in my own experience.

And what is SteamOS geared for? Y'know, the main point of the article. I know linux is general purpose (not to the degree Windows is), but SteamOS is not general-purpose first.

--------------------

Seriously, anything factually negative about linux and you people just love going on unrelated tangents about how good linux magically is. It's always off-putting and makes people like me who point out a fact not want to deal with linux at all.

But the best part? I was essentially saying "no duh it's faster than Windows, why would anyone expect anything less" and you have to nitpick because the gaming-first SteamOS is called out for being optimized for a better handheld experience.