Thanks to the ongoing AI-induced shortages on RAM and storage, it’s a rocky time for handheld gaming PCs. Asus recently jacked the price up on its ROG Xbox Ally X, from AU$1,599 to AU$1,799, and Steam Deck shortages have just hit the United States. They haven’t hit Australia yet, but it’s probably only a matter of time.
Which is why I was surprised to see that Lenovo’s Legion Go S SteamOS gaming handheld —which we consider the very best—is not only readily available in Australia but going for a discount. The AU$1,329 device is currently available for AU$1,199, with delivery included.
The deal is ironically part of Lenovo’s ongoing Study Essentials sale. While I concede that a handheld gaming PC can be used as a PC, it’s probably the least suitable form factor for it. Still, fair play, Lenovo.
The Legion Go S runs SteamOS, which means it’ll functionally work like a Steam Deck, only it’s a more powerful device in almost every respect. Not only that, its 120Hz IPS screen is larger at 8 inches, versus the Steam Deck OLED’s 7.4 inches, and it runs at a maximum resolution of 1200p versus the Steam Deck’s 800p. You can expect much higher frame rates on the Legion Go S compared to the Steam Deck OLED, too.
There are drawbacks: In his review, Jacob Ridley notes that the battery isn’t exactly the best on the market. Not only that, but the trackpad, in Jacob’s words, “basically doesn’t work”. I really love the trackpad on the Steam Deck because it makes mouse and keyboard-only games more viable on the handheld, but if you’re the kind of player who sticks exclusively to gamepad-led games, the trackpad being crap won’t matter much to you.
Also, if you’re gaming on a budget and don’t especially need brilliant performance on your handheld, this discount is still AU$150 more expensive than the 1TB model of the Steam Deck OLED. That extra money for the Lenovo is definitely worth it for its performance boost, but not everyone needs high performance, especially if you’re just going to main Vampire Survivors and Balatro.
Still, it’s interesting to see a handheld get a discount during these turbulent, resource scarce times. Chances are we’ll be seeing fewer and fewer significant discounts on PC handhelds in the coming months.
