- Lenovo has unveiled a new version of the Legion Go 2 at CES 2026
- The new handheld will run SteamOS and launch in June 2026
- The starting price is $1,119, which is $100 more than the base MSRP of the Windows 11 version
We’re deep into CES 2026, and we’ve finally got our first big announcement about a new gaming handheld PC launching later this year, though it’s admittedly using a liberal definition of the word ‘new’.
As reported by VideoCardz , Lenovo has revealed a SteamOS version of the Legion Go 2 at CES 2026. This fresh spin on an existing handheld formula is set to launch in June 2026, starting at $1,119 / around £829 / AU$1,660. This is in addition to the Legion Go 2 models already available, which are powered by Microsoft’s Windows 11 (and follow in the footsteps of the Lenovo Legion Go S).
Of course, this launch is no real surprise as the move was already rumored and it seems that the leaked image of Legion Go 2 apparently using SteamOS (before the Windows version even arrived) was actually legit.
The same configurations will be available with this new SteamOS model, meaning you can run up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and an AMD Ryzen Z2 or Z2 Extreme SoC. It is a hardware specification that is more than capable of delivering great performance for most portable gaming scenarios.
However, Lenovo has unsurprisingly run into the same problem it had when launching the Windows 11 models of the Legion Go 2, namely pricing.
While tariffs and the tough PC hardware market (due to the RAM crisis) are aspects to consider, most consumers will find it hard to justify spending over $1,000 for a handheld rather than a full-fledged gaming PC instead.
For the Windows 11 version, the Legion Go 2 Z2’s MSRP is $1,099 in the US, while the Z2 Extreme model is $1,349 (which comes close to the price of the most powerful handheld out there, the GPD Win 5).
This means that Lenovo has increased the base starting price by $100 for the SteamOS model. It’s a reversal from Legion Go S, where the Windows version was the more expensive option.
In that case, we can expect the Legion Go 2 with SteamOS using the Z2 Extreme chip to cost at least $1,449, and I don’t think many gamers will consider a handheld that costs that much and doesn’t offer much of a performance jump over much cheaper devices.
Analysis: all credit where it’s due for supporting SteamOS, but that price stinks
As I’ve said numerous times, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, whether powered by Windows 11 or SteamOS, has no business costing over $1,000 (and the Ryzen Z2 Extreme models hit particularly ridiculous levels price-wise).
I’m well aware of the tough component market conditions that currently make it difficult to keep the price of PCs down, and the premium hardware onboard Lenovo’s handhelds such as the OLED screen.
However, the processor used is hardly a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, and if you save just a little more money, you can land a handheld built around the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 – the most powerful AMD APU available.
I’ve argued in the past that prices like these for “mainstream” handhelds effectively take them out of the mainstream and back into the niche category they inhabited before Valve’s Steam Deck arrived. Unfortunately, Lenovo and other manufacturers don’t seem to budge on this, and I don’t see that changing.
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