I’m torn between getting the Legion Go S or the Steam Deck OLED for portable gaming. My main games are heavy hitters like Cyberpunk, The Finals, Black Ops 6, and Space Marines 2. I want something that easily connects to a mouse and keyboard for those longer gaming sessions when I’m traveling, and portability is super important since I’ll be using this device mostly on the road, not at home. I have a solid home setup already, so this is strictly about performance for the price on the go. Also, I want something slimmer than a laptop, so no bulky gear. Any thoughts on which one fits my needs better?
4 Answers
Since you want something travel-friendly but still powerful, I’d focus on devices that strike a balance between portability and power. The Legion Go S is nice because it acts like a tiny PC, but if you don’t need the full computer features and just want the best game performance per dollar, Steam Deck OLED feels like the safer bet. Just keep in mind the limitations with some games like Call of Duty. Also, make sure your mouse and keyboard setups connect easily — both support that, but Steam Deck’s USB-C and Bluetooth make things pretty straightforward.
If you’re looking to play intense games like The Finals or Black Ops 6 smoothly, you might want to hold out for the Legion Go S Z1 Extreme version. The regular Legion Go S or the Steam Deck OLED might struggle to keep a consistent 60 FPS due to CPU limits. The Z1 Extreme chip gives you a better shot at running those demanding titles on the go, though it’s more pricey, around $750.
Just so you know, Steam Deck’s SteamOS can’t reliably run Call of Duty games because of anticheat compatibility issues, which might be a dealbreaker if CoD is a must-play. Also, the Steam Deck OLED won’t run Black Ops 6 perfectly, and the cheaper Legion Go S can’t handle most of those titles well either. If you can hunt one down, an ROG Ally with the Z1 Extreme chip might be the best option to get all those games running smoothly in a portable handheld.
Thanks for the tip! I didn’t know about the anticheat issue, that’s important for my CoD sessions. I’ll definitely check out the ROG Ally as an option.
Honestly, if you care about a great screen and portable gaming vibe, once you taste the Steam Deck OLED, it’s hard to go back. The controls, trackpads, and especially the gaming-focused SteamOS just elevate gaming on the move. I have a powerful RTX 4090 PC, but the Steam Deck has made me want to game more again. It’s perfect for casual or serious gaming away from home. Just a heads up though, Steam Deck has issues running Call of Duty online due to anti-cheat not working on SteamOS, so don’t expect smooth CoD sessions unless you stream it from your PC.
PLATFORM INFORMATION
Good point about connectivity. I want to avoid fiddling with setups on the road too much, so USB-C and Bluetooth support is a must.