In the world of handheld gaming, two powerhouses have recently made waves in the market, offering unique experiences to gamers everywhere. These are the Steam Deck OLED from Valve and the Lenovo Legion Go. Both devices have their strengths and weaknesses, and in this article, we’ll delve into the features, performance, and overall gaming experience each device offers to give you a comprehensive comparison.
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The Steam Deck OLED
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Released in 2023, the Steam Deck OLED is a hardware revision of the original Steam Deck, boasting an upgraded OLED screen and improved battery life, among other enhancements.
The OLED Advantage
The most significant improvement in the Steam Deck OLED is, of course, the OLED screen. This display, although still maintaining a resolution of 1200×800, is visibly brighter and more vibrant, contributing to an enhanced gaming experience. The screen size has also seen a slight bump, growing to 7.4 inches from the original 7.
Identical Gaming Performance
Despite the screen upgrade, the Steam Deck OLED offers the same gaming performance as its predecessor. This similarity is intentional, as Valve has aimed to maintain a consistent performance target for game developers when optimizing their games for the device.
Design and Ergonomics
Physically, the Steam Deck OLED is nearly identical to its predecessor, with the exception of some minor cosmetic changes. The device is slightly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended gaming sessions.
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Battery Life and Thermals
One of the most significant changes in the Steam Deck OLED is the battery life. Thanks to an upgraded AMD APU and a larger battery, the device offers 30 to 50% better battery life than its predecessor. Additionally, the device runs cooler, thanks to improved thermodynamics.
The Lenovo Legion Go
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The Lenovo Legion Go is a Windows 11 handheld that made its debut a few months after the release of the Steam Deck OLED. It has garnered attention due to its large 8.8-inch display and the versatility of being a Windows device.
The Large Display
The Legion Go’s large 8.8-inch display is one of its standout features, offering gamers a more immersive experience. With a resolution of 2560×1600 and a refresh rate of 144Hz, it outperforms the Steam Deck OLED’s display in terms of specs.
The Built-in Kickstand
The Legion Go also features a built-in kickstand that covers the entire backside of the device, offering a stable stand for tabletop gaming and an alternative way to play the device.
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The Versatility of Windows 11
The Legion Go runs on Windows 11, which gives it the versatility to run most Windows-compatible applications. This makes it potentially more versatile than the Steam Deck OLED.
The Head-to-Head Comparison
With a clear understanding of the features and improvements of both devices, let’s compare them head-to-head.
Display and Gaming Experience
The Steam Deck OLED’s display, while smaller than the Legion Go’s, offers a vibrant and bright gaming experience. However, the Legion Go’s larger display, higher resolution, and refresh rate could potentially offer a more immersive gaming experience.
Specification | Steam Deck | Lenovo Legion Go |
---|---|---|
Display size | 7in | 8.8in |
Display resolution | 1280 x 800p | 2560 x 1600p |
Refresh rate | 60Hz | 144Hz |
GPU | AMD RDNA 3 | AMD RDNA 3 |
CPU | AMD Zen 2 | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 | 16GB LPDDR5x |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 512GB, 1TB |
Performance
In terms of performance, the Steam Deck OLED and the Legion Go are quite similar. Both devices offer robust gaming performance, capable of running a wide range of games smoothly. However, the Legion Go’s performance can be inconsistent, requiring tweaking of in-console and in-game settings to achieve optimal frame rates.
![](https://gamerstechreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Legion-Go-vs-Steam-deck-1024x576.jpg)
Battery Life
One area where the Steam Deck OLED clearly outshines the Legion Go is in battery life. With its upgraded AMD APU and larger battery, it offers significantly longer gaming sessions on a single charge.
User Interface
The user interfaces of both devices are significantly different. While the Steam Deck OLED uses the Linux-based SteamOS, the Legion Go uses Windows 11. While Windows 11 offers more versatility, it is less intuitive for gaming and can feel clunky.
Conclusion
Both the Steam Deck OLED and the Lenovo Legion Go are formidable handheld gaming devices, each offering unique features and experiences to gamers. The choice between the two will largely depend on the gamer’s personal preferences, needs, and budget.
The Steam Deck has 3 different versions. The 64GB for $399, 256GB for $529, and 512GB for $649. CHECK PRICE: HERE
The Lenovo Legion Go has 2 different versions. The Legion Go with 512GB for $699 and $799 for 1TB. CHECK PRICE: HERE
In the end, the most important aspect is the enjoyment of the gaming experience, and both devices certainly deliver in that regard. Whether you prefer the vibrant OLED display and extended battery life of the Steam Deck or the larger screen and versatility of the Legion Go, both devices offer a compelling handheld gaming experience.
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