Charles Esther
It’s been a week since I removed Windows 11 from my Lenovo Legion Go handheld and replaced it with the first official version of SteamOS designed for non-Steam Deck devices.
During this period, I’ve spent time playing as much as possible on my handheld to see whether the switch was worth it.
Now that I’ve had a full week of testing, I can confidently share how SteamOS compares to Windows 11 — and whether it’s truly a better operating system for handheld gaming.
SteamOS Makes Games Feel Smoother
The first thing I noticed was how much smoother games felt on SteamOS.
While this is a subjective impression, it’s the gaming experience that matters most.
SteamOS includes pre-cached shader downloads, which eliminate stuttering from shader compilation — a known issue on Windows.
Even games that had precompiled shaders on Windows now feel smoother and more consistent under SteamOS.
For example, Marvel’s Midnight Suns was nearly unplayable for me on Windows, despite frame rates being above 30fps.
Now, on SteamOS, the same game plays fluidly and looks fantastic.
A Better User Experience Overall
Beyond game performance, SteamOS offers a much better user experience.
One major advantage is the ability to suspend your handheld in the middle of a game — just like on a Nintendo Switch.
This simple feature makes handheld gaming far more convenient.
With Windows, I constantly had to quit games or leave them running and risk draining the battery.
SteamOS also shines in its interface design.
You can switch to desktop mode if needed, but the default UI is controller- and touchscreen-friendly, clean, and responsive.
It boots straight into the game interface, with no popups, no forced updates, and no nagging notifications like those on Windows.
It’s closer to the console experience many handheld users expect.
Compatibility Is Still a Mixed Bag
While the SteamOS experience is great, it’s not without compromises.
I own over 1,000 Steam games, but only about 550 of them are currently compatible with SteamOS.
Games from platforms like GOG or Epic require tools like Heroic Games Launcher, which adds extra setup time.
PC Game Pass titles also don’t work natively on SteamOS, which is a major drawback if you’re invested in Microsoft’s subscription service.
Multiplayer games are another challenge.
Due to anti-cheat software that doesn’t play well with Linux, many online games are simply unplayable.
So, if online gaming is your main focus, SteamOS may not be the right choice — at least not yet.
SteamOS Offers Better Battery Life
Battery performance is another key area where SteamOS outperforms Windows.
Windows tends to run a lot of unnecessary background tasks, draining battery life.
SteamOS is more efficient by design.
Although the version of SteamOS on my original Legion Go doesn’t support TDP controls yet, I still experienced better battery life by using the system’s “balanced” mode.
With smoother gameplay at lower power settings, I can now get two or more hours of playtime without cranking the TDP to max.
In contrast, I often had to use max TDP on Windows just to make some games playable.
That meant shorter battery life and more heat.
SteamOS feels better optimized for the kind of gaming I do.
SteamOS Is Free and Open-Source
SteamOS is completely free to install and use.
This matters more than most people realize.
Windows licenses add cost to any handheld device.
SteamOS, being a Linux-based system, is open-source and transparent.
That also means fewer privacy concerns.
While Steam’s client software isn’t open-source, SteamOS itself avoids telemetry, forced sign-ins, and constant ads like those in Windows 11.
There are no popups urging me to use Microsoft Edge or sign up for Microsoft 365.
SteamOS lets you focus on gaming — not on closing popups.
Should You Switch to SteamOS?
If your handheld officially supports SteamOS, I highly recommend giving it a try.
Installation takes under five minutes, and if you don’t like it, you can always restore your factory Windows image.
As long as your saved games are backed up, there’s little risk.
Dual-booting is another option, although it requires enough storage space.
My Legion Go only has a 512GB SSD, so I didn’t bother.
Still, I don’t regret the switch at all.
I have other Windows gaming devices for games that won’t work on SteamOS.
But for everything else — single-player games, quick sessions, and better battery life — SteamOS just feels like the future.
Unless you rely heavily on multiplayer titles or Game Pass, SteamOS is a solid and exciting upgrade worth exploring.
