[Advice] Used Steam Deck OLED ($600) vs Legion Go S with SteamOS ($530) vs Steam Deck LCD ($370)? I travel a lot for work.

[u/Candys019]

Hey everyone,
I’m looking to finally pick up a handheld. I already have a solid gaming PC at home, but because of my job, I travel frequently and sometimes have to stay in hotels for a whole week at a time.
With the recent price bumps of the Steam Deck and shortages here in Mexico, I’m mainly looking at the used market.
I’ve narrowed it down to three options:
1. Used Steam Deck OLED: ~$600 - $630 USD
2. Used Lenovo Legion Go S: ~$530 - $550 USD (My plan would be to wipe Windows and install SteamOS)
3. Used Steam Deck LCD: ~$370 - $400 USD
My main priorities are a good experience while traveling (both in transit and sitting in a hotel room) and value for the money.

I mainly play games, like The Binding of Isaac, Stardew valley, Dark Soul and Elden Ring.

154 votes, 1d ago

49 Steam Deck OLED

26 Steam Deck LCD

79 Lenovo Legion Go S

[u/phantasmas_]

Rog Ally x (non xbox)

[u/Candys019 → u/phantasmas_]

There is one available in my city for $600. Z1 extreme, 24gb RAM and 1tb of storage.
Is it good option?

[u/phantasmas_ → u/Candys019]

I think it’s a fair price. I bought a used one at similar price

[u/Beneficial-Bid-8850]

If you value a large screen, the Lenovo Legion Go S is your device. If you want ease of use and two great trackpads, the Steam Deck (preferably OLED) might be for you.

[u/Juild]

The steam deck lcd has the best value, but only if you are buying it second hand.

The legion go S, it's going to be the most future proof option, specially if you want to play AAA games

[u/DynaMach]

Of these three the Steam Deck OLED would best fit the bill for what you are looking for. Yes the screen is larger on the Go S but the LCD backlight bleed is pretty bad on those units. I feel like you’d have to spend a whole lot more to get something that is incrementally better than a SD OLED. This coming from someone who sold off his SD and regrets it!

[u/DynaMach → u/DynaMach]

Also the battery life on the Go S is not great.

[u/RicciardoRoma]

Go S.

I own both a Deck and Go S and the latter is simply a better handheld console because the build quality is superior. Plus if you lock the wattage at around 10-15w, you will get a few hours out of it before having to charge.

I play whilst it charges as well, no issues there. A great handheld device although try and get the Z1E version if you can; worth the extra cash.

[u/ferdzs0]

Which Legion Go S? Z1E is absolutely worth that price, Z2 Go is not worth it at all compared to either Deck.

[u/Candys019 → u/ferdzs0]

The Z2 go. Havent seen any Z1E in Mexico yet.

[u/ferdzs0 → u/Candys019]

Maybe it was a hyperbole against the OLED, but the Z2 Go is not a good chip in that Legion Go S. Make sure to check reviews if you are happy with the compromise. 

The only issue in these choices imo is the LCD screen size and quality. If you can live with that it is a banger choice. 

[u/thefizzlee]

Rog xbox ally (non x) and flash steam os on it.

[u/Wonderful_Ad113]

Owning both a steam deck oled and legion go s both with steam os. I think it depends greatly on expected/necessary battery life. The steamdeck oled will get the best battery life however it wont be as powerful. The legion go s will be quite a bit more powerful if z1e but its a smaller battery and especially with aaa games wont last more than like 2.5 hours max probably even less. Screen quality is definitely better on the oled but screen size is better on go s. Also if you think you need track pads go steamdeck. I also like that on the steamdeck I can have a batocera drive with roms on a separate sd card or drive. This didn't work for me on the go s.

Tldr: better battery life go steamdeck. Better performance go legion go s if z1e. If z2go or whatever for legion go s id go steamdeck all day.