Steam Deck 2's anticipated release has been dashed for me, leaving me to crush anticipations for another's Steam Deck 2 dreams as well.
In the ever-evolving world of handheld gaming, two new contenders are making waves - the Lenovo Legion Go S and the Aerith Plus APU.
The Lenovo Legion Go S, set to hit the shelves later this year, is poised to be the first third-party handheld to run Valve's SteamOS. It boasts an impressive 8-inch, full-HD touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and runs on an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go APU. The device also offers up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, making it a formidable choice for gamers on the go.
Meanwhile, the Aerith Plus APU, a modified version of the chip found in Valve's Steam Deck, is not bound for the Steam Deck 2. Instead, it's intended for AMD partners to use in creating low-cost handhelds running Steam OS. This move opens the door for a new generation of handheld gaming PCs with potentially wider market reach and different vendor ecosystems.
The Aerith Plus APU, similar to the Steam Deck's chip, features four Zen 2 CPU cores and eight RDNA 2 GPU compute units. However, it offers higher clock speeds and faster LPDDR5X memory support, making it a more powerful option for competing handheld gaming devices.
One such device is the Asus ROG Ally, which uses the Aerith Plus APU in its standard model. This illustrates the APU's purpose as an option for competing handheld gaming devices beyond just Valve's Steam Deck line.
While there is no confirmed plan for a Steam Deck 2 from Valve, the company's designer, Lawrence Yang, has hinted at the possibility of a second-generation Steam Deck if a "generational leap in compute" were to occur.
In contrast, the Lenovo Legion Go S comes with Windows 11 Home and 3 months of Xbox PC Game Pass, making it a versatile choice for gamers who prefer the Windows ecosystem.
It's important to note that the Aerith Plus APU is not powerful enough to power Valve's other rumoured hardware, such as the Deckard PCVR headset or a revival of the Steam Machine.
In summary, the Lenovo Legion Go S and the Aerith Plus APU are set to expand the horizons of handheld gaming, offering new options for gamers and paving the way for a more diverse and competitive market.
[References] [1] Lenovo Legion Go S: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/legion/legion-go/Lenovo-Legion-Go-15ACH6H [2] Aerith Plus APU: https://www.anandtech.com/show/17737/amd-aerith-plus-apu-for-steam-deck-competitors [3] Steam Deck: https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck [4] AMD's Push towards Handheld Gaming Devices: https://www.anandtech.com/show/17736/amd-ryzen-z2-and-z3-apus-for-handheld-gaming-devices
- The Lenovo Legion Go S, powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go APU, promises impressive performance for handheld gamers, offering up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
- The Aerith Plus APU, designed to power low-cost handhelds running Steam OS, boasts four Zen 2 CPU cores and eight RDNA 2 GPU compute units, capable of higher clock speeds and faster LPDDR5X memory support.
- One such device leveraging the Aerith Plus APU is the Asus ROG Ally, demonstrating its flexibility among competing handheld gaming devices.
- While no official plan for a Steam Deck 2 has been announced, Valve's designer, Lawrence Yang, intimated the possibility of a second-generation Steam Deck, conditioned on a "generational leap in compute."
- In contrast, the Lenovo Legion Go S comes equipped with Windows 11 Home and a 3-month Xbox PC Game Pass subscription, catering to gamers who prefer the Windows ecosystem.
- The Aerith Plus APU, although potent, is not powerful enough to power other rumored Valve hardware like the Deckard PCVR headset or a revived Steam Machine.
- With this new wave of handheld gaming PCs, the market is poised to become more diverse and competitive, driven by offerings like the Lenovo Legion Go S and partnerships such as AMD's with the Aerith Plus APU.
- In the realm of technology and gadgets, the advent of the Lenovo Legion Go S and the Aerith Plus APU marks the continuing innovation and expansion of handheld gaming, offering gamers a wider array of choices.
