A recent leak has provided a first look at Lenovo's upcoming Legion handheld gaming PCs, with two distinct models set to debut. The leak, courtesy of Evan Blass, showcases a larger Legion handheld featuring an OLED display, detachable controllers, and a revised design. This comes on the heels of an earlier leak revealing a smaller Legion Go S handheld, which is expected to be the first third-party SteamOS handheld and a direct competitor to the Steam Deck.

The larger Legion handheld, as seen in the leaked images, retains the detachable Joy-Con-like gamepads and kickstand from the original Legion Go. Notably, it also keeps the "FPS mode" feature, which allows users to convert one of the controllers into a vertical mouse. The new design appears to have smoother, more sculpted controllers with revised mouse buttons, making them more comfortable to hold. A cover for the mounting rail is also included, protecting users from the copper charging pins.

One of the most significant upgrades in the larger Legion handheld is the potential switch from an 8.8-inch IPS LCD screen to an OLED panel of the same size. This change would bring improved colors, deeper blacks, and potentially faster response times. However, no official specifications or marketing claims have been made, leaving key details like battery life and port configurations unknown.

The AMD Z2 Extreme chip, set to be released, could be the core of this handheld, but this has not been confirmed. It is also unclear whether the larger Legion handheld will feature a Steam button, unlike the Legion Go S. The lack of a Steam button in the leaked images suggests that Lenovo may be hedging its bets, supporting both Windows and SteamOS.

The Legion Go S, on the other hand, is expected to be a SteamOS handheld, with filenames suggesting it will be "powered by" Steam. This aligns with Valve's new branding guidelines for "Powered by SteamOS" devices, which require close collaboration with Valve and implementation of the SteamOS operating system.

As Lenovo prepares to unveil its new Legion handhelds, likely at CES, the gaming industry is abuzz with anticipation. The potential for Lenovo to release three distinct handhelds, each catering to different segments of the market, raises interesting questions about the company's strategy and the future of handheld gaming. We have reached out to Valve and Lenovo for further information and will provide updates as more details become available.

The emergence of Lenovo's Legion handhelds marks a significant shift in the gaming landscape, with the company poised to become a major player in the handheld market. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how Lenovo's offerings impact the market and influence the development of handheld gaming PCs.