Handheld gaming PCs have surged in popularity over the past few years, largely thanks to the groundbreaking Steam Deck from Valve. This success has spurred mainstream PC manufacturers to innovate in this space, with Lenovo's Legion Go S being a notable contender, positioning itself closer to the Steam Deck's ethos than its predecessor, the original Legion Go.
The Legion Go S boasts a unibody design, moving away from the detachable controllers and extra dials of the original Legion Go. This shift simplifies the device's aesthetics and functionality, making it more user-friendly. A significant upcoming feature is the integration of SteamOS, the Linux-based operating system that powers the Steam Deck. This version, slated for release later this year, will be the first non-Valve handheld to run SteamOS natively. However, the model reviewed here runs Windows 11, and at $729, it struggles to stand out among its Windows-based competitors.
Lenovo Legion Go S – Photos
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Lenovo Legion Go S – Design
The Lenovo Legion Go S adopts a design more akin to the Asus ROG Ally than its original counterpart. Its unibody construction enhances ease of use, while rounded edges ensure comfort during extended gaming sessions, despite the device's significant weight of 1.61 pounds. This weight, slightly less than the original Legion Go but more than the Asus ROG Ally X, is a notable consideration for users who will hold the device for long periods.
In exchange for this weight, the Legion Go S offers an impressive 8-inch, 1200p IPS display with a brightness of 500 nits. This screen delivers stunning visuals across various games, from the vibrant worlds of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to the realistic landscapes of Horizon Forbidden West. While the Steam Deck OLED may surpass it, the Legion Go S's display is one of the best in its class.
Available in Glacier White and Nebula Nocturne (with the latter exclusive to the upcoming SteamOS model), the Legion Go S also features customizable RGB lighting around its joysticks. The button layout is more intuitive than the original Legion Go, with standard placement of 'Start' and 'Select' buttons, though Lenovo's unique menu buttons might take some getting used to. These buttons provide quick access to system settings and shortcuts, enhancing user experience.
The touchpad, while smaller than the original, aids in navigating Windows, although it may be less effective than the mouse wheel on the original Legion Go. The upcoming SteamOS version should alleviate some of these navigation challenges, given its controller-friendly interface.
The back of the Legion Go S includes programmable 'paddle' buttons and adjustable trigger travel settings, offering customization options for gamers. However, the device's top houses two USB 4 ports, and the bottom features a centrally located MicroSD card slot, which may be inconvenient for docking scenarios.
Purchasing Guide
The reviewed Lenovo Legion Go S, available from February 14, is priced at $729.99 and comes equipped with a Z2 Go APU, 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. A more budget-friendly option with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD will be available in May for $599.99.
Lenovo Legion Go S – Performance
The Lenovo Legion Go S is powered by the new AMD Z2 Go APU, which, despite being a fresh release, relies on older Zen 3 and RDNA 2 technologies. This results in performance that falls short of the original Legion Go and the Asus ROG Ally X, with lower scores in benchmark tests like 3DMark.
In gaming, the Legion Go S performs adequately, slightly outperforming its predecessor in some titles like Hitman: World of Assassination, but it struggles with more demanding games like Horizon Forbidden West, even on low settings. For a smoother gaming experience, users may need to lower resolution and settings to achieve a comfortable 30-40 fps in most AAA games.
The Legion Go S's battery life is also a concern, lasting only 4 hours and 29 minutes in PCMark10 tests, less than the original Legion Go despite a larger battery. This can be attributed to the less efficient Zen 3 CPU architecture.
Wait, It’s More Expensive?
Surprisingly, the Legion Go S, despite its weaker APU and lower resolution display, is priced higher than the original Legion Go at $729. This pricing seems counterintuitive until considering its higher memory and storage specs. The device comes with 32GB of LPDDR5 memory and a 1TB SSD, which, while beneficial, seems excessive for its integrated GPU's capabilities.
Adjusting the frame buffer in the BIOS can improve performance, but this process is not user-friendly on a handheld device. A more practical approach would have been to optimize the system out of the box for better performance.
Overall, the current configuration of the Lenovo Legion Go S feels unbalanced, with its high memory not fully utilized by its APU. However, the upcoming $599 version with 16GB of RAM offers a more compelling value proposition, making it a more attractive option in the handheld gaming market.
