Lenovo Legion Go S Review

Handheld gaming PCs have surged in popularity in recent years, largely thanks to the groundbreaking Steam Deck. This trend has prompted major PC manufacturers to develop their own versions, with the Lenovo Legion Go S positioning itself as a close competitor to the Steam Deck, distinct from its predecessor, the original Legion Go.

The Lenovo Legion Go S introduces a unibody design, moving away from the detachable controllers and extra dials of the original Legion Go. A significant upcoming feature is the planned release of a SteamOS version later this year, making it the first non-Valve handheld to run this Linux-based operating system out of the box. However, the model reviewed here operates on Windows 11, and at $729, it faces stiff competition among similarly priced Windows 11 handhelds.

Lenovo Legion Go S – Photos

7 ImagesLenovo 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 structure simplifies usage, though the rounded edges enhance comfort during extended gaming sessions. Despite its ergonomic design, the device weighs 1.61 pounds, slightly lighter than the original Legion Go but heavier than the Asus ROG Ally X.

The Legion Go S boasts an impressive 8-inch, 1200p IPS display with a brightness of 500 nits, delivering stunning visuals across various games. From the vibrant colors of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to the detailed landscapes of Horizon Forbidden West, the display quality is top-notch, rivaled only by the Steam Deck OLED.

Available in Glacier White and Nebula Nocturne (reserved for the SteamOS version), the Legion Go S features RGB lighting around each joystick, customizable through an on-screen menu. The button layout is more intuitive than the original, with standard placement of 'Start' and 'Select' buttons, though the addition of Lenovo's menu buttons above them may take some getting used to.

The right menu button offers quick access to settings like screen brightness and power management, while the left button opens the LegionSpace software for system management and gaming library access. The back of the device includes programmable 'paddle' buttons and trigger travel distance levers, though the latter only offers two settings.

The top of the handheld features two USB 4 ports, while the bottom has a centrally located MicroSD card slot, which may be inconvenient for docking.

Purchasing Guide

The reviewed Lenovo Legion Go S, equipped with a Z2 Go APU, 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD, is available starting February 14 for $729.99. A more budget-friendly option with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD will be released in May for $599.99.

Lenovo Legion Go S – Performance

The Lenovo Legion Go S is the first handheld to feature the AMD Z2 Go APU, which, despite its newness, uses older Zen 3 and RDNA 2 technologies. This results in performance that lags behind the original Legion Go and the Asus ROG Ally X. The battery life, at 4 hours and 29 minutes, is also slightly less than the original Legion Go, despite a larger battery.

In benchmark tests like 3DMark, the Legion Go S underperforms compared to its competitors. However, in gaming scenarios, it shows slight improvements in some titles like Hitman: World of Assassination, though it struggles with more demanding games like Horizon Forbidden West. For optimal performance, users should consider lowering resolution and settings to achieve a smooth gaming experience.

Wait, It’s More Expensive?

Despite its less powerful APU and lower resolution display, the Lenovo Legion Go S is priced at $729, higher than the original Legion Go. This pricing is justified by the inclusion of 32GB of LPDDR5 memory and a 1TB SSD, though the slower memory speed may not fully leverage the system's capabilities. Users can manually adjust the frame buffer in the BIOS to enhance performance, but this process is not user-friendly.

The current configuration of the Legion Go S may not justify its premium price, but the upcoming $599 model with 16GB of RAM offers a more compelling value proposition in the handheld gaming market.