The Lenovo Legion Go S: A Handheld Gaming PC Review
Handheld gaming PCs have surged in popularity, largely thanks to the Steam Deck. Lenovo's Legion Go S aims to compete, offering a design closer to the Steam Deck than its predecessor. Unlike the original Legion Go, the Go S boasts a unibody design, ditching removable controllers and extraneous buttons. A SteamOS version is slated for later this year, making it the first non-Valve handheld to ship with this OS. However, this review focuses on the Windows 11 model. At $729, the Lenovo Legion Go S faces stiff competition.
Lenovo Legion Go S – Image Gallery
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Lenovo Legion Go S – Design and Features
The Legion Go S resembles the Asus ROG Ally more than its predecessor. Its unibody design enhances usability. Rounded edges contribute to comfortable extended gaming sessions, somewhat offsetting its considerable 1.61-pound weight (heavier than the Asus ROG Ally X, but lighter than the original Legion Go).
The 8-inch, 1200p IPS display, boasting 500 nits of brightness, is a standout feature. Game visuals are stunning, from the vibrant colors of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to the realistic graphics of Horizon Forbidden West. It rivals the best handheld displays, second only to the Steam Deck OLED.
The device comes in Glacier White and Nebula Nocturne (purple), the latter exclusive to the SteamOS version. RGB lighting rings around the joysticks are customizable. The button layout is more intuitive than the original Legion Go, though the placement of Lenovo's menu buttons above the standard 'Start' and 'Select' buttons requires adjustment. These menu buttons, however, offer quick access to system settings and shortcuts.
A significantly smaller touchpad compared to the original model is present, making Windows navigation slightly less convenient. The left-side button accesses LegionSpace software for system management. The back features clickable paddle buttons with increased resistance, and adjustable triggers with only two settings (full and minimal travel). Two USB 4 ports are located on top, while a microSD card slot is unusually positioned on the bottom.
Purchasing Guide
The reviewed Lenovo Legion Go S ($729.99) features a Z2 Go APU, 32GB LPDDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. A more affordable 16GB RAM/512GB SSD model will be released in May for $599.99.
Lenovo Legion Go S – Performance
The AMD Z2 Go APU (Zen 3 processor with 4 cores/8 threads and RDNA 2 GPU with 12 cores) is the Go S's defining component. Performance benchmarks reveal it lags behind the Legion Go and ROG Ally X. The 55Whr battery lasted 4 hours and 29 minutes in PCMark10 testing, less than the original Legion Go.
3DMark benchmarks show a significant performance gap compared to competitors. Gaming performance is more competitive, though still showing limitations. While achieving playable frame rates in many AAA titles at lower settings (800p, medium), demanding games like Horizon Forbidden West struggled even at low settings. Less demanding titles like Persona 5 performed excellently.
Value Proposition
The $729 price point for the 32GB RAM/1TB SSD configuration is higher than the original Legion Go, despite the weaker APU and lower resolution display. The excessive RAM is unnecessary for most handheld gaming scenarios. The May release of the 16GB RAM version at $599 significantly improves its value proposition. The higher-end model's value is questionable unless used for tasks beyond gaming.
Conclusion
The Lenovo Legion Go S is a mixed bag. The superior display and comfortable design are assets, but performance limitations and the high price of the initial configuration hinder its appeal. The lower-priced 16GB RAM version is a much more compelling option.
