Lenovo Legion Go S Review

The Lenovo Legion Go S: A Handheld 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, a first for a non-Valve handheld, but this review focuses on the Windows 11 model. At $729, however, the Legion Go S struggles against competitors.

Lenovo Legion Go S – Image Gallery

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Lenovo Legion Go S – Design and Ergonomics

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 weight of 1.61 pounds (heavier than the Asus ROG Ally X). This weight, a consequence of the display and cooling system, is noticeable during use.

The 8-inch, 1200p IPS display, boasting 500 nits of brightness, is a standout feature. Game visuals are stunning, showcasing vibrant colors. It's arguably one of the best handheld gaming PC displays, rivaled only by the Steam Deck OLED.

Available in Glacier White and Nebula Nocturne (purple, exclusive to the SteamOS version), the Go S features bright RGB lighting around the joysticks, customizable via an on-screen menu.

Button placement is more intuitive than the original Legion Go, though the placement of Lenovo's menu buttons above the standard 'Start' and 'Select' buttons may initially cause accidental presses. These menu buttons, however, offer convenient access to system controls and shortcuts.

The touchpad, significantly smaller than the original, is less convenient for Windows navigation. The absence of a mouse wheel, a feature of the original, is felt. SteamOS's controller-centric design will mitigate this issue in the upcoming SteamOS version.

The left-side button accesses LegionSpace software for system management and game library organization. Rear programmable paddle buttons are improved, offering more resistance to accidental presses. Adjustable triggers offer only two settings: full and minimal travel.

The top houses two USB 4 ports (one ideally should be on the bottom for better cable management), while the bottom features a centrally located microSD card slot, an unusual placement.

Purchasing Options

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 version will be released in May for $599.99.

Performance and Benchmarks

The AMD Z2 Go APU (Zen 3 processor with 4 cores/8 threads and RDNA 2 GPU with 12 cores) is not the most powerful. Benchmarks reveal performance lags behind the Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally X. The 55Whr battery lasted 4 hours and 29 minutes in PCMark10 testing, less than the original Legion Go.

3DMark Time Spy scores were 2,179 points (compared to 2,775 for the Legion Go and 3,346 for the ROG Ally X), indicating significant performance differences. Gaming performance is more competitive, though still not exceptional. High-demanding games require lower settings for playable frame rates. Horizon Forbidden West, for example, was stuttery even at low settings. Less demanding games perform much better.

Value Proposition

The $729 price tag for the 32GB RAM/1TB SSD configuration seems high given the weaker APU and lower resolution display. The higher RAM is largely unnecessary for the given hardware. The May release of the $599 16GB RAM version significantly improves the value proposition.

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Conclusion

The Lenovo Legion Go S, while possessing a beautiful display and improved ergonomics, suffers from a high price point for its current configuration. The cheaper 16GB RAM version offers much better value. While capable of handling many games, demanding titles require significant settings adjustments. The SteamOS version holds promise, but the Windows 11 model is a mixed bag.