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's detachable controllers and numerous buttons, the Go S boasts a unibody design for improved usability. 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. However, at $729, the Lenovo Legion Go S struggles to justify its price against competitors.
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 ease of use. The rounded edges provide comfortable grip, mitigating the device's considerable 1.61-pound weight (slightly lighter than the original Legion Go, but heavier than the Asus ROG Ally X).
The 8-inch, 1200p IPS display, boasting 500 nits of brightness, is a standout feature. Game visuals are stunning, showcasing vibrant colors and detail. It rivals the best handheld displays, second only to the Steam Deck OLED.
Available in Glacier White and Nebula Nocturne (purple, exclusive to the SteamOS version), the Go S features RGB lighting around the joysticks, easily customizable. The button layout is more intuitive than the original, though the placement of Lenovo's menu buttons above the Start/Select buttons requires adjustment. These menu buttons offer quick access to system settings and shortcuts.
The integrated touchpad is smaller than the original, making Windows navigation slightly less convenient. The left button accesses LegionSpace software for system management and game library access. The rear programmable paddle buttons are clickier but offer more resistance. Adjustable triggers provide two settings: full and minimal travel. Two USB 4 ports (one ideally should be on the bottom) are located on top, while the 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 version will be released in May for $599.99.
Lenovo Legion Go S – Performance and Benchmarks
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 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 results show the Go S scoring 2,179 points, significantly lower than the Legion Go (2,775) and ROG Ally X (3,346). Gaming performance is mixed. Hitman: World of Assassination ran slightly faster than on the original Legion Go, while Total War: Warhammer 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 showed minor performance differences. However, Horizon Forbidden West proved problematic, even at low settings.
While the Go S handles less demanding games well, high-end titles require lower resolution and settings. The 32GB RAM, while impressive, is largely unnecessary given the APU's limitations.
Pricing and Value
The $729 price tag is higher than the original Legion Go, despite the weaker APU and lower resolution display. The included 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD are excessive for the system's capabilities. The May release of the $599 16GB RAM version offers significantly better value. Manually adjusting the frame buffer in the BIOS (not detailed in the user manual) can improve performance.
Conclusion
The Lenovo Legion Go S is a capable handheld, but its high price for the initial configuration makes it a difficult recommendation. The May release of the lower-priced model with 16GB of RAM significantly improves its value proposition. While the larger display and comfortable design are positive aspects, potential buyers should carefully consider the performance limitations and wait for the more affordable option.
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