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 superfluous 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. However, at $729, the Legion Go S struggles to justify its price against the 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. 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 stunning. Game visuals are exceptional, 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 (the latter exclusive to the SteamOS version), the Go S features RGB lighting around the joysticks. Button configuration is straightforward. Customizable Lenovo menu buttons offer quick access to settings and shortcuts, although their placement above the Start/Select buttons may initially cause accidental presses.

The touchpad, significantly smaller than the original's, is less intuitive for Windows navigation. The absence of a mouse wheel, a feature of the original Legion Go, is noticeable. This limitation will be less impactful on the SteamOS version.

The left-side button launches LegionSpace, a software suite for system management and game library integration. Rear programmable paddle buttons offer improved tactile feedback. Adjustable trigger travel distance, however, only offers two settings. Dual USB 4 ports are located on top, while the microSD card slot is unusually placed on the bottom.

Purchasing Guide

The reviewed Lenovo Legion Go S (launched February 14th) costs $729.99, featuring a Z2 Go APU, 32GB LPDDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. A more affordable $599.99 configuration (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) will be available in May.

Lenovo Legion Go S – Performance and Benchmarks

The AMD Z2 Go APU, while new, doesn't deliver groundbreaking performance. Its Zen 3 processor (4 cores, 8 threads) and RDNA 2 GPU (12 cores) are relatively older technologies. Benchmark comparisons reveal performance lags behind the Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally X.

Despite a larger 55Whr battery, PCMark10 battery life is only 4 hours and 29 minutes, shorter than the original Legion Go.

3DMark benchmarks show significant performance differences. Time Spy scores are 2,179 points (compared to 2,775 for the Legion Go and 3,346 for the ROG Ally X), indicating a performance deficit.

Gaming performance is mixed. While slightly faster than the Legion Go in some titles (Hitman), it shows a performance drop in others (Total War: Warhammer 3). Cyberpunk 2077 performance is playable at lower settings. Horizon Forbidden West, however, proved problematic even at low settings.

The Legion Go S excels in less demanding games, delivering smooth performance and impressive visuals.

Value Proposition

The Legion Go S's higher price ($729) compared to the Legion Go ($699) initially seems counterintuitive, given its weaker APU and lower resolution display. However, the 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD justify some of the cost. The faster memory of the Asus ROG Ally X, however, provides a better value. The slower 6,400MHz memory in the Legion Go S limits performance.

The ability to allocate more system memory to the frame buffer in the BIOS can improve performance, but this requires user intervention and isn't clearly documented. The 32GB RAM is excessive for most handheld gaming scenarios.

The May release of the 16GB RAM configuration for $599 significantly improves the value proposition.

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In conclusion, the Lenovo Legion Go S, while boasting a great display and comfortable design, suffers from performance limitations and questionable value at its initial price point. The upcoming cheaper configuration offers a much more compelling option.