Lenovo Legion Go S: In-Depth Review

Handheld gaming PCs like the Lenovo Legion Go S have been on the scene for a while, but they've truly skyrocketed in popularity over the last couple of years, largely thanks to the Steam Deck. Since Valve introduced its Linux-based handheld, major PC manufacturers have been eager to jump on the bandwagon, and the Lenovo Legion Go S is carving out a niche closer to the Steam Deck's territory than its predecessor, the original Legion Go.

The Lenovo Legion Go S breaks away from the original's design by adopting a unibody structure, ditching the Switch-style detachable controllers and the extraneous dials and buttons that defined the first model. A significant development on the horizon is a version of the Legion Go S set to launch later this year, running SteamOS—the Linux distribution that powers the Steam Deck. This will be the first non-Valve handheld gaming PC to feature this OS right out of the box. However, the model I reviewed runs Windows 11. At its $729 price point, the Legion Go S 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 takes design cues more from the Asus ROG Ally than its original Legion Go counterpart. It features a single, cohesive unit instead of detachable controllers, embracing a design that's become a standard in the industry. This streamlined approach makes the Legion Go S incredibly user-friendly, although it's worth noting the device's rounded edges. These make it comfortable to hold during extended gaming sessions, despite its notable weight.

Weighing in at 1.61 pounds, the Legion Go S is just lighter than the bulky original Legion Go (1.88 pounds) but heavier than the Asus ROG Ally X (1.49 pounds). This weight can become noticeable when holding the device for long periods. In return for this added heft, the Legion Go S boasts an expansive 8-inch, 1200p IPS display with a brightness rating of 500 nits. The visual quality is stunning, showcasing vibrant colors in games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the detailed landscapes of Horizon Forbidden West. This display stands out as one of the best in handheld gaming PCs, rivaled only by the Steam Deck OLED.

The Legion Go S's aesthetic borrows from recent handheld trends, yet its beauty remains undeniable. Available in Glacier White and Nebula Nocturne (white and purple, respectively), the latter colorway will be exclusive to the upcoming SteamOS version in 2025. The joysticks are adorned with bright RGB lighting rings, which can be easily customized via the on-screen menu if the default rainbow effect isn't your style.

The button layout on the Legion Go S is more intuitive than its predecessor. The 'Start' and 'Select' buttons are now positioned on either side of the display, mimicking standard controller designs. However, Lenovo's proprietary menu buttons, placed above these, might cause some initial confusion, such as accidentally opening the Legion software instead of pausing a game. These buttons, though, provide quick access to settings like screen brightness and system power management, as well as shortcuts for functions like 'Alt+F4' and opening Task Manager.

The touchpad from the original Legion Go returns but in a significantly smaller size. This makes navigating Windows a bit more challenging, especially compared to the original's larger touchpad and mouse wheel. The upcoming SteamOS version should mitigate these issues, given its controller-friendly interface.

On the left side of the display, a dedicated button accesses the LegionSpace software, which manages system updates and your gaming library. The back of the device features programmable 'paddle' buttons with a clickier feel and more resistance to prevent accidental presses. Trigger travel distance can be adjusted via levers, though only between two settings: full travel and minimal movement.

The top of the Legion Go S includes two USB 4 ports for charging or connecting peripherals, while the bottom houses a MicroSD card slot, which might be awkwardly placed for docked use.

Purchasing Guide

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

Lenovo Legion Go S – Performance

The Lenovo Legion Go S is the first handheld gaming PC to utilize the new AMD Z2 Go APU. While direct comparisons are challenging, the specs indicate that it won't revolutionize performance. The Z2 Go employs a Zen 3 processor with 4 cores and 8 threads, paired with a RDNA 2 GPU with 12 graphics cores—technologies that are outdated for a 2025 release. Consequently, the $729 Legion Go S performs slightly behind the $699 original Legion Go and the $799 Asus ROG Ally X.

Despite a larger 55Whr battery, the Legion Go S lasts only 4 hours and 29 minutes on the PCMark10 battery test, less than the original's 4 hours and 53 minutes. This could be attributed to the less efficient Zen 3 CPU architecture compared to the Zen 4 cores in the Legion Go’s Z1 Extreme.

In 3DMark tests, the Legion Go S scores significantly lower than its competitors, with 2,179 points in Time Spy compared to 2,775 from the original Legion Go and 3,346 from the ROG Ally X. In Fire Strike, it's 14% slower than the Legion Go.

In gaming scenarios, the Legion Go S shows marginal improvement in some titles. For instance, it achieves 41 fps in Hitman: World of Assassination, slightly outperforming the Legion Go's 39 fps. However, in more demanding games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, it falls short, managing 22 fps and 21 fps respectively at 1080p Ultra settings. Reducing settings to Medium and lowering the resolution to 800p yields more playable frame rates, such as 41 fps in Cyberpunk 2077.

Horizon Forbidden West proved challenging, with stuttering issues even at low settings and 1080p. The Legion Go S excels with less demanding games, such as Persona 5, which benefits from the device's vibrant display and maintains high frame rates.

Wait, It’s More Expensive?

At first glance, the Lenovo Legion Go S might seem like a "Legion Go Lite" given its use of the AMD Z2 Go APU—the weakest chip in AMD's next-gen handheld lineup—alongside its smaller size and simpler design. However, it's priced at $729, which is more than the $699 starting price of the original Legion Go. This pricing decision is perplexing, especially considering the Legion Go S's lower resolution display and weaker APU.

The February launch configuration includes 32GB of LPDDR5 memory and a 1TB SSD, which seems excessive for a handheld struggling to reach 20 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p. While more memory could be beneficial with a stronger GPU, the Legion Go S's memory operates at a slower 6,400MHz compared to the original's 7,500MHz, reducing memory bandwidth.

The system memory can be reconfigured in the BIOS to allocate more to the frame buffer, improving performance slightly. However, navigating the BIOS on a handheld with a touch screen and controller is cumbersome, and instructions are not included in the User Guide.

For gamers looking for portability over raw power, the Legion Go S is a decent option, but the 32GB of memory feels unnecessary for most use cases. The upcoming $599 model with 16GB of memory in May presents a much better value, transforming the Legion Go S into a more competitive choice in the handheld gaming market.