Lenovo Legion Go S Review

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 superfluous buttons. A SteamOS version is slated for later this year, a first for non-Valve handhelds, but this review focuses on the Windows 11 model. However, even among similarly priced Windows 11 handhelds, the $729 Lenovo Legion Go S faces stiff competition.

Lenovo Legion Go S – Image Gallery

7 Images

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 improve comfort during extended gaming sessions, though its 1.61-pound weight (slightly lighter than the original Legion Go, but heavier than the Asus ROG Ally X) is noticeable.

The 8-inch, 1200p IPS display, rated for 500 nits, is stunning, showcasing vibrant colors in games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard and 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, exclusive to the SteamOS version). RGB lighting rings around the joysticks are highly customizable.

The button layout is more intuitive than the original. However, the placement of Lenovo's menu buttons above the standard 'Start' and 'Select' buttons initially causes some confusion. These menu buttons offer quick access to system settings and shortcuts.

The touchpad, while smaller than the original, remains functional, though navigating Windows is slightly less intuitive.

The left-side button launches LegionSpace, a system management app. Programmable paddle buttons on the back offer improved click feel and resistance. Adjustable triggers offer only two settings: full and minimal travel. Two USB 4 ports are located on top, while a microSD card slot is oddly placed 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 ($599.99) launches in May.

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 not the most powerful. Benchmark tests reveal performance lagging behind the Legion Go and ROG Ally X. Battery life (4 hours 29 minutes in PCMark10) is shorter than the original Legion Go, despite a weaker chipset and lower resolution.

Gaming performance is mixed. While slightly faster than the original Legion Go in some titles (Hitman), it shows a performance deficit in others (Total War: Warhammer 3, Cyberpunk 2077). Horizon Forbidden West proved particularly challenging. Less demanding games like Persona 5 run smoothly.

The $729 price point, higher than the original Legion Go, is surprising given the weaker APU and lower resolution. The 32GB RAM, while impressive, is excessive for the Z2 Go's capabilities. Slower memory (6,400MHz) compared to the Legion Go (7,500MHz) further impacts performance. Manually allocating more memory to the frame buffer improves performance, but requires BIOS adjustments, lacking clear instructions in the user guide.

The excessive RAM is unnecessary for most users. The $599 16GB RAM version offers significantly better value.

Poll: Which Handheld Are You Most Excited For in 2025?

In conclusion, the Lenovo Legion Go S's high price for the 32GB configuration makes it a less compelling option. The upcoming 16GB version at $599 offers much better value, potentially making it a strong contender in the handheld gaming PC market.