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 for a similar market, but with a different approach than its predecessor. Unlike the original Legion Go's modular design, the Go S boasts a unibody construction, 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. Compared to similarly priced Windows handhelds, however, the $729 Legion Go S faces stiff competition.
Lenovo Legion Go S – Image Gallery
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Lenovo Legion Go S – Design and Features
The Legion Go S's design resembles the Asus ROG Ally more than its predecessor. Its unibody design enhances usability, and the rounded edges provide comfortable grip despite its 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 is a standout feature, boasting 500 nits of brightness and delivering vibrant visuals. It's arguably one of the best displays in a handheld gaming PC, rivaled only by the Steam Deck OLED. Available in Glacier White and Nebula Nocturne (the latter exclusive to the SteamOS version), it features RGB lighting rings around the joysticks.
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 requires adjustment. These menu buttons, however, offer quick access to system settings and shortcuts.
The touchpad, while smaller than the original, remains functional, though navigating Windows is slightly less convenient. The left side houses a button accessing the LegionSpace software for system management. Programmable paddle buttons on the back offer satisfying clickiness, and adjustable trigger travel distance adds customization. Two USB 4 ports are located on top, while the microSD card slot is situated on the bottom – an unconventional placement.
Lenovo Legion Go S – Purchasing Information
The reviewed configuration ($729.99) includes an AMD Z2 Go APU, 32GB LPDDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. A more affordable 16GB RAM/512GB SSD model will launch in May for $599.99.
Lenovo Legion Go S – Performance Analysis
The AMD Z2 Go APU, while new, doesn't redefine performance. Its Zen 3 processor (4 cores/8 threads) and RDNA 2 GPU (12 cores) are older technologies. Benchmark tests reveal that the Legion Go S lags behind the Legion Go and the Asus ROG Ally X. Battery life, at 4 hours and 29 minutes (PCMark10), is shorter than the original Legion Go.
Gaming performance is mixed. While it outperforms the original Legion Go in some titles (Hitman), it falls short in others (Total War: Warhammer 3, Cyberpunk 2077). Demanding games like Horizon Forbidden West struggled even at low settings. Less demanding games, however, run smoothly.
Value Proposition
The $729 price tag for the 32GB RAM configuration is higher than the original Legion Go, despite the weaker APU. The excessive RAM, while beneficial in theory, doesn't significantly impact performance with the integrated GPU. The slower memory speed (6,400MHz vs. 7,500MHz in the Legion Go) further hinders performance. Manually allocating more memory to the frame buffer in the BIOS improves performance, but this is not user-friendly.
The $599 16GB RAM model, however, presents a much more compelling value proposition.
Conclusion
The Lenovo Legion Go S, in its current 32GB configuration, is overpriced and underperforms compared to competitors. The May release of the 16GB model, however, significantly improves its value, making it a more competitive option in the handheld gaming PC market.
