Review of the Lenovo Legion Go S: Is Substance Missing?

In recent years, the handheld gaming PC sector has experienced a considerable buzz, primarily stirred by the advent of the Valve Steam Deck. This boom saw competitors like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go jumping into the fray. Riding on the wings of AMD’s latest Z2 Go processor with Zen 3+ architecture, Lenovo has introduced the Legion Go S, distancing itself from its predecessor’s design.

Right off the bat, you’ll notice the shift from the Nintendo Switch-esque detachable controllers. The Legion Go S now sports a unified design, bearing more resemblance to the ROG Ally and Valve Steam Deck. While compact, its screen size has trimmed down to 8 inches from 8.8 inches.

Despite dropping the detachable controllers, the Legion Go S still feels substantial and hefty. It’s important to weigh some trade-offs against its predecessor before picking the Legion Go S for your portable gaming escapades.

### Design and Comfort of the Lenovo Legion Go S

While its objective remains constant, the design of the Legion Go S veers from the previous Legion Go. The latter employed a blend of matte grey aluminum and plastic, but the new Legion Go S opts for an all-plastic build. The white plastic body is paired with black-finished buttons and triggers, sacrificing the premium feel of its predecessor for durability and solid construction.

Its curvier build provides a more comfortable hold than the angular shape of the older model. Prolonged gaming sessions with the Legion Go S result in less hand fatigue compared to the original version.

One noticeable change is the absence of a built-in kickstand. Previously, this feature assisted in propping up the system while using detachable controllers, akin to a Nintendo Switch. But with controllers now integrated, Lenovo likely decided the kickstand was redundant.

The screen has also seen a downgrade. From an 8.8-inch 2560 x 1600 display, the smaller Legion Go S offers an 8-inch screen with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. I personally find these reductions acceptable, as gaming at the previous high resolution was often not as practical with the new processors.

For comparison’s sake, the Legion Go S measures 11.77 x 5.02 x 0.89 inches and weighs 1.61 pounds. Meanwhile, the Asus ROG Ally is slightly smaller and lighter, whereas the original Steam Deck is bulkier and heavier.

The main controls on the Legion Go S mimic those of an Xbox controller, complete with ABXY buttons and offset joysticks, a D-pad, and a touchpad. Upper programmable buttons offer quick access to various functions, while additional controllers and ports spread throughout the device complete its user interface.

### Lenovo Legion Go S Specifications

Delve a bit deeper, and you’ll find it carries AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Go processor, offering four cores and eight threads up to a 4.3 GHz turbo frequency. Its graphics are handled by a 12-core integrated GPU. With 32GB of memory and a 1TB SSD, it promises robust internal storage and processing capabilities.

### Gaming and Graphics on the Lenovo Legion Go S

The Legion Go S showcases four performance profiles: Performance, Efficiency, Custom 1, and Custom 2. Notably, when unplugged, the Performance profile mirrors that of the Legion Go. Plugged-in performance, using the 40-watt TDP power profile, brings the unit’s capabilities close to the Legion Go.

On the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark, unplugged performance improved, showcasing a 10 percent advantage over its predecessor. However, being tethered, it loses some ground to both the Legion Go and ROG Ally.

With games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Horizon 5, it maintains decent gameplay but notes variability compared to its competitors. In games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Borderlands 3, it’s adept, though there are slight performance gaps when plugged in and at higher resolutions.

### Windows 11 on the Lenovo Legion Go S

Shipping with Windows 11, navigating the Legion Go S could feel odd with a default 200 percent display scaling. Input issues with the on-screen keyboard in some gaming apps can prove frustrating, while the touchpad, though useable, has a couple of quirks.

### Legion Space on the Lenovo Legion Go S

Lenovo’s Legion Space app is straightforward in accessing settings, launching games, and tweaking controller preferences, all via a dedicated button. It’s designed to be user-friendly, delivering a seamless gaming experience while simplifying device adjustments.

### Display on the Legion Go S

This model moves to an 8-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS screen, which, while adequate, falls short in size and resolution compared to its predecessor. It compensates with reasonable sharpness at lower resolutions in newer games, though.

### Battery Life on the Lenovo Legion Go S

Battery endurance varies significantly depending on device settings. In our tests, gameplay on Performance profile lasted around an hour and 45 minutes, with marginal improvements on Power-saving mode.

### Audio on the Lenovo Legion Go S

The audio delivers adequately for its segment, especially in automotive games where sound clarity and coverage are crucial. Headphones are often preferred for immersive experiences.

### Upgradeability of the Legion Go S

Opening the chassis for upgrades is feasible yet intricate, primarily for storage enhancements through an accessible M.2 slot, accommodating 2242 or 2280 SSDs.

### Heat on the Lenovo Legion Go S

Its revamped design helps manage heat levels, maintaining comfortable gaming temperatures while keeping fan noise in check during intense sessions.

### Lenovo Legion Go S Configurations

Currently priced at $729.99, it includes a vivid 120Hz 8-inch IPS display with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. Anticipated is a more affordable SteamOS version in Spring at $499.

### Bottom Line

In its present form, the Legion Go S feels like a hard sell. Although it is competitive while operating on battery power, its plugged-in speeds lag behind. Its all-in-one design offers comfortable handling but limits detachability flexibility. At nearly the same price as its predecessor, it struggles to justify its current pricing. However, the forthcoming more affordable version could provide a more enticing option for potential buyers.