Lenovo Legion Go S assessment: Not fairly the discount we hoped for

Worth When Reviewed

$729

Greatest Costs As we speak: Lenovo Legion Go S

$729.99

The Lenovo Legion Go S is a handheld gaming PC that ships with Home windows 11. Whereas Lenovo has made some fantastically comfy and ergonomic {hardware}, Home windows remains to be irritating to make use of on a handheld in comparison with Valve’s Linux-based SteamOS, which powers the Steam Deck. Between the irritating Home windows expertise and the considerably excessive value — this handheld is dearer than a top-end Steam Deck OLED mannequin at launch — this machine doesn’t make sense for most individuals.

However should you do need Home windows on a handheld — for full compatibility with PC video games and the flexibility to run Recreation Go video games, for instance — this can be a first rate machine. It doesn’t have the very best efficiency, however it has a wonderful design.

Lenovo plans on providing a model of this machine with Valve’s SteamOS later in 2025. That SteamOS-powered Legion Go S could have a lower cost that makes extra sense. However, for now, I’m reviewing the preliminary Home windows model with the software program and value it has at launch.

Lenovo Legion Go S: Specs

The Lenovo Legion G S contains an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor with built-in AMD Radeon graphics. The Z2 Go is predicated on AMD’s Zen 3 structure, and AMD produces this line of chips solely for handheld gaming techniques. As AMD’s Ryzen Go specs clarify, the Z2 Go mannequin is the lowest-end, most value-focused mannequin. It has 4 CPU cores, for instance, not like the eight cores on the Z2 and Z2 Excessive fashions.

That is the preliminary Home windows 11 mannequin of the Legion Go S, out there for $729 from Greatest Purchase. The value is a bit of complicated given the {hardware}. Benchmarks present AMD Z1 Excessive chips outperforming this Z2 Go chip, and Z2 Excessive chips is perhaps an attention-grabbing improve over that last-generation {hardware}. The worth-focused Z2 Go {hardware} right here ought to assist the Lenovo Legion Go S obtain a lower cost level, however it’s nonetheless costly — $729 in comparison with the Steam Deck OLED’s value of $549 or $649.

Later this yr, Lenovo will launch variations of the Legion Go S that run SteamOS — and so they’ll be cheaper. These “Powered by SteamOS” variations will likely be far more attention-grabbing. However solely the Home windows model will get this good white coloration scheme.

• CPU: AMD Ryzen Z2 Go
• Reminiscence: 32GB LPDDR5X
• Graphics/GPU: Built-in AMD Radeon Graphics
• Show: 8-inch 1920×1200 IPS show with 120Hz variable refresh price
• Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
• Webcam: None
• Connectivity: 2x USB Kind-C (USB4) ports, 1x combo headphone jack, 1x microSD card reader
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 55.5 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 0.89 x 5.02 x 11.77 inches
• Weight: 1.61 kilos
• MSRP: $729 as examined

Lenovo Legion Go S: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo Legion Go S has an superior design. It simply feels nice to carry, full with properly textured grips on the again. At 1.61 kilos, in comparison with the Steam Deck OLED’s 1.41 kilos, it’s a tad heavier to carry however it didn’t trouble me.

It appears to be like good, too. The preliminary Legion Go S right here has a pleasant white design. The joysticks even have customizable RGB LEDs, which actually make the design “pop.”

In contrast to the unique Lenovo Legion Go, the controllers right here will not be detachable. This machine is nearer to a Steam Deck, a single piece of {hardware}, than the unique Legion Go, which had a design extra like a Nintendo Change with these detachable controllers.

It’s a strong piece of {hardware}, though it’s value noting that Lenovo doesn’t embody a carrying case. For $729, you’re simply getting the Lenovo Legion Go S. For $650, you will get a top-end Steam Deck OLED with a bundled carrying case.

The texture of the {hardware} itself might be my favourite factor about this machine. The software program, however, is a combined bag. Lenovo has accomplished a good job with its personal software program. There’s a button to the fitting of the show, above the Begin button, that opens a floating sidebar the place you’ll be able to change quite a lot of settings. There’s additionally a button on the left that opens the Lenovo “Legion Area” software. It offers a recreation library that exhibits all of your put in video games throughout Steam and the Xbox app, for instance.

Lenovo has made a superb effort with its software program, however Home windows remains to be proper beneath the floor, barely lined. I ended up observing a Home windows desktop regularly whereas utilizing this machine, and it’s nonetheless extremely awkward to make use of on a handheld. Microsoft has promised to make Home windows work higher handhelds. However, almost three years after the discharge of Valve’s Steam Deck, we’re nonetheless ready.

Lenovo Legion Go S: Controls and trackpad

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo Legion Go S has glorious built-in controls for gaming. Like the remainder of this ergonomic machine, they really feel nice to make use of.

The Lenovo Legion Go contains two joysticks which really feel comfy to make use of. They use “corridor impact” sensors to cut back joystick drift. There’s additionally a conventional D-pad and the X, Y, A, and B buttons. Moreover, there are buttons to the left and proper of the show: The same old Begin and Menu/Choose buttons in addition to buttons for opening the Lenovo Legion Area launcher and the floating fast settings menu.

The buttons all really feel nice to make use of, though I would like Lenovo moved its personal buttons away from the Begin and Menu buttons. I discovered myself urgent the button that opened Lenovo’s menu as an alternative of the Begin button as I acquired in control with the machine — on the Steam Deck, these buttons are additional aside. After all, you’ll get used to it should you spend a while with this machine.

There’s additionally a tiny trackpad on the proper aspect of the machine, beneath the fitting stick. You should utilize it to manage the mouse cursor and carry out different exact actions. Personally, I a lot desire the Steam Deck’s bigger touchpad. That is simply too small, particularly if you wish to transfer the mouse cursor across the Home windows desktop. (You may’t use the joysticks to manage the mouse cursor in Home windows with out looking down third-party software program.)

The Lenovo Legion Go S does embody a contact display, although, and this helps make Home windows far more manageable. Relatively than utilizing the cursor, you’ll be able to normally contact the display along with your fingers.

The Lenovo Legion Go contains left and proper shoulder buttons in addition to left and proper set off buttons. The triggers are customizable with sliders behind the machine. You may resolve whether or not you wish to have the triggers reply to quick presses or offer you a whole lot of room for longer presses, relying on the sport you’re taking part in.

There are additionally two paddle buttons on the again of the machine, labeled Y1 and Y2. You may assign these to features in video games, too.

General, it’s nice, however I actually am not a fan of that tiny trackpad. I want the Legion Go S provided an even bigger one just like the Steam Deck does.

Lenovo Legion Go S: Show and audio system

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo Legion Go S features a 8-inch 1920×1200 IPS display with a 16:10 facet ratio. It’s acquired a 120Hz variable refresh price and as much as 500 nits of brightness.

It’s a great-looking display, particularly for an IPS display. It’s additionally bigger and higher-resolution than the Steam Deck OLED’s display — Valve’s handheld has a 7.4-inch show with a 1280×800 decision. Some folks may even desire it to the Steam Deck OLED’s show.

Alternatively, the Steam Deck OLED’s show gives a extra vivid image and extra brightness together with deeper blacks. I desire the OLED. Usually, machines with OLED shows are dearer. However the Lenovo Legion Go S prices more cash and doesn’t embody an OLED show.

The Lenovo Legion Go S’s show remains to be good, however it feels just like the Steam Deck OLED gives a superior show for much less cash. If Lenovo’s machine was a bit cheaper, there’d be nothing to complain about.

The Lenovo Legion Go S’s built-in audio system provide usable sound whereas gaming, however they’re not significantly nice. The Steam Deck gives a greater, fuller sound. I’d say this machine is greatest used with a pair of headphones.

Lenovo Legion Go S: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The Lenovo Legion Go S doesn’t embody a webcam or any biometric {hardware} in any respect. That’s a disgrace, as a properly positioned fingerprint sensor or IR digital camera for facial recognition would allow you to signal into your Legion Go if you pressed the facility button.

Whenever you wake the Legion Go S, it’s important to kind in your PIN or password with a contact display earlier than you will get again to gaming. Out of the field, a Steam Deck is able to go if you wake it up. SteamOS is a extra polished expertise.

The Lenovo Legion Go S does embody a built-in twin array microphone system. It picks up surprisingly clear audio, however it’ll additionally decide up the sport audio should you’re taking part in audio on the machine’s audio system on the similar time. As soon as once more, you’re higher off plugging in some headphones. However should you’re carrying headphones and utilizing voice chat whereas taking part in a recreation, you gained’t want a separate microphone.

Lenovo Legion Go S: Connectivity

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo Legion Go S contains the fitting variety of ports for a handheld machine. It’s acquired two USB Kind-C (USB4) ports and a combo audio jack on the prime of the machine. You’ll use one of many USB Kind-C ports to cost the machine.

On the underside of the machine, beneath the show, you’ll discover a microSD card reader slot you need to use to develop the system’s storage. This mannequin comes with 1 TB of house, although, making the microSD card much less vital

It’s additionally acquired Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. The Wi-Fi connection labored properly for rapidly downloading video games — no complaints there.

Lenovo Legion Go S: Efficiency

The Lenovo Legion Go S features a Zen 3-based AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip. This chip isn’t as quick because the Zen 4-based Ryzen Z1 Excessive processor present in some Home windows gaming handhelds from final yr. It might be a bit sooner than the processor within the Steam Deck, relying on the sport and relying on how properly the sport is optimized for SteamOS vs. Home windows, however not by a big margin.

The Lenovo Legion Go S is a special beast out of your common gaming PC. Whereas gaming laptops are “transportable” in a way, they’re designed for gaming whereas plugged in. A typical gaming laptop computer solely offers nice gaming efficiency whereas it’s plugged into an outlet and never whereas it’s operating on battery energy.

Alternatively, handheld machines just like the Lenovo Legion Go S are designed for gaming when unplugged, on battery energy. They gained’t have anyplace close to the top-end efficiency of your common gaming laptop computer. However they’re far more transportable and can be utilized for gaming away from an outlet.

With that in thoughts, we ran the Lenovo Legion Go S by means of our normal gaming PC benchmarks anyway. It’s attention-grabbing to see simply the way it performs vs. a typical gaming laptop computer.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

First, we run PCMark 10 to get an concept of general system efficiency. (The Steam Deck runs Valve’s SteamOS, so we didn’t run these Home windows benchmarks on it.) With an general PCMark 10 rating of 5,406, the AMD Ryzen Z2 Go {hardware} right here is behind the typical gaming laptop computer — no shock.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Subsequent, we run Cinebench R20. It is a closely multithreaded benchmark that focuses on general CPU efficiency. It’s a fast benchmark, so cooling beneath prolonged workloads isn’t an element. However, because it’s closely multithreaded, CPUs with extra cores have an enormous benefit.

The Lenovo Legion Go S has a CPU with 4 cores, so it’s no shock to see it coming in low with a rating of two,215 within the Cinebench R20 multithreaded benchmark.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

We additionally run an encode with Handbrake. That is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, however it runs over an prolonged interval. The Lenovo Legion Go S accomplished the encode course of in 2,333 seconds, which is sort of 39 minutes. As soon as once more, not an enormous shock.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Subsequent, we run a graphical benchmark. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU efficiency. The Radeon graphics within the Lenovo Legion Go S delivered a rating of two,369. Numbers like this don’t imply a lot on their very own — the Lenovo Legion Go S could be very a lot within the ballpark of comparable gaming handhelds.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Now, we get to the video games.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is an older recreation we benchmark all our gaming PCs with. It’s much less demanding however an effective way to match efficiency throughout totally different techniques. With a rating of 25 FPS on the very best element settings, you’ll be able to see how a handheld gaming PC compares to the {hardware} in gaming laptops: If portability isn’t a priority and what you really need is top-end efficiency, you’ll desire a gaming laptop computer!

However these are the very best element settings at 1920p decision. Decrease the graphical element settings and also you’ll have a a lot playable expertise.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

We additionally all the time run a demanding benchmark in Metro Exodus. It’s a demanding recreation, and we set it to the highest-end Excessive graphical element stage. At eight frames per second, the Lenovo Legion Go S’s {hardware} is much behind high-end gaming laptops. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless playable on a handheld like this one at decrease default settings.

Whereas the numbers within the charts above look low in comparison with highly effective gaming laptops, they’re fairly regular for a handheld. They’re not the quickest for a handheld, although — search for handhelds with AMD Ryzen Z2 Excessive {hardware} later this yr in order for you extra efficiency.

Lenovo Legion Go S: Battery life

The Lenovo Legion Go S features a 55.5 Watt-hour battery. It is a bit greater than the Steam Deck OLED’s 50 Watt-hour battery. Nevertheless, Home windows simply doesn’t really feel as environment friendly as SteamOS on a handheld, and the Lenovo Legion Go S loses real-world battery life because of that.

With a handheld gaming PC, battery life goes to be everywhere in the map relying on how demanding and heavy the sport you’re taking part in is. A lighter recreation like Hades II goes to make use of loads much less battery energy than a heavy title like Cyberpunk 2077. Count on one thing like three to 5 hours of battery life for a light-weight indie recreation and one to 2 hours of battery for a very demanding recreation.

The Lenovo Legion Go S’s battery life is consistent with the typical handheld gaming PC’s battery life. The Steam Deck OLED had one of the best battery life on this house, because it’s extra power-efficient than different gaming handhelds. If battery life is a precedence, the Steam Deck OLED is the best way to go. You may get one other hour whereas taking part in demanding video games or just a few extra hours with extra light-weight video games. However once more, it actually relies on the sport, your settings decisions, display brightness, and so forth.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

PCWorld has a regular battery benchmark, so we ran the Lenovo Legion Go S by means of it. To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Metal on repeat on Home windows 11 with airplane mode enabled till the PC suspends itself. We set the display to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks.

The Lenovo Legion Go S lasted 562 minutes — that’s over 9 hours — on this artificial benchmark, which exhibits it might get some good life from its {hardware} when it isn’t driving demanding video games. (You gained’t get anyplace close to this whereas taking part in video games, in fact.)

Lenovo Legion Go S: Conclusion

The Lenovo Legion Go S is a gorgeous piece of {hardware}. After I picked it up and held it in my arms, touching the controls, I felt like I used to be going to have an important expertise. It feels nice to carry — and, if you’re taking part in a recreation that makes use of a lot of the gaming controls (not that tiny touchpad), it feels superior to play video games on.

However then I turned it on and I used to be confronted with the frustration of utilizing Home windows on a handheld gaming PC. I discovered the battery draining a lot sooner than it does on my Steam Deck, however I didn’t discover an enormous efficiency enhance over gaming on a Steam Deck. And I remembered this machine prices a lot extra than a Steam Deck.

If Lenovo’s {hardware} was cheaper, it might be compelling. The Lenovo Legion Go S will likely be extra attention-grabbing when cheaper SteamOS-powered variations seem later in 2025.

However in order for you a handheld gaming PC that runs Home windows, this definitely isn’t a foul possibility — though there are many different Home windows gaming handhelds to select from. A Z1 Excessive-powered machine from final yr will ship extra uncooked pace for not far more cash, although, and new Home windows handhelds are coming with sooner {hardware} later in 2025.