Lenovo Legion Go S Review: What’s Lacking?

In recent years, the handheld gaming PC market has seen a burst of innovation, especially since the Valve Steam Deck shook things up. Several contenders have popped up to challenge it, notably the Asus ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go. Lenovo has added a new player to the game with the Legion Go S, responding to AMD’s latest Z2 Go processor based on Zen 3+ architecture, diverging significantly in design from its predecessor.

One of the most noticeable changes is the Legion Go S’s departure from the Nintendo Switch-like style with detachable controllers. Instead, it takes an all-in-one form akin to the ROG Ally and Steam Deck. The display has also been downsized from 8.8 inches to 8 inches.

Despite its streamlined design, the Legion Go S remains a hefty device, foregoing the detachable controllers but still not shedding its weight. There are a few other setbacks when compared to its predecessor that might make you think twice about making it your leading handheld PC gaming device.

Design and Comfort of the Lenovo Legion Go S

The Legion Go S and the earlier model, the Legion Go, have quite a few differences in design, even if they share similar objectives. Previously, the Legion Go mixed matte grey aluminum with plastic, but the Legion Go S opts for an all-plastic build. Its casing is molded in white plastic, with contrasting black buttons and triggers. Although it’s less premium-feeling than the previous version, the device remains robust and well-constructed.

Its curvier form makes for a more comfortable grip than the sharper-angled design of the earlier model. After extensive gaming sessions using both versions, my hands and fingers appreciated the ergonomic improvements of the Legion Go S.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Another change is the omission of a built-in kickstand in the Legion Go S. The older model’s kickstand allowed the system to be propped up, paving the way for using detached controllers. But with the controllers now part of the main body, Lenovo apparently deemed the kickstand unnecessary.

There’s also a downgrade in the screen department. The Legion Go S now offers an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 instead of the previous 8.8-inch 2560 x 1600 screen. In my view, this reduction isn’t entirely negative as gaming at 2560 x 1600 on the Z1 Extreme and Z2 Go strained usability limits.

In terms of dimensions, the Legion Go S measures 11.77 x 5.02 x 0.89 inches, weighing in at 1.61 pounds. Comparatively, the original had specs of 11.76 x 5.16 x 1.60 inches with a weight of 1.88 pounds. For a broader perspective, the Asus ROG Ally stands at 11.04 x 4.38 x 0.84 inches and 1.34 pounds, while the original Steam Deck is 11.73 x 4.6 x 1.93 inches and 1.47 pounds.

Specifications of the Lenovo Legion Go S

Under the hood, the Legion Go S features controls similar to an Xbox controller. You’ll find familiar ABXY buttons, offset joysticks, and additional elements like a D-pad and touchpad. The device also includes four programmable buttons above the display and typical shoulder and trigger controls along the top.

Two USB 4 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, volume controls, and a power button line the top, with a microSD card slot conveniently located on the bottom.

Key specifications include:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen Z2 Go (Zen 3, 4 cores / 8 threads, up to 4.3 GHz, 6 nm)
• Graphics: AMD Radeon 680M graphics (integrated), RDNA 2, 12 compute units
• Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X-6400MHz
• Storage: 1TB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe Gen 4 SSD
• Display: 8-inch, 1920 x 1200, IPS, touchscreen, 120 Hz
• Networking: Mediatek MT7922 Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Ports: 2x USB Type-C 4.0, microSD card slot, 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Battery: 55.5 WHr
• Power Adapter: 65W
• OS: Windows 11 Home
• Dimensions: 11.7 x 5.02 x 0.89 inches (299 x 127.55 x 22.6 mm)
• Weight: 1.61 pounds (730 grams)
• Price (as configured): $729.99

Gaming Performance and Graphics

Equipped with the AMD Z2 Go processor, the Legion Go S trails in performance behind the Legion Go’s Z1 Extreme. The new processor, built on Zen 3+ with four cores and eight threads, is less powerful compared to the earlier Zen 4-based eight-core CPU. Additionally, it comes with a 12-core Radeon 680M GPU versus the more potent 12-core Radeon 780M found previously.

Though the Legion Go S offers four different performance modes, I found its battery and plugged-in efficiency inconsistent. On battery, it was about 10% faster than the older Legion Go, but when connected to power, it lagged 10% to 20% behind in efficiency using the 40-watt TDP profile.

Performance metrics across various games drew a mixed picture, sometimes trailing significantly compared to the competition:

• In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Legion Go S outpaced its predecessor by about 10% at both 800p and 1200p on battery.
• Cyberpunk 2077 showed stark differences when disconnected from power, with the new model far outpaced by the earlier Legion Go and ROG Ally.
• Forza Horizon 5 demonstrated a significant fps discrepancy, where the Go S lagged behind the competition by over 15 fps in some configurations.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1200p was playable at over 30 fps, though dropping to 800p on AC power showed higher performance gains.
• Borderlands 3 highlighted a tighter benchmark margin versus Z1 Extreme-equipped counterparts, though the Legion Go S had fewer frames at 800p and more significant pull at 1200p.

Experience with Windows 11

Legion Go S ships with Windows 11, displaying at 1920 x 1200 resolution. Configuration defaults to 200% scaling, which can feel cumbersome given its oversize taskbar and app management. Touchscreen navigation works well, though an onboard keyboard often remains erratic.

Multitouch responsiveness is generally reliable, but the touchpad can be frustrating to use in games, with unintended cursor movement when clicking. Moreover, when using its in-game mode, the default setting for force feedback can become an annoying distraction, requiring adjustment in the Lenovo Space app.

While Lenovo removed the convenience of the prior kickstand, newer adjustments can make using Windows 11 more palatable.

Legion Space: A Hub for Control

Lenovo’s Legion Space app is where you’ll manage most of your device’s settings, launch games, and customize controllers. Highlighted by various tabs, it facilitates everything from account access to game purchases through stores like Steam, GOG, and Gamesplanet.

In-app controls centralize around performance metrics with intuitive dials for speed and temperature monitoring. Users can fine-tune performance modes and fan profiles for optimized efficiency suited to gaming demand. Within the app, the touchpad, RGB settings, trigger customization, and button remapping are controllable.

Display and Audio Quality

Despite downsizing and reducing resolution, the IPS display remains vibrant. The 120 Hz refresh rate is a slight dip, but acceptable. Although color range doesn’t hit the highs of its competitors like the Steam Deck OLED, it’s pleasantly adequate for gaming.

Audio quality sits comfortably middle-ground. Sound effects in games provide depth and clarity, particularly with car engines and immersive effects. However, for a full experience, headphones may be preferred.

Upgradeability and Heat Management

Opening up the Legion Go S proved to be a straightforward but slightly nerve-inducing process. Accessibility to crucial components like the M.2 slot offers an upgrade path for storage, though caution is advised during disassembly to avoid damage.

Thermal design leaned toward efficient heat management, with air intakes and top exhausts keeping the temperature manageable during intensive gaming. Reporting indicated it ran at reasonable degrees without disruptive fan noise.

Configurations and Final Thoughts

Heading into the market at $729.99, the Legion Go S offers a singular configuration at the moment. Compared against its predecessor’s 16GB RAM model priced at $749, the differences highlight the need to question value for performance.

Ultimately, prices play a huge role in this recommendation. The Legion Go S deserves consideration with a sub-$600 tag, or perhaps with anticipation for the $499 SteamOS variant coming in the spring. Until then, matching its performance with its price remains a challenge and one that might steer potential buyers towards other models or await Lenovo’s next iterations.