Review of the Lenovo Legion Go S: Missing the Power Punch?

In the bustling market of handheld gaming PCs, things have been quite dynamic, especially since Valve introduced the Steam Deck. That launch paved the way for some exciting rivals like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo’s own Legion Go. Now, with AMD rolling out the Z2 Go processor, crafted with Zen 3+ architecture, Lenovo has brought us the Legion Go S—marking a fresh design direction compared to its predecessor.

Upon first glance, you’ll notice a key design shift with the Legion Go S: gone are the detachable controllers mimicking the Nintendo Switch. Instead, it features a sleek all-in-one design similar to the ROG Ally and Steam Deck, albeit with a smaller 8-inch display versus the previous 8.8 inches. While this makes the device a bit unwieldy, even without the detachable parts, there are a few drawbacks to consider before settling on this as your primary handheld gaming machine.

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

Despite sharing the same core objective, the Legion Go S and its predecessor, the Legion Go, differ significantly. The Legion Go S ditches the combination of matte grey aluminum and plastic for an all-plastic construction, featuring a white molded plastic body with contrasting black buttons and triggers. While the heavier use of plastic does cheapen the feel somewhat, it remains robust in build quality.

A more ergonomic and curvier design has been introduced, providing a more comfortable grip over extended gaming periods. I found after lengthy sessions with both the Legion Go S and the original Legion Go, the former was notably kinder to my hands and fingers.

A striking change is the absence of a built-in kickstand, which the original Legion Go had for controller-free operation akin to a mini-console setup. With integrated controllers now part of the Legion Go S’s body, Lenovo decided to skip this feature.

Another area where the Legion Go S steps back is in display aspects. The screen is smaller, coming in at 8 inches compared to its ancestor’s 8.8 inches. It also has a downgraded resolution of 1920 x 1200 from the previous 2560 x 1600. Personally, I don’t find this much of an issue; the push for high-resolution gaming can sometimes be more of a hindrance than a help, especially on such small displays.

Size-wise, the Legion Go S clocks in at 11.77 x 5.02 x 0.89 inches and weighs 1.61 pounds. For comparison, the original Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally weigh slightly more or less but occupy a similar footprint, each with their unique design features.

### Lenovo Legion Go S Specifications

The latest iteration runs on AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Go processor, though it’s somewhat of a performance reduction compared to the Z1 Extreme, historically used in the first Legion Go. Utilizing Zen 3+ architecture, it features four cores and eight threads and includes a 12-core Radeon 680M integrated GPU.

With four performance settings on offer—Performance, Efficiency, Custom 1, and Custom 2—you can adjust the power draw to 40 watts when plugged in for maximum performance. But even then, the device tends to lag behind the original Legion Go by 10% to 20%.

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

In real-world testing, the Legion Go S shows mixed results. For instance, on a Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark at medium settings, the device surpassed its forerunner by 10% on battery alone. Yet, once tethered to power, it struggled, lagging by 25%. The device holds its ground next to the Steam Deck while on battery but falters plugged in despite using similar configurations.

### Windows 11 on the Lenovo Legion Go S

The default Windows 11 installation brings its own quirks. Pre-scaled to 200% on the native resolution, the taskbar icons dominate precious screen real estate. Annoyingly, the on-screen keyboard wasn’t always responsive for text entries, disappearing just when needed most.

Interaction via multi-touch works generally well, but the bundled touchpad below the right joystick fell short in gaming contexts. The erratic cursor control during games renders the touchpad more hassle than helpful. Although Lenovo’s gaming suite offers some interesting tweaks, certain implemented features, like force feedback on the touchpad, seemed more nuisance than novelty.

### Display on the Legion Go S

The Go S’s screen sees a notable downsizing. But even with its resolution drop, it’s still armed with a respectable IPS panel supporting up to 120 Hz refresh rates. When gaming, I found 50% brightness ideal for extending playtime without compromising visual fidelity.

### Battery Life on the Lenovo Legion Go S

Battery performance remains a mixed bag segment. Our tests recorded an average 102 minutes of simulation gaming before needing a recharge—a bit below its predecessor’s runtime. Opting for power-saving settings can stretch gameplay slightly beyond two hours depending on usage demands.

### Audio, Upgradeability, and Heat Management

Acoustic outputs serve well for racing titles, delivering notable depth and drive noises satisfactorily. Most gaming sessions warrant headphones for full immersive soundscapes.

Opening up the Legion Go S reveals an M.2 slot catering to either 2242 or 2280 SSDs, alongside the battery—a boon for storage upgrade enthusiasts. During demanding gameplay, the device managed its thermals commendably, seldom becoming too warm to handle, with audibility of cooling fans being unobtrusive.

### Lenovo Legion Go S Configurations

Currently pegged at $729.99, the Go S is, in short, a bit price-heavy considering its compromises. Lenovo plans a more modest SteamOS variant in the future which could offer a solid middle ground.

### Bottom Line

As it stands, recommending the Legion Go S is tough. It trims down expectations from the original without suiting its pricing band. Lenovo’s upcoming configurations could right the balance, making it worthwhile. For now, awaiting a cerulean blue horizon with potentially vernacular value is suggested.