OK so this is a bit late, but I spent some time with the Lenovo Legion Go S, the latest handheld from Lenovo. As someone who has dabbled with the Steam Deck, own an Ayaneo 2S, and have also played with the previous iteration – the Legion Go, I have some thoughts.
The Lenovo Legion Go S marks some evolution in Lenovo’s handheld gaming lineup, building upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, the original Legion Go. While the initial model was lauded for its blend of gaming prowess and productivity features, the Go S aims to refine this formula with notable hardware and software enhancements. To be honest, in a way this is a one step forward, one step back. I was definitely excited to try the Legion Go S and now that I have spent some time with it, I do have some caveats. Who is this device for? Let’s plow through!
Design and Display
The Legion Go S boasts an 8-inch 1920×1200 WUXGA screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support. Honestly, the device’s ergonomics have been improved, offering a comfortable grip reminiscent of the Steam Deck, and the inclusion of Hall effect joysticks and adjustable triggers enhances the tactile gaming experience. It’s a lot closer to Steam Deck in terms of design, and a bit farther away from my Ayaneo. If I were to compare handiness, my smaller handheld is heavier but can fit into the handheld compartments of bags like the Alpaka Sling Max V2. The Legion Go S does not fit because the screen is huge!
If you were hoping to use the Legion with a kickstand, you will be disappointed to know that they removed this feature entirely. I recall the older model came with a carrying case and I think the decision to forego the stand was to make way for more cooling vents — a fault of the previous model. But yes the dock is gone, so you will need to buy a separate dock, one of which Lenovo sells for the Go S, and it’s a tad janky because the USB C port is actually a cable that extends from the dock to the USB-C port on top of the device. Yikes.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Go S is powered by AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor in its base model, with an option for the exclusive Ryzen Z2 Go in higher configurations. The device comes with up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, ensuring ample memory and storage for modern gaming needs. However, it’s worth noting that the Z2 Go chip may not match the performance levels of the Steam Deck or the original Legion Go, particularly in demanding titles. I experienced lengthy load initial times with Avowed and even Civilization VII.
Operating System and Software
This model of the Legion Go S runs on Windows 11. Although I love Steam, the option to play games with Microsoft Game Pass really outweighs having a SteamOS machine. But on the flipside, many gamers are anticipating the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S because it is much more affordable, justifying the bumped down specs.
The Go S is equipped with a 55Wh battery, which, while sufficient for moderate gaming sessions, may fall short during extended play, especially when running resource-intensive games. On the plus side, the device supports 100W fast charging.
Who is this for?
At P44,860, The Lenovo Legion Go S represents a focused effort to cater to portability, compared to its previous model. Although the Z1 series doesn’t offer the fastest processing power, you got to remember that you’re essentially talking about a handheld device. If you read between the lines, the light frame, heat management, and large screen offer gaming comfort for mid-tier games, specifically indie titles (but yes it can still run Wukong and Cyberpunk 2077). I think the biggest hesitation to purchase one of these is a self-cannibalizing of Lenovo itself with the SteamOS version that has yet to arrive in Philippine soil.
