Lenovo Legion Go S Falls Short: Could SteamOS Be Its Redemption?

The world of handheld PC gaming continues to expand, and with significant investments pouring into this segment, Lenovo has upped its game with the latest release of its Legion Go S.

When Lenovo announced its second-generation Legion Go device at CES 2025, the buzz was undeniable. Packed with a sleek and ergonomic design, the Legion Go S immediately positions itself as one of the most visually appealing and comfortable handheld gaming devices available. I was eager to try it, fully expecting it to dethrone my ASUS ROG Ally X as the primary choice for portable gaming.

However, the experience didn’t quite meet those lofty expectations. The Legion Go S, as promising as it seems, falls short of being the game-changer it could have been. The confusion surrounding its initial announcement, coupled with an underwhelming 4-core chipset that doesn’t stand up to top-tier competitors, and a perplexing price point, combine to undermine its potential, despite its commendable display and control features.

If you’re considering purchasing, I recommend waiting for deals on the last-gen Legion Go or ASUS ROG Ally X, unless the Legion Go S at its current price point. Hope is not lost, though; a SteamOS edition of the Legion Go S is expected later this year and might just turn the tide for it.

Trusting My Review

I’m Zachary Boddy, your guide through the realms of gaming technology. My review comes from a place of deep familiarity—I regularly evaluate gaming laptops, desktops, controllers, and monitors for Windows Central. Whether assessing build quality or performance, I ensure every review is comprehensive and honest, aimed at delivering insight backed by firsthand tests, including price comparisons.

Note: Lenovo supplied a review sample for this evaluation, but had no influence over the review’s content.

Decoding the Legion Go S: Price and Specifications

The Lenovo Legion Go S is launching at $730 with the AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, but an anticipated $600 model will soon join its lineup. If a SteamOS version circulates at $500, that could be the most sensible option.

While the Legion Go S carries a premium price, not all its components justify this label. Initial offerings, priced at $729.99 on Best Buy, include the AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. This configuration, although equipped with the lowest-end chipset of the AMD Z2 lineup, leaves much to be desired when holding it against more potent counterparts such as the ASUS ROG Ally X.

Despite Lenovo’s early assertions that a Ryzen Z1 Extreme configuration would be included, this isn’t available at launch. We’ll have to wait and see if the SteamOS variant, slated for later this year and projected at $499.99, becomes the game-changer it promises to be.

Inside the box, Lenovo offers the Legion Go S gaming handheld, a 65W USB Type-C fast charger, and three months of access to PC Game Pass. You’re also protected by Lenovo’s one-year "Legion Ultimate Service" warranty.

Evaluating Design and Build Quality

In stark contrast to its predecessor, the latest Legion Go amplifies refinement over sheer versatility. Although it sacrifices some modular features, the Legion Go S excels in delivering comfort and aesthetics.

While the first-generation Legion Go was lauded for its flexibility, it struggled with clunky ergonomics and a less-than-stylish appearance. The Legion Go S turns the table with its sleek design and superior hand-feel. Its captivating 8-inch display is coupled with strategically positioned controls and a simple, effective two-tone chassis. Even though it surpasses the size and mass of its peers, including the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, it manages to maintain an impressive comfort level.

The overall build feels robust with a sophisticated touch, revealing Lenovo’s attention to detail. Buttons are delightfully tactile, and aesthetics are enhanced by LED indications around controls. Port-wise, you have ample connectivity, inclusive of two USB Type-C ports, 3.5mm audio jack, and a conveniently located microSD slot.

Display Quality of the Legion Go S

Boasting an 8-inch IPS LCD, the Legion Go S sets a high standard for gaming visuals, albeit without OLED technology. The display offers vibrant colors, smooth performance, and ranges, featuring a variable refresh rate (VRR) support topping an impressive 48-120Hz.

In practical terms, this display offers a stunning visual experience, maintaining depth and clarity even as an LCD. It delivers commendably high brightness, ensuring easy visibility in both dim and well-lit settings.

Even if the display doesn’t postulate top-tier metrics in color accuracy, it still performs admirably for gaming needs. With a minimum brightness that’s perfect for darker environments and a maximum brightness that combats bright surroundings, it comes equipped with an Ambient Light Sensor for automatic adjustments—advantages not commonplace among gaming handhelds.

Performance and Thermal Management

In isolation, the Legion Go S executes gaming tasks adequately, yet exhibits a significant performance gap when held against older handhelds. Its AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip doesn’t match up to its premium price tag.

Though everyday functionality remains satisfactory, the moment you envelop fully engage its Ryzen Z2 Go chipset, the disparity becomes evident. Comparatively, scenarios like Cinebench and Geekbench benchmarks highlight the Legion Go S’s struggle to keep up with competitors like the ASUS ROG Ally X, which frequently outpace the Lenovo handheld in performance metrics.

Price positioning plays a crucial role here. Relative to its peers, the Legion Go S feels outpaced at its current asking price, with even its predecessors presenting considerable competition when on sale. Still, its thermal management system performs respectfully, accommodating gaming demands without excessive overheating.

Battery Life Insights

The Legion Go S adopts the same battery capacity as its predecessor, but endurance doesn’t show marked improvements. Expect roughly 1.5 hours of intense gaming or up to three hours for more casual play. Charging cycles, however, benefit from rapid speeds thanks to its 65W charger.

Performance-wise, plugged-in gaming presents slightly better results, but battery drainage remains quite rapid during continuous gaming sessions, eliciting frequent need for recharging.

Software Experience with the Legion Go S

Operating on a standard Windows 11 installation with minimal preloaded software interference, the Legion Go S seeks to offer a streamlined user experience. Yet, despite improvements, navigating Windows on a small screen still feels cumbersome.

Legion Space, Lenovo’s take on Armoury Crate by ASUS, strives to enhance usability, yet falls short of expectations. It remains glitchy and somewhat limited when compared to ASUS’s more comprehensive solution.

Though there’s room for improvement, Lenovo’s aspirations to expand these capabilities could potentially refocus the software’s proficiency in future iterations.

Controls and Hardware Efficiency

With an emphasis on high-quality controls, the Legion Go S executes beautifully with its responsive buttons and innovative touchpad functionality.

The device’s controls incorporate Hall Effect thumbsticks, gyroscope capabilities, and remappable rear buttons. Each element serves to provide an interactive, comfortable gaming experience. Plus, solid wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 add to its compelling hardware roster.

While privacy-focused features like biometric options are absent, the collective hardware setup still feels holistic among handheld competitors.

Final Thoughts

The Lenovo Legion Go S impresses with its striking design and superior ergonomics but falters when evaluated for price-to-performance value. It showcases the kind of refinement that hints at what might have been, had its chipset and market positioning aligned more harmoniously.

Future success might be salvaged through the anticipated SteamOS configuration, bringing forth a potentially more competitive stance. Meanwhile, exploring other established options or awaited sales may serve intrigued buyers better. The Legion Go S presents a promising future, yet the here and now leaves it as almost—but not quite—on par with the leading pack.