Lenovo Legion Go S - a solid handheld for the wrong price?!

Summary

The Lenovo Legion Go S is a portable gaming console featuring AMD's second-gen APUs and is the first to officially support SteamOS. The device has a sleek design, a solid 8-inch display, and decent battery life, making it comfortable for extended gaming sessions. However, its performance lags behind the competition, particularly in CPU and GPU benchmarks. While it outperforms the Steam Deck in some aspects, its overall performance struggles with AAA titles. The Legion Go S shines with lighter indie games but suffers from limitations in higher-end gaming. It's a solid option for casual gamers but requires price adjustments or a faster silicon version for better value.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Lenovo Legion Go S is a new handheld gaming console with AMD's second-gen APUs, designed specifically for portable devices.
• 😀 The Legion Go S is the first official handheld to come with Steam OS and a Windows version, with the reviewer preferring the Windows variant for its flexibility.
• 😀 The device is ergonomically and aesthetically appealing, with a comfortable weight and solid build quality.
• 😀 The control quality on the Legion Go S is a bit of a mixed bag, with the D-pad and buttons feeling less satisfying compared to competitors like the Steam Deck.
• 😀 The Legion Go S features a solid 8-inch IPS display with good contrast, brightness, and no screen tearing, but the factory calibration has a bluish tint that some users may not like.
• 😀 The software overlay and settings menu on the Legion Go S work well and are easy to navigate, offering all necessary options for gaming and device management.
• 😀 The AMD Ryzen chip in the Legion Go S, while promising, does not perform as well as its competition in terms of single and multi-core processing power, especially in GPU-heavy tasks.
• 😀 Despite lower CPU performance, the Legion Go S outperforms the Steam Deck in some tests, though still lags behind the competition in overall performance.
• 😀 For better gaming performance, lowering the display resolution to 800p is recommended, particularly for more demanding games like Dragon Age, though visuals and smoothness can still be an issue.
• 😀 The device performs best with lighter or indie games such as Hades, offering good battery life, quiet operation, and a relatively smooth experience at lower settings.
• 😀 Battery life on the Legion Go S ranges from almost 4 hours in energy-saving mode to under 2 hours in high-performance mode, requiring careful selection of games for the best balance of performance and endurance.
• 😀 While the Legion Go S has many good aspects like design and battery life, its performance may fall short of higher expectations, suggesting the need for better silicon or improved pricing to enhance its appeal.

Q & A

What is the main selling point of the Lenovo Legion Go S?

The main selling point of the Lenovo Legion Go S is its AMD's second-gen APU, which is specifically designed for handheld gaming devices, alongside the 8-inch 120Hz VR display and ergonomic design. It’s also the first handheld console available with SteamOS and the Windows version, offering flexibility in the operating system.

How does the AMD Ryzen APU in the Legion Go S perform?

The AMD Ryzen APU in the Legion Go S does not perform as well as expected compared to the competition, particularly in terms of CPU performance. While it does manage to outperform the Steam Deck, the device struggles with demanding tasks, especially when it comes to GPU-heavy games.

What are the key differences between the Legion Go S and the Steam Deck?

The Legion Go S offers better ergonomics, a sleeker design, and a higher refresh rate display compared to the Steam Deck. However, the Steam Deck has a performance edge, particularly with its established competition in CPU and GPU tasks. Additionally, the Steam Deck offers a better value, especially considering its pricing.

What are the strengths of the Legion Go S in terms of display and ergonomics?

The Legion Go S features a bright, high-contrast 8-inch display with good viewing angles and AMD FreeSync support to reduce screen tearing. Ergonomically, it is well-designed, offering a comfortable grip, an optimal weight, and a premium feel for extended gaming sessions.

How does the control quality of the Legion Go S compare to its competitors?

The control quality of the Legion Go S is a mixed bag. While the D-pad and buttons are responsive and clicky, the joysticks and menu buttons feel somewhat cheap. The triggers are solid and useful for shooters, but overall, the control experience doesn’t match up to what the competition, like the Steam Deck, offers.

What is Lenovo's Legion Base software and how does it perform?

Lenovo's Legion Base software serves as the main interface for starting games and accessing settings. It is well-designed, with minimal hiccups during testing. The overlay is functional, although there can be slight delays when navigating through it. Overall, it works well for general gameplay and settings management.

How does the Legion Go S handle high-performance gaming?

The Legion Go S struggles with high-performance gaming, especially with demanding titles like Dragon Age 2. Although the device can play these games at lower settings, the performance is not smooth unless the display resolution is lowered to 800p, which still doesn't provide optimal frame rates for AAA games.

What types of games are better suited for the Legion Go S?

The Legion Go S is better suited for indie titles and lighter games, such as Hades. These types of games run more smoothly on the device, and it performs well in lower performance modes, offering extended battery life and quieter operation.

How does the battery life of the Legion Go S vary?

Battery life in the Legion Go S can range from nearly 2 hours in high-performance mode to up to 4 hours in energy-saving mode. This range depends on the selected performance profile, with lighter games offering better battery life.

What improvements could Lenovo make to the Legion Go S in future iterations?

Lenovo could improve the Legion Go S by offering a faster silicon option to enhance performance, especially for CPU-heavy tasks. Additionally, adjusting the pricing could make the device a more attractive option for gamers, particularly those focused on casual or indie games rather than AAA titles.