Lenovo Legion Go S Review: A Disappointing Experience

The Lenovo Legion Go S is a Windows-based gaming handheld that promises to bring PC gaming on-the-go. However, our experience with this device has been underwhelming, to say the least.

The device's laggy performance and poor battery life are just a few of the issues we encountered during our time with the Legion Go S. The AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, while not an upgrade compared to its predecessor, still failed to deliver smooth gameplay in many games.

Performance Issues

We played several popular games on the Legion Go S, including Ratchet and Clank, Elden Ring, and Spider-Man 2. Unfortunately, these games suffered from significant performance drops, with frame rate drops and glitches becoming common issues. The device's venting fans kicked in frequently to dissipate heat, which only added to our frustration.

Battery Life

Despite its promise of a long-lasting battery, the Legion Go S struggled to last even two hours on a single charge. This is particularly disappointing considering the device's size and weight.

Gaming Experience

The Windows 11 OS that comes pre-installed on the Legion Go S is not optimized for gaming. The interface text is small, and the overall experience feels clunky and unresponsive. We also encountered issues with Microsoft's gaming services, including GamePass Ultimate, which failed to deliver in terms of game availability and performance.

Value Proposition

The Lenovo Legion Go S is priced at $700, which is a steep price tag considering its performance issues and lackluster gaming experience. For this price, we expect more from our handheld gaming devices.

Alternatives

If you're looking for a Windows-based gaming handheld, there's no reason to get onboard the Legion Go S. Instead, consider the upcoming Valve SteamOS-ready version of the device, which promises to deliver a better gaming experience at a lower price point.

Alternatively, Nintendo's new Switch 2 may be worth considering, as it offers a more robust and accessible gaming experience without the need for PC compatibility.