Lenovo Legion Go S with Windows The Windows-powered Legion Go S isn't a total bust from Lenovo. The display is great, and so are the speakers. There are also some nice software features, including fully customizable buttons. However, there are so many confusing choices here that ruin the experience: the quad-core Ryzen Z2 Go chipset leaves much to be desired, the whole thing is too heavy, there's no "gotta have it" feature, and poor hardware decisions (like the tiniest trackpad on Earth) make it cumbersome and mediocre to actually use. When you add in the sky-high asking price, it's hard for me to recommend this to anyone when more powerful and/or more user-friendly options exist for less cash.
When the Steam Deck launched in 2022, it was hardly the first PC gaming handheld to hit the market. The Nintendo Switch had already categorically proven that large-screened handheld gaming systems were what people wanted five years prior, and other manufacturers had seen minor success with Windows-based devices. However, the Steam Deck was the first thing to come along and set the bar for what a PC gaming handheld could and should be. Now, all other gaming handhelds must meet that bar, or they will be dead in the water.
Keeping that in mind, Lenovo is in a unique position with its line of Legion handhelds. At CES earlier this year, the company announced the market’s first true Steam Deck competitor, meaning third-party hardware running the same Linux-based Steam OS that comes with the Steam Deck. It is officially called the Lenovo Legion Go S — Powered by Steam OS. That device has yet to hit retail, but in the meantime, Lenovo has a stop-gap product that is almost the same but running good ol’ Windows 11. That’s the one this review is about.
I went into reviewing this with as much of an open mind as possible. Yes, I know that this isn’t the Lenovo handheld most gamers are excited about — they want to see what the Steam OS version is like. But Lenovo sent me the Windows-based Legion Go S, and I’ve been using it for about a week now. I hate to say it, but this is so off the mark — so bafflingly mediocre — that I’m going to say something I rarely ever say: No one should buy this.
Strap in, and I’ll tell you why.
Looks great, but I can’t play it for more than 30 minutes
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Before I get into all the things wrong with the Legion Go S, I want to point out some good things, all of which relate to its design.
First, let me say that I love the look and overall feel of the Legion Go S. It abandons the Switch-like detachable controllers and kickstand of the original Lenovo Legion Go, but is far more ergonomically satisfiying as a regular handheld. The super-curvy grips with a micro-textured finish fit nicely into my palms. The analog sticks are nice and tall, with very smooth movement. The ABXY face buttons don’t feel too mushy nor too clicky, and the triggers and bumpers are large and tactile. I also really like the white colorway, even though it does make it look a whole lot like an ASUS ROG Ally.
There is a lot to love about the Legion Go S when looking at its design, buttons, sticks, and especially its 8-inch LCD panel.
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