Lenovo’s foray into the competitive world of handheld gaming PCs brings us the Legion Go S, a device that packs significant power into a portable format, but not without its controversies. Priced at $729.99, it enters the market with high expectations and the daunting task of justifying its price point amidst mixed reviews.
The Legion Go S stands out with its ergonomic design and customizability. It features adjustable triggers akin to those on high-end controllers like the Sony DualSense Edge and Xbox Elite Series 2, which can be tweaked to reduce pull distance, simulating a mouse click—a detail that caters well to the tactile preferences of serious gamers.
Despite these innovations, the Legion Go S faces criticism for its Windows operating system, which seems to hinder rather than enhance the gaming experience. This critique is vital, considering the growing preference for user-friendly interfaces in gaming devices.
A Screen That Almost Steals the Show
One cannot discuss the Legion Go S without mentioning its display—an 8-inch screen that offers a brighter, albeit less accurate, visual experience compared to its competitors like the Steam Deck OLED. The screen’s variable refresh rate (VRR) is a highlight, promising to sync with game frame rates to reduce tearing, a feature absent in many handhelds including the Steam Deck.
However, the device’s performance in handling more demanding games like Avowed suggests that while the screen is capable, the overall gaming performance might not consistently meet the expectations set by its hardware capabilities. This discrepancy is particularly evident in graphically intensive games, where frame rates often struggle to utilize the VRR effectively.
Comparing Apples to Apples: Lenovo and Its Rivals
The hardware under the hood of the Legion Go S is impressive on paper. It utilizes the new AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, which theoretically should surpass the older Z1 Extreme chipset used in competing devices like the Asus ROG Ally X. However, real-world gaming tests and comparisons suggest that the performance gains are marginal, leading to questions about value for money—especially when alternatives like the Asus ROG Ally offer similar specs for a lower price or better performance at a slightly higher cost.
Moreover, Lenovo plans to expand the Legion Go S lineup with more affordable and varied configurations later in the year, which may offer better cost-to-performance ratios for budget-conscious gamers.
Windows in Handheld Gaming: A Missed Opportunity?
The integration of Windows into a handheld gaming device continues to be a contentious topic. While it offers broader game compatibility, the user experience lags behind, with the operating system feeling cumbersome and not particularly suited for portable gaming. This point is crucial because user experience can significantly impact the adoption of technology, especially when alternatives like SteamOS offer a more tailored and gamer-friendly interface.
The upcoming SteamOS version of the Legion Go S, priced at $499.99, might address some of these concerns. It promises similar specs but opts for a gamer-centric operating system that could deliver a more seamless experience, suggesting that Lenovo is also hedging its bets on different user preferences.
As the handheld gaming market evolves, the Lenovo Legion Go S represents both the potential and the challenges of integrating traditional PC gaming elements into a portable format. While it showcases significant technological advancements, its success may ultimately depend on how well it can align its Windows interface with the expectations of handheld gamers.
