It’s been straightforward to shut myself off to different handheld gaming PCs since I’ve the $649 Steam Deck OLED. In spite of everything, the OS is straightforward to make use of, it has an important display, and most significantly, many video games run nicely on it. Save for the display, the identical may very well be stated for the $399 Steam Deck that has an LCD display as an alternative of OLED.
And but, I’ve at all times wished to spend time with a Home windows-based handheld, since they provide wider sport compatibility (PC Recreation Move and Epic Video games Retailer, to call a pair), and often extra energy to make video games run higher. So, the brand new $729.99 Lenovo Legion Go S appeared like an important place to dive in. I’m no stranger to utilizing Home windows on desktop, laptop computer, and in different fascinating kind components. However that is my first time spending a severe period of time with Home windows on a handheld, and wow. It’s horrible — the OS, that’s, not the gadget.
The Go S is among the most snug handhelds that I’ve tried but, and it’s usually a bit extra highly effective than the Steam Deck OLED I usually use. It additionally stands out by letting you customise the pull distance of its rear set off, similar to the Sony DualSense Edge and Xbox Elite Collection 2 controllers; with a flip of a bodily change close to every set off, you may shorten the pull to really feel virtually like a mouse click on.
Above all else, the display is my favourite facet of the Go S. Its 8-inch show makes all of the distinction in making sport UI parts simpler to learn and graphical particulars simpler to understand. Whereas its distinction and shade accuracy aren’t on par with the Steam Deck OLED (darkish scenes are notably troublesome to parse), it partially makes up for that with brightness, going as much as 500 nits.
Digging deeper into what makes its display nice, the Go S is one of some gaming handheld PCs to have a variable refresh price (VRR) display. Meaning its refresh price will stay in sync along with your sport’s body price, as long as it’s throughout the vary of 48-120 Hz. With out VRR (the Steam Deck lacks it), it’s possible you’ll discover display tearing because the show makes an attempt to course-correct throughout gameplay. As for video games that haven’t any difficulty hitting the 48 Hz VRR boundary, Doom (2016) and Steel Gear Stable 5: The Phantom Ache (who amongst us doesn’t sometimes return to those classics?) run a lot smoother on the Go S than on the Steam Deck, as do tons of of different video games I didn’t evaluate, I’m certain.
Picture: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon
I spent a variety of my time testing the Go S with Avowed, a graphically demanding open-world sport that not often ran above 30 frames per second — not a very good showcase for VRR on this gadget, as that’s too low to interact the characteristic. Be aware: This gadget doesn’t have low body price compensation (LFC), in contrast to Asus’ ROG Ally handhelds, which might let VRR have interaction nicely beneath that 48 Hz boundary. Avowed’s efficiency usually dips into the excessive teenagers and low 20 frames per second. That middling efficiency made extra sense once I noticed Digital Foundry’s technical impressions of the sport, which confirmed how CPU-bound it’s relating to body price (its efficiency is closely dictated by the processor you’re utilizing). Regardless of the Go S’ boosted energy versus the Steam Deck, the features in some video games had been extra uneven than I’d choose, or simply not obvious sufficient in a tool this expensive.
On the subject of {hardware}, the Go S makes use of the new-for-2025 AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, and also you’d be forgiven for anticipating higher efficiency than the Z1 Excessive discovered within the $799.99 Asus ROG Ally X. I didn’t have one readily available for a direct comparability, however my former colleague Sean Hollister reviewed it at The Verge, and his testing signifies that the Z1 Excessive within the ROG Ally X gives increased frames per second in video games. So, the Ally X’s increased $799.99 worth is perhaps value it should you’re after the most effective efficiency you may at present get in a handheld kind issue. Alternatively, you can simply get the cheaper ROG Ally with the identical Z1 Excessive, however with a smaller battery, fewer USB ports, and fewer reminiscence than the Ally X (it typically sells for simply $449.99!). Or simply anticipate the Z2 Excessive to begin popping up in gadgets later this yr.
It’s value noting that Lenovo has different Legion Go S configurations coming later this yr. In Could, it plans to launch a $599.99 variant that has the identical specs because the mannequin I’m reviewing, however with half the RAM (16 GB versus 32). It can additionally debut a Z1 Excessive-powered mannequin in April, however there’s at present no worth hooked up to that model.
To check efficiency of the Go S straight with my Steam Deck, I opted to play most video games on the similar 1,200×800 decision supplied by the Deck. Operating off its 55.5 Wh battery, the Go S impressed me most with Doom (2016) with Extremely graphics settings, attaining body charges close to 90 in comparison with the Deck’s 45 or so. The Go S may solely obtain that with the battery-guzzling “Efficiency” mode turned on, which amps the chipset wattage past what the Steam Deck is able to (moreover, Vulkan graphics allow considerably quicker efficiency on this title on each gadgets in comparison with OpenGL).
Notably, Baldur’s Gate 3 is playable, which is greater than I can say about my time making an attempt it out on the Steam Deck. It runs on the Go S with the bottom of low graphical settings at about 30 frames per second, relying on the setting. Typically it’s increased than that in low-density areas (like campsites), however I’ve seen it plunge beneath 20 in additional hectic scenes (particularly within the late sport). Whereas playable, it’s not ok to lure me away from enjoying it on my desktop.
OK, about Home windows. Regardless of providing wider sport compatibility than the Steam Deck, Home windows feels a lot extra cumbersome and uninviting, to the purpose that its advantages don’t really feel definitely worth the effort or the additional cash. (Deck house owners: You possibly can run Home windows off an SSD, full with Valve-made drivers, linked to your console. It’s not too troublesome!)
If progress has been made to make Home windows extra handheld-friendly because the Steam Deck launched three years in the past, I can’t discover proof of that in every day use of the Legion Go S. From the primary boot, in addition to all subsequent boots, it doesn’t really feel such as you’re utilizing a gaming gadget. As a substitute, you’re utilizing a Home windows gadget with video games on it, cloaked in tacked-on software program that may by no means conceal the OS’ greatest flaws nicely sufficient. Home windows, as it’s at present designed, is deeply bored with serving players — notably those that are utilizing a gaming handheld.
After I energy on the Go S, swipe up on the lock display, then peck my PIN on the lock display, it dumps me into Home windows — but the keyboard often stays up till I faucet the small X button on it. Nearly each one of many Legion Go S’ inputs are ineffective to navigate the OS, save for the small, sq. trackpad I initially thought (and nonetheless want) was a fingerprint reader. Navigating most apps and typing requires you to the touch the display, which isn’t my most well-liked enter methodology on a handheld, particularly after being spoiled by Valve’s generously massive trackpads on the Deck.
Lenovo’s Legion Area is the gaming-focused app carrying the load that must be on Microsoft’s shoulders, each to acknowledge this handheld’s inputs and perceive the intent of players utilizing its OS. It’s a one-stop store for launching put in video games and shopping for new ones. That is additionally the place you may replace drivers and configure all settings regarding how the Legion Go S performs, from its display decision and refresh price to its energy stage. Inconveniently, this app (which is necessary sufficient to have its personal {hardware} button devoted to it) didn’t work out of the field; a Legion Area placeholder confirmed up once I pressed it, hanging indefinitely. Because it seems, the executable was preloaded onto the gadget, however not preinstalled, and nothing within the interface pointed me within the route of this resolution. And, even when it’s working as supposed, it’s a serviceable, however not nice, consumer expertise.
Even after I received the hold of the Go S’ quirks, I’d expertise one thing new to harass me that I’d by no means encountered on the Steam Deck. For instance, throughout gameplay, the overlay that allows you to modify efficiency, refresh price, and different settings typically takes round 5 seconds to show on the display after you push the {hardware} button that’s speculated to make it pop up. Or the truth that, as soon as the Go S let me boot two video games concurrently, it predictably tanked the efficiency and battery life. Or {that a} sport might sound to take endlessly in addition, just for me to understand {that a} hidden pop-up wanted me to decide on if I wished to make a firewall exception for it. Home windows is fortunate to have the higher hand in terms of sport compatibility, as a result of I don’t assume I’d think about using it in a handheld kind issue in any other case, since SteamOS exists.
The Legion Go S is the most recent alternative that Microsoft has squandered to make a greater impression on handheld customers. And, judging by Lenovo’s announcement of a SteamOS-flavored Go S coming later in 2025, it may very well be the case that corporations — not simply customers — are getting uninterested in ready for Home windows to get higher on handhelds. The SteamOS model will begin at $499.99 with specs which can be similar to this gadget (16 GB of RAM as an alternative of 32), and can are available a “nebula violet” shade scheme. Fortunately, the Go S’ finest belongings are coming alongside, too, like its nice ergonomics, its huge VRR display, and the adjustable triggers.
Whereas will probably be the primary official SteamOS handheld not made by Valve, it received’t be the one non-Steam Deck operating official SteamOS software program. Valve is making ready to launch its SteamOS in beta with assist for Asus ROG Ally by April, giving players extra choices in terms of handhelds. It’ll be nice to have extra selections, making all of it the better to keep away from this one.
The Lenovo Legion Go S is on the market to buy at Finest Purchase. It was examined utilizing a retail unit offered by Lenovo. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These don’t affect editorial content material, although Vox Media might earn commissions for merchandise bought through affiliate hyperlinks. You could find further details about Polygon’s ethics coverage right here.
