Lenovo Legion Go S: what the reviews agree on

The Windows version with the Ryzen Z2 Go struggled in new games at native 1200p. The SteamOS version with the Z1 Extreme ran noticeably faster in the same Doom test, and reviewers praised how SteamOS applies handheld-friendly settings.

• On the Windows version with the Z2 Go, Tom's Guide got about 25 fps in Doom Eternal at native resolution and medium settings, and 10 to 15 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 on the Steam Deck preset. Both only became playable at 720p and low settings.
• On the Windows version, Tom's Hardware measured Cyberpunk 2077 at 35 fps at 800p and 18 fps at 1200p while plugged in. It found the Legion Go S about 10% faster than the original Legion Go on battery and 10 to 20% slower at 40 W plugged in.
• On the SteamOS version with the Z1 Extreme, Tom's Guide saw Doom: The Dark Ages at about 25 fps at 1200p and medium settings, 35 fps with FSR frame generation and 56 to 61 fps at 800p. The Windows unit managed 15, 27 and 45 fps in the same tests.
• T3's SteamOS unit held a steady 30 fps in Doom: The Dark Ages on the handheld preset and about 45 fps with FSR. It ran a lighter game at a locked 60 fps.
• Pocket Tactics found the Z2 Go SteamOS model ran most games well, though The First Descendant stuttered. Android Authority says the Z2 Go can draw 28 W against the Steam Deck's 15 W, which gives it room for more frames.

Every review that measured it landed near two hours in demanding games, on both Windows and SteamOS. Lighter games last longer, and lowering power limits helps.

• On the Windows version, Tom's Guide measured 1 hour 42 minutes of web browsing at 150 nits and Tom's Hardware measured 1 hour 42 minutes in PCMark 10 gaming, which is 17 minutes less than the original Legion Go.
• On the SteamOS version, Tom's Guide got about 1.5 hours in Doom: The Dark Ages at 30 W and says not to expect more than two hours even after tuning. Android Authority puts demanding AAA play at 90 to 120 minutes on both versions.
• T3 saw a range of 90 minutes to a bit over 3 hours on the SteamOS version depending on power, brightness and game. Pocket Tactics got two to two and a half hours from indie games and about two hours from older AAA titles.
• Android Authority left the SteamOS unit unplugged overnight and lost 3% of its battery.

The 8-inch 1920x1200 IPS panel with 120 Hz is praised in all six reviews. Reviewers like the size and sharpness and the readable look at 720p and 800p. The main wish is for OLED.

• Tom's Hardware measured 455.5 nits, 119.7% of sRGB and 84.8% of DCI-P3. It ranked brightness last in its group but said it is plenty for gaming.
• Tom's Guide says games still look good at 720p on the 8-inch panel, and wishes for an OLED option at this price.
• Android Authority and Pocket Tactics credit the SteamOS version with variable refresh rate support, which the Steam Deck lacks.
• T3 describes it as an excellent LCD with good brightness and vivid colour, and says an OLED would have been nice.

Most reviewers find the fixed, rounded body with Hall effect sticks and adjustable triggers comfortable for hours. Android Authority and Tom's Hardware point to the weight, and several call the small trackpad pointless.

• Tom's Guide and T3 call it comfortable, with grippy corners and good button placement. T3 judges it the best handheld PC it has tested for ergonomics.
• Tom's Hardware measured 1.61 lb and found the all-plastic chassis less premium than the original Legion Go, though it left its hands less fatigued after hours of play.
• Android Authority finds the device too heavy and the Steam and Quick Access buttons directly above Start and Select easy to hit by mistake. It also noted the two USB-C ports sit close together.
• Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, Pocket Tactics and Android Authority all call the tiny trackpad hard to use or useless. Android Authority says it never worked under SteamOS.

Reviewers disagree about fan noise, and the split follows the version. Tom's Guide called the Windows Z2 Go unit one of the quietest handhelds it has reviewed, while the SteamOS Z1 Extreme reviews describe loud fans.

• On the Windows version, Tom's Guide rarely heard the fans and measured 89.5 °F near the back vents. Tom's Hardware heard the fans in Performance mode but found them not objectionable.
• On the SteamOS version with the Z1 Extreme, Tom's Guide lists the loud fans as a main dislike, though the underside reached only 83 °F. T3 says the fans get loud almost regardless of the game.

Reviewers prefer SteamOS to Windows 11 on this hardware. The trade-off is game support: some titles with anti-cheat or Windows-only launchers will not run on SteamOS.

• Tom's Guide says Windows 11 is a poor fit for handhelds, because most programs outside Legion Space need touch input, while Tom's Hardware had an on-screen keyboard that often failed to appear in Steam and the Epic Games Store.
• Tom's Guide, Android Authority, Pocket Tactics and T3 all rate the SteamOS version far above the Windows one, citing quick setup, a console-style interface and per-game power and refresh settings.
• Android Authority and Pocket Tactics note that games such as Fortnite and Destiny 2 will not launch on SteamOS. Android Authority points to Heroic Game Launcher and streaming as partial workarounds.

The $729 Windows model drew criticism for the money. The SteamOS versions start at $599 for the Z2 Go and $829 for the Z1 Extreme, and reviewers argued about whether that is worth more than a Steam Deck OLED.

• Tom's Guide found the $729 Windows configuration hard to justify given its performance and Windows problems, and noted a $499 version was planned. Android Authority said the Windows model was one it could not recommend to anyone.
• Android Authority notes SteamOS cuts $130 off the Windows price to $599 and compares it to the $549 Steam Deck OLED. It calls the choice between them one of taste.
• T3 says Steam Decks can be found for around half the price of its £699 Z1 Extreme unit, so the uplift is a personal call. Tom's Guide says an owner who is happy with a Steam Deck does not need to upgrade.