The Legion Go S SteamOS Edition - A Short Review

Legion Go S (SteamOS Edition, version reviewed has the Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 8" 120Hz refresh display, integrated RDNA graphics)

The Legion Go S is the intermediary step in Lenovo's attempt to dominate the handheld gaming PC market. Released after the original Legion Go and before the Legion Go 2, Legon Go S comes in no less than four flavors: A purplish edition with SteamOS as its operating system and a white edition with Windows 11 as the operating system, and each of those editions has either a Z2 GO chip or a Z1 Extreme chip. The model I picked up early on last year was the SteamOS Z1 Extreme edition. The price of these units varies wildly, but when I got mine it was $829 MSRP. During a sale I snagged another unit for my nephew for a measly $649 (Z1 Extreme, no less), and that was a very nice price indeed. At this exact moment Best Buy is listing it as on sale for $799 which is honestly not a bad price for what you get.

It was immediately clear from my first hands-on with this machine that it is a spiritual sort of Steam Deck 2, and the device effectively behaves in all ways like a Steam Deck, except with overall better performance. I can't comment on the Z2 Go version of the Windows 11 powered versions....but can say I wouldn't even want to bother with those myself, this is the one to get just for sheer performance and expectations at this price point. 

Unlike its fellow Legion Go and Legion Go 2 cousins, the Legion Go S does not have detachable controllers, and is instead a very solid feeling, comfortably ergonomic unit that feels like it can handle lengthy play sessions without discomfort. Until I got my legion Go 2 it was pretty much my default device for road trips, and the only devices I feel are more comfortable than it to hold for long play sessions is the Xbox ROG Ally models. It smokes the poor MSI Claw 8 AI+ in terms of comfort. It is also fairly lightweight in feel compared to the other devices; the distribution of weight in the Legion Go S feels just right.

Of all the devices I have written about this month, the Legion Go S has the biggest soft spot in my collection for just being friendly to use. It's got all the good features of the Steam Deck and none of the faults, and its better performing hardware means that you encounter very few glitches in software that is Steam Deck friendly when running on the Legion Go S. Just like the Steam Deck, because it is a Linux-based operating system with some restrictions on games that lean on Easy Anticheat and other services, that means you won't be able to play, say, Destiny 2 on this thing easily. But like any Linux based system, you can go into the OS proper and find work arounds for most non Steam game stores if you want. 

The screen on the Legion Go S is also my favorite non OLED screen of the batch. It is really clear and honestly if someone told me it was OLED I would have just believed them (though if you compare it to the Legion Go 2 the difference stands out). This screen's slightly larger size also makes it stand out against the ROG Ally lineup, which feel petite by comparison.

I really don't have a lot to say that is negative about the Legion Go S. It's....um....I guess it's main failing is that there isn't a Z2 Extreme version of it (I mean, there is the Legion Go 2 of course) but its performance is so good that for many I doubt the Z2 Extreme chip performance gain is worth paying $550 extra just to get. 

Oh, and while it's controllers are not detachable Joycon-style devices, this leads to a very solid design and something else no other handheld has: switches to set your preferred tactility of the trigger buttons. You have three level settings you can use, and it is a nice feature to have.

I've run a lot of games on the Legion Go S, and it was my go-to handheld for most of last year. I continue to reach for it just for chilling out, even if I can see better performance in the MSI Claw and Legion Go 2, simply because it is so comfortable and easy to use; none of the very annoying Xbox Full Screen Experience problems here, just good old SteamOS. 

It is with this review that I will give the Legion Go S SteamOS Edition a solid A+ and suggest that if you want to dive into handheld gaming and want to spend less than $1,000 to do so, that this is my top suggestion, especially if you can find it on an even cheaper sale this year! I would also advise jumping on it at such a price given we have no idea how long the market will bear lower prices on these devices with the cost of RAM going through the roof. 

The Legion Go S is absolutely the best overall experience of all the handhelds relative to price that I have in my collection. That said....if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, the Legion Go 2 is also a no-brainer, but if you got the Legion Go S you would find this thing will serve you quite well. We shall consider this the Winner of the Best Mid-Tier Handheld Category; we'll reserve the "Best Budget Priced Handheld" for Switch 2, and the "Best Prestige Handheld" goes to Legion Go 2. Lenovo keeps knocking these out of the park, and I am intrigued to see what comes next....albeit with the caveat that I'd like to wait a couple years before I upgrade any of these devices, I need some proper time to really get my money's worth out of all these gadgets I have.