The Lenovo Legion Go S, a recent entrant in the handheld gaming market, has ignited discussions about the suitability of Windows 11 for portable gaming devices. While the hardware boasts impressive specifications, the operating system's performance on such devices has come under scrutiny.
Hardware Overview
The Legion Go S is equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, featuring four Zen 3+ cores clocked up to 4.3GHz, and a 12-core RDNA 2 integrated GPU. It offers configurations with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X-6400 RAM and storage options reaching 1TB NVMe SSD. The device sports an 8-inch, 1920 x 1200 LCD touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing a vibrant display for gaming. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, two USB-C ports, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The device is powered by a 55.5Wh battery, aiming to balance performance and portability.
Performance Analysis: Windows 11 vs. SteamOS
Tech reviewer Dave2D conducted a comparative analysis by installing both Windows 11 and SteamOS on identical Legion Go S units. The results highlighted several key differences:
- Frame Rates: Games like "Cyberpunk 2077" exhibited a 28% increase in frame rates on SteamOS, jumping from 46fps on Windows 11 to 59fps. Other titles, including "Helldivers 2," "Doom Eternal," and "The Witcher 3," also showed superior performance on SteamOS. (windowscentral.com)
- Power Efficiency: SteamOS demonstrated lower power consumption, leading to extended battery life. For instance, in indie games like "Dead Cells," the SteamOS version provided over 6 hours of gameplay, compared to approximately 2.75 hours on Windows 11. (windowscentral.com)
- User Experience: SteamOS offered quicker wake-up times and a more streamlined interface tailored for gaming, whereas Windows 11's desktop-centric design led to longer boot times and a less intuitive user experience on handheld devices.
Windows 11, while versatile, is primarily designed for desktops and laptops. Its adaptation to handheld gaming devices has revealed several challenges:
- Resource Consumption: Windows 11 runs numerous background services that can drain system resources, impacting gaming performance and battery life.
- Interface Scaling: The OS lacks proper scaling for smaller screens, leading to interface elements that are not optimized for handheld use.
- Absence of a Game-Centric Shell: Unlike SteamOS's Big Picture mode, Windows 11 does not offer a dedicated gaming interface, resulting in a less cohesive user experience.
Recognizing these challenges, Microsoft is reportedly collaborating with OEMs like Asus to enhance the Windows-on-handheld experience. There are also rumors of a dedicated Xbox handheld device in development. However, the specifics of these initiatives remain uncertain.
In the interim, SteamOS continues to set a high standard for handheld gaming, offering optimized performance and user experience. For devices like the Legion Go S, this presents a compelling case for considering alternative operating systems tailored for gaming.
Conclusion
The Lenovo Legion Go S serves as a case study in the ongoing debate over the optimal operating system for handheld gaming devices. While Windows 11 offers broad compatibility, its performance on portable hardware lags behind specialized systems like SteamOS. As the handheld gaming market evolves, the choice of operating system will play a pivotal role in determining device success, emphasizing the need for software that complements the unique demands of portable gaming.
Source: Club386 Lenovo Legion Go S shows just how much worse Windows 11 is than SteamOS | Club386
