Lenovo Legion Go S Review: Premium Design Meets Windows 11 Struggles

Lenovo Legion Go S: A Mixed Bag of Premium Looks and Windows Woes
Lenovo’s latest attempt at a handheld gaming PC—the Legion Go S with Windows 11—has certainly stirred up debate in the portable gaming realm. Despite showcasing a refined design and a promising form factor, this device stumbles hard on performance, pricing, and what many see as a clunky implementation of Windows 11. Let’s dive into why the device, as reviewed by GamesRadar, feels like a high-potential contender mired by compromises.

Aesthetic Appeal and Thoughtful Design​

Right from the get-go, the Legion Go S impresses with its design. Lenovo has clearly listened to feedback and strived to address common concerns with previous iterations. The design upgrades include:

• Streamlined Form Factor: Gone are the bulky removable controllers and oversized screens. The 8-inch IPS display is now encased in a sleek body that’s lighter than its predecessor—dropping from 854g to a more comfortable 740g.
• Ergonomic Enhancements: The device now sports plenty of ergonomic curves, grippy texturized sides, and well-placed buttons. The thumbsticks offer a more tactile experience and a revamped circular D-pad improves user interaction.
• Innovative Features: A welcome addition is the adjustable trigger system that caters to various gaming preferences—whether for clicky hair-trigger presses or sustained inputs in high-intensity gaming scenarios.

What’s not to love here? The design improvements deliver a handheld that feels solid and less cumbersome, making it a joy to hold during extended sessions. However, beauty—and ergonomics—can only go so far when the underlying performance falters.

Windows 11 on a Handheld: An Icy Reception​

If sleek design is part of the story, the choice to run Windows 11 is another tale altogether. While Windows 11 promises a full-fledged PC experience on the go, in practice it seems to be more of a hindrance than an asset for the Legion Go S:

• Bloating and Unoptimized OS: Windows 11, in this device, comes loaded with bloat and unoptimized tweaks. A taskbar that stubbornly auto-hides, unreliable sleep mode, and general sluggishness in core functions significantly hamper the hands-on experience.
• LegionSpace App Woes: Lenovo’s attempt to bridge the gap between desktop and handheld experiences through its LegionSpace app is commendable, yet it falls short. The app’s quick settings menu and even its digital game store interface feel more like afterthoughts rather than features that enhance usability.
• Windows vs. Handheld Needs: Handheld gaming demands crisp, responsive interfacing—a far cry from the more sedate performance typical of Windows 11 on a laptop or desktop. Gamers expecting a seamless, intuitive experience may find themselves returning to the joystick inputs simply to avoid a clunky user interface.

For Windows enthusiasts who long to see a portable PC that marries gaming and productivity, this implementation of Windows 11 is a reminder of the growing pains still associated with mobile Windows devices. The verdict? The OS complicates what could have been an otherwise elegant gaming machine.

Underwhelming Performance and Price Tag Pains​

At the heart of the criticism lies the performance—one of the most vital criteria for any gaming device. The Lenovo Legion Go S packs an AMD Ryzen Z2 GO APU, but the execution leaves much to be desired:

• Performance Benchmarks:
  • Cyberpunk 2077 at 800p: Delivers about 45fps on the Legion Go S versus 43fps on the Steam Deck. What appears as a modest win in raw numbers is overshadowed by the razor-thin performance boost relative to a significantly higher price.
  • Hitman 3 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: In certain benchmarks, the Legion Go S edges ahead slightly, yet it remains far from delivering the necessary oomph for a premium-priced device.
• Battery Life Concerns: The gaming experience isn’t only about frame rates. The Legion Go S struggles to offer robust battery life—clocking in at roughly 1.5 hours during demanding game sessions, a figure that extends only to about 3 hours during lighter Windows 11 use.
• Cost vs. Capability: With a price point of $729 for the exclusive US configuration (32GB/1TB), the device feels steeply priced against its performance. In markets such as the UK, a 16GB/512GB model is available for £549, yet the disparity in pricing versus the actual performance improvements is hard to justify.

For gamers used to the sub-$500 performance of the Steam Deck or even competing handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally, the Legion Go S appears as a device that overreaches in ambition but underdelivers in execution.

What Does This Mean for Windows Gaming?​

The Lenovo Legion Go S offers an interesting case study in the challenges of adapting Windows 11 to a handheld gaming format. While the promise of a full PC experience on the go is enticing—imagine running all your favorite Windows games with the power of a desktop at your fingertips—the current state of optimization leaves much to be desired.

• A Cautionary Tale for Windows on the Go: Windows 11, despite its robust ecosystem, is not yet tuned for the high-mobility, low-power scenario required by portable gaming. Unresolved UI quirks and power management issues serve as a roadmap for future improvements.
• Potential in Hybrid Devices: The positive reactions to the device’s design suggest that there is a market for stylish, ergonomically designed handhelds. Should Microsoft or hardware manufacturers refine the OS experience—perhaps through a more tailored 'mobile mode' or significant performance optimizations—the convergence of PC and portable gaming might finally be within reach.
• The Road Ahead – A SteamOS Hope: The biggest relief for discontent fans is the promised SteamOS version of the Legion Go S. This version is expected to streamline performance by removing Windows’ baggage, promising a more competitive entry into the handheld gaming market. It’s a bet that a custom, optimized OS will be the perfect remedy for the mixed signals currently sent by the Windows 11 variant.

Concluding Thoughts​

The Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 model reminds us that even premium designs can falter without equally refined internals. While the device’s form factor and ergonomic improvements have set a benchmark in handheld design, the underwhelming performance and clunky Windows 11 experience leave a bitter aftertaste—especially at its high price point.
For now, the recommendation is clear: wait for the promised SteamOS iteration. Gamers looking for a portable powerhouse would do well to stick with competitors that offer a more balanced integration of performance, price, and user experience. Until Microsoft and Lenovo perfect the marriage of Windows 11 with portable hardware, the Legion Go S remains a well-intentioned experiment that simply couldn’t quite live up to its potential.
In our ongoing exploration of portable gaming and Windows advancements, it’s innovations like these that serve as both inspiration and learning opportunities for the future of handheld devices.

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Source: Gamesradar Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 review: “my heart aches for this mixed up handheld”