Lenovo Legion Go S review
The Lenovo Lenovo Legion Go S ranks as the #553 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 70. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #371-ranked performance among 441 laptops. Consider the Intel NUC X15 or Huawei MateBook 14s, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Lenovo Legion Go S is a powerhouse handheld gaming PC that outshines the Steam Deck in performance. With the Z1 Extreme chipset, it delivers nearly twice the speed and double the memory, making demanding games like Monster Hunter Wilds feasible. However, this comes at the cost of battery life, which lasts around an hour and a half with full power usage. While not ideal, it's still a remarkable device that justifies its price tag. If you're in the market for a high-performance handheld gaming PC, the Legion Go S is definitely worth considering, especially if you value raw power over portability.
Build
The Lenovo Legion Go S's build is a mixed bag. The handheld's design is sleek and compact, but the layout can be confusing to navigate, particularly with Windows 11. However, with Steam OS, the experience improves significantly. The device's weight is evenly distributed, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. While some may find the material choice slightly flimsy, overall, the build quality is satisfactory. It's worth noting that the Go S's battery life suffers when playing demanding games at high resolutions, but this is a trade-off for its impressive performance capabilities. Take a look at Huawei MateBook X Pro - its improved build sets a new standard.
Display
The Lenovo Legion Go S boasts an impressive display that sets it apart from the Steam Deck. While the resolution remains at 800p for gaming, you can switch to 1200p for other tasks or when playing less demanding games like Hollow Knight, which delivers smooth performance at this resolution. The display's sharpness and color accuracy are on par with what you'd expect from a high-end device. However, when gaming at 1200p, the Steam Deck struggles, while the Legion Go S handles it with ease, making the latter a more compelling choice for those who want to game at higher resolutions. If you're after top-notch display, consider Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022.
Performance
The Lenovo Legion Go S is a powerhouse handheld gaming PC that delivers impressive performance. Powered by the Z1 Extreme chipset, it crushes the Steam Deck in 3D Mark Time Spy and Fire Strike, scoring 3,433 and 7,865 points respectively. In actual games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Monster Hunter Wilds, it achieves frame rates of 61 FPS and 31 FPS, outperforming the Steam Deck's 28 FPS and 19 FPS. However, battery life takes a hit, lasting around an hour and a half when playing demanding games at 1200p. It’s worth checking out HP ZBook Create G7, delivering remarkable performance.
Battery and Charging
The Lenovo Legion Go S offers decent battery life, lasting 6 hours and 25 minutes in the PC Mark 10 test. However, gaming performance takes a toll, with the system dying after about an hour and a half at full power. Lowering the resolution or limiting the power can improve battery life, but this comes at the cost of reduced performance. Compared to the Steam Deck, the Go S's more powerful Z1 Extreme chip provides better performance, but also shorter battery life.
Connectivity
The Lenovo Legion Go S boasts impressive connectivity options, including USB-A and C ports, an SD card slot, and wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. This makes it easy to transfer files, stream games, and connect accessories for a seamless gaming experience. Get your hands on Huawei MateBook X Pro if you're looking for better connectivity.
Features
The Lenovo Legion Go S boasts impressive features, including a powerful Z1 Extreme chip, 32GB of LPDDR5X memory, and Steam OS licensing. It also offers double the memory and more demanding game capabilities than the Steam Deck, with notable performance leads in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Monster Hunter Wilds. Consider discovering the power of HP Chromebook 15, featuring the latest advancements in features.
Support and Maintenance
The Lenovo Legion Go S has transformed into a top-notch handheld gaming PC with the upgrade to the Z1 Extreme chipset and licensing Steam OS. This powerhouse offers double the memory and performance compared to the Steam Deck, making demanding games like Monster Hunter Wilds feasible. However, battery life suffers, lasting around an hour and a half of playtime at full power.
Pros
1. The Lenovo Legion Go S has a much more powerful chipset than its initial Windows 11 version, making it one of the best handheld gaming PCs on the market.
2. It can handle demanding games like Monster Hunter Wilds and Cyberpunk 2077 with ease, even at high resolutions and settings.
3. With 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory and a bigger GPU with 12 graphics cores, it outperforms the Steam Deck in most games and benchmarks.
4. The Legion Go S's performance leads to much smoother gaming experiences, with average frame rates more than double those of the Steam Deck in some cases.
5. It has a sleek design that makes navigating the operating system (licensed from Steam OS) relatively easy compared to its initial Windows 11 version.
Cons
1. The Legion Go S's battery life is somewhat compromised due to its powerful chipset, with gameplay lasting only about an hour and a half at high resolutions.
2. Lowering the resolution or limiting power can help extend battery life, but this may not be ideal for those who want to play games at native resolutions.
3. In more demanding games like Monster Hunter Wilds, the Steam Deck's performance was slightly better than the Legion Go S when played at 1200p resolution.
4. The Legion Go S's power-hungry chipset means it won't last as long in battery-intensive applications or games compared to the Steam Deck.
5. Its powerful chipset also means that the Legion Go S may not be as suitable for everyday mobile computing tasks, potentially limiting its appeal.
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