Lenovo Legion Go S: My impressions after weeks of use
It's been an interesting few weeks in my studio. On my desk rests the Lenovo Legion Go S Steam Edition , and I must confess that my faithful Steam Deck has been gathering a bit of dust. When I get a new device, I like to fully immerse myself, live with it, understand its quirks and discover its surprises. And boy, is it Lenovo Legion Go S has given me something to talk about.
I'm often asked, especially around holidays like Children's Day, "I'm looking for an amazing gift for someone who loves video games. What do you recommend?" My answer, until now, has often depended on many factors. Today, after giving this console a try, I have a new candidate that has earned a place of honor on my personal recommendation list. And I'm going to tell you exactly why.
The Relief of Leaving Windows Behind
I've tried virtually every laptop ever released, and my relationship with them has always had one common obstacle: Windows. I love it on my desktop PC, but using it on a handheld screen has been a constant source of minor annoyances. Icons I can't seem to press, on-screen keyboards that appear when they shouldn't, and that feeling of using a work tool for something that should be pure pleasure.
My first hour with the Legion Go S was revelatory. Turning it on and being greeted by the clean, straightforward SteamOS interface was like a weight being lifted off my shoulders. There's no desktop, no confusing context menus. Just my games. I was able to download Hades, start a match, suspend the console to go make a coffee, and upon returning, press a button and be back in the action in less than three seconds. That fluidity, that immediacy, is something I've longed for in a non-Valve handheld PC device. It's the "pick up and play" experience that makes it perfect not just for veterans like me, but for anyone who welcomes this as their first portal into the world of PC gaming. There's no friction, just fun.
The Screen That Deceived My Eyes
I'm going to be completely honest. When I read that the display was "just" an IPS panel, I felt a pang of skepticism. We live in the age of OLED, and my expectations were tempered. So, I turned it on. I booted up Ori and the Will of the Wisps , a game that's a spectacle of light and color, and I was blown away. The colors were so vibrant and the blacks so deep that I had to check the spec sheet twice. It's, without a doubt, the best IPS panel I've had the pleasure of seeing on a portable device.
1080p resolution and 120Hz aren't just numbers on paper. In games like Dead Cells , the movement at 120 frames per second is a visual delight, a fluidity that you can feel in your fingers. For more demanding titles, such as Cyberpunk 2077 , I found my sweet spot by dropping the resolution to 800p. And here comes the magic: thanks to the quality and pixel density of the panel, even at 800p, the game looked noticeably sharper than on the native display of the Steam Deck Having that 1080p display doesn't force you to use it all the time, but it does elevate the quality of everything you display on it. It was like going from watching a movie on DVD to watching it on Blu-ray.
My Experience with the Battery: From the Airplane to the Couch
One of my biggest tests for a portable device is a trip. I took the Lenovo Legion Go S on a weekend flight. During the flight, I set the TDP (processor power) to around 10W and immersed myself in the world of Dave the Diver. I was able to play for a solid two and a half hours without any battery drain, and the console stayed cool and quiet. It was the perfect travel companion.
Back at the hotel that night, I plugged it into the power outlet, slid the TDP slider to the maximum, and put it through its paces with something more brutal. The performance was fantastic, but the fans started blowing hard, and the battery would have died in just over an hour. What I felt was that I was in complete control. I decided whether I wanted a quiet marathon machine or a performance monster for short sessions. That versatility is what really won me over.
Touch, Weight, and a Little Stumble
When I took it out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the build quality. It feels solid and premium. The curved grips fit perfectly in my hands, and the Hall Effect joysticks give me the peace of mind that I won't suffer the dreaded "drift" in a few months. But this solidity comes at a price: weight. I'm not going to lie to you, it feels heavier than the Deck. After an hour-long session playing while lying in bed, I started to feel fatigue in my arms. It's something to keep in mind, the price you pay for a larger screen and a more robust construction.
And if there's one area where I felt Lenovo could have done better, it's in the sound. The speakers are merely functional. They do their job, but they lack the bass and richness that the incredible display deserves. Was that a problem for me? Not really. 90% of the time I play with my headphones to fully immerse myself, and as soon as I connected them, the problem disappeared. But it's my duty to tell you.
My Personal Verdict: Who Is It Really For?
After these weeks, my conclusion is clear. The Lenovo Legion Go S It's not for everyone, but for a specific type of player, it's almost perfect.
If you're like me, if you love the simplicity and ecosystem of the Steam Deck But if you've always secretly wished for a much larger screen and a little more power for those indie games you struggle with, this is the machine you've been waiting for. It's, in essence, the "Steam Deck Pro" many of us have been wanting.
And back to that question about the ideal gift for Children's Day . If you want to introduce someone to the spectacular world of PC gaming, I can't think of a better way. You're giving them a powerful machine, with access to thousands of games, but with the simplicity of a console. It's a gift that doesn't overwhelm, but rather invites exploration. It's, honestly, a purchase I guarantee you'll get right.
Now it's your turn: Let's talk!
That has been my adventure with the Lenovo Legion Go S An experience with some bright lights and some dark spots, but overwhelmingly positive. Now I'm interested in your story. What do you look for in a handheld console? Raw power, battery life, screen quality? Tell me your thoughts in the comments ; I'd love to read and discuss!