Since the graphical settings here are basically turned all the way down already, if you want to play the latest games you’ll have to compromise by dropping the resolution. I didn’t find the medium option of 1,600 x 1,000 that compelling, and a few games didn’t support it at all. At 1,280 x 800, I was hanging out more comfortably in the 45-plus range, which felt playable, but none of the modern 3D games I tested were able to break 60 frames per second to really take advantage of the high-refresh panel.
One other callout I want to make, which I believe is related to CPU performance, is that the Shaders Compiling process that runs when you launch some new games takes an extremely long time on the Go S. I noticed it when I first launched Marvel Rivals and used a well-timed update to time it. It took over 14 minutes to complete, long enough that my friends would already be playing without me by the time I got to the main menu.
Photograph: Brad Bourque
The fans on the Legion Go S are also surprisingly loud, particularly in performance mode, enough that the person sitting next to you on the bus will probably keep looking over to wonder whether you’re cooking something. They’re a bit quieter on the balanced setting, but that causes the GPU and CPU temps to quickly hit 80 degrees Celsius under load.
Battery life isn’t too bad compared to similar systems. I got two hours and change of run time playing Marvel Rivals at full resolution and refresh, on Balanced power, with the screen brightness at 35 percent. I got well over three hours just jamming games of Balatro with the same settings. That’s about the same as I get playing similar games on my Steam Deck but with a higher resolution and refresh screen, so I’d call that a solid victory for the Legion Go S.
A Real Windows Handheld?
I can see some of you licking your chops about a proper Windows handheld, and I don’t blame you. If you’re willing to put in some effort, the Legion Go S could be the centerpiece of a very slick portable desktop setup. I can totally imagine having a setup for home with an external GPU and high-end monitor, playing some games on the way to the office, then plugging in at my desk with more productivity-focused peripherals.
The biggest barrier here is definitely Windows and the distinct lack of support for this kind of device, which may make the SteamOS version more appealing to casual gamers. Lenovo put some effort into making tools that help the experience work better, but even those need some polish for usability and responsiveness. Still, the screen is a distinct upgrade from the Steam Deck, even if you won’t get to really use it except while playing Terraria.
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