Customer Ratings & Reviews

Never owned a handheld before so I did a lot of research before buying one. My analysis led me to this device and my gosh do I love it. Am not a fan of small screens so the 7inch on the Ally devices was just not it for me. The Chinese handhelds are too expensive and the legion go devices are a tad bit heavy for long sessions. The deck albeit amazing is unfortunately a little behind in power. So this device just feels like the sweet spot for everything. Screen not too big and not too small. Really good performance. (I know the z2E devices are out but it’s not an extreme jump in performance) Plus it has steamOS so you get the best out of good performance and a good handheld OS to match. If you’ve never used steamOS you might feel like people are exaggerating when they say it’s good. And that’s how I felt till I used it. Gosh it’s amazing. Battery life is honestly acceptable and with the fans, it’s not as loud as I was led to believe. The speakers are the only bad thing about this device lol but to be fair all the other devices don’t really have amazing speakers. Nothing wowed me when I was trying the devices out. Sadly no OLED but the screen is amazing 120hz plus VRR so yeah! P.s Hall effect thumb sticks. And if you’re not sure what that means. Essentially it means stick drift is something you won’t have to worry about. And on a device that has thumb sticks attached to it. That’s a major reason for concern. Unlike a traditional console you can always just buy another controller when stick drift develops. Rather than having to buy a whole other 900$ device lol.

This Legion Go S works great, and SteamOS seems to work pretty well. I haven't run into any issues with any games, and the sleep function works seamlessly. The device is heavier than a Switch 2, but it isn't cumbersome. The screen is nice, and the colors seem well-balanced. I did not find the fan noise as distracting as some people have, but it can be audible, especially on heavy games or while downloading. The battery life could be better, however it is not a dealbreaker.

This is a really nice handheld but I got it on sale for $750 making it more justifiable, I probably wouldn’t pay full retail for it. Pros: Comfortable, large screen, SteamOS. Cons: The battery life is terrible so expect to bring a charger or portable battery on the go. That’s the only reason I docked a star. The fan is also loud when using max voltage but it doesn’t bother me that much. Some people report terrible screen response time but honestly I don’t notice. No 2tb storage version requires you to upgrade it yourself. Not everyone is comfortable opening a handheld and cloning a M.2 drive to expand storage. If you look up how to download lossless scaling on SteamOS it really helps with FPS on more demanding games. SteamOS feels way more like a console than windows with their gimmick version of full screen mode but it’s not without issue. Installing outside games and launchers requires a bit more work than a windows handheld but honestly I’m happy with just my steam library on the go anyways. I did manage to get BattleNet and Epic on here though. Overall this is comfortable to use and plays most games well enough. It is a handheld after all, don’t expect PC or laptop quality. Overall very happy with it for the amount I paid.

The Legion Go S is powerful and convenient. I love it! The z1 extreme is a surprisingly powerful APU. It can run AAA games like Hogwarts Legacy at 1200p at a solid 40fps with a mix of high and medium settings with the help of FSR upscaling, and frame gen makes it even better! I was worried about the screen not being OLED, but it's beautiful! Also, it's a wonderful size for immersion especially with its 16x10 aspect ratio. Hall effect joysticks are definitely appreciated. The ability to switch L2 and R2 between full travel analog triggers for racing games and hair triggers for shooters is a plus. The thing I love most about it is that it is so convenient! With the ability to suspend games at any point (including mid-cut scene!), I can finally play games. Heating something up in the microwave? Waiting to be called at the doctor's office? Have some down time between tasks for work or need a quick break from studying? Whatever the case may be, unsuspend and play, unlike playing on your PC (where it's just inconvenient and a waste of electricity to keep your game running in the background). I can't recommend this handheld enough! My one minor complaint is that I wish the ergonomic grips were at a bit of a wider angle like console controllers. (See photo)

This little handheld has been one of the best things I've purchased in a long time. I originally bought the cheaper one, but the next day this one went on sale for only a tiny bit more than what I bought the other for, so I returned it for this. I have owned a couple of Steam Decks, and loved it, but the Legion Go S was a step in the right direction. What really sold it for me, was I ended up trying windows on it and realized it was what was missing from my handheld gaming experience. Sure it may run a few FPS less, but I can play all of my games and mods across all platforms with ease now in a comfortable environment for me. All of the for a few hundred less than the windows variant and still have the same experience. Though it is not perfect, overall I am very happy. If you know to what to expect going into a handheld purchase, the experience will be more than satisfying! The only issue I have with it is battery life, but I use it plugged in almost all of the time so its not enough to knock off anything.

I like this device alot. It is my first handheld PC and helped me clear a ton of my gaming backlog out. Pros: Great 8 inch screen, Comfortable to hold, Good resolution, Good looking LCD IPS panel, 32 GB RAM, 1TB Storage, and Native SteamOS is so simple and easy to use. Cons: Fan noise is very rough at higher TDP's, Battery life is mediocre sometimes, and Recent price hikes aren't superb. Conclusion: If you can get this device at the right price, its amazing. Just know that it has some slight downfalls but I can definitely recommend it.

The Legion Go S on sale is the best deal anyone could find on the market as of right now, beating even the steam deck in terms of value. The 32GB of ram paired with Steam OS and the Z1 extreme make it a force to be reckoned with. This handheld can pretty much handle any game you throw at it (excluding anti-cheat games). The 32GB of ram allows you to push higher textures on games that wouldn’t be possible on other handhelds, and pair that with Steam OS which manages its ram very efficiently, you could potentially have a much clearer and better viewing experience compared to other Z1 extreme handhelds. The chip on this device has been proven to be an extremely successful powerhouse too, as it can run many AAA titles fairly well. The screen is good on this device, being an 8 inch IPS panel with VRR it is honestly the best choice for a device like this. Just keep in mind the battery on this device isn’t the best, as it’s only 55.5Wh, meaning you’ll reasonably only get around 2 hours of battery life, maybe 2.5 hours if you optimize it right. Overall though, this device is easily recommendable for the ease of use, screen, chip, ram, and ergonomics.

Ergonomics: the device is extremely comfortable despite its very large size. The weight is a little heavy but well distributed. Can absolutely play for long sessions exceeding an hour without fatigue. Performance: the performance of the Z1 extreme is solid and plays nearly all games that could be asked of. Has a high TDP potential especially when plugged in. The 32 gigs of RAM are 7500MT so it may be even faster than other similar Z1 extreme SOC handhelds. Software experience of steamos has been solid. Although there have been a few crashes here and there, it is not a common experience. The most impressive part of about about Steam OS on this hardware is the perfect sleep mode for pause and resume play at any point. Battery: it's not great. On balanced settings for most games it can typically last around 2 hours but not much more. On low power indie or lightweight games, it can be 4 to 5 hours. Screen Quality: it's a pretty good screen overall with VRR down to 48Hz. It's an 8-in screen with 16x10 aspect ratio that has pretty good color. Vibrancy and the black levels are okay. Although cannot compete with an OLED. The touch screen is responsive. Value: at full price of $899 this is too expensive but on sale at $649 it is a very reasonable deal.

Solid performance and very comfortable to use. The screen looks great and games run smoothly for a handheld. I like using it on the couch or in bed instead of sitting at my desk, which makes longer sessions more enjoyable. Battery life is decent and controls feel responsive. Overall, a great option if you want flexible, portable gaming at home.

Love this handheld pc. I have alot of downtime at work and being able to game again is amazing. Love it more than a steam deck for sure. If your complaining about its weight compared to a steam deck, go lift more than your snickers bar. The fact i can dock this to an external graphics card and game on my tv at max graphics 1080p at 60fps on most of my games ("before docking it") and then add the power of the external and have 120 fps amd more fidelity is just amazing. Yes steam deck can be docked but the lack of 32gb ram and a z1 extreme is the real reason the legion go S is my top recommended way to game on the go. And steam OS is a friggin game changer.

As my granddaughter finally claimed my SteamDeck as her own, lol, I thought about buying another or this device. Sale price + Certificates + Newer chipset helped with my decision. The only 3 caveats to me (not so much for others) is the fan noise, battery life and touch pads. 1- I use my device 60/40 docked/ handheld so battery matters when traveling. I do have a great INIU power bank that mitigates the less than optimal battery duration. 2- Fan noise - waiting for a Decky plug-in to assist (several are "almost there"). 3- Touch pads. That was a tough one as I used them on my OLED, but they are an afterthought on this device. Again, my opinion. Your use case may be different. Otherwise a SOLID DEVICE that plays several AAA Titles ("Out-Of-The-Box") that the SD can't touch without Frame Gen, FS4 and the like. Recommended esp as it is back ON SALE at Best Buy.

My experience with the Lenovo Legion S Z1e has been very fun. If you are debating on buying a Steam Deck or a Legion I’d recommend the Legion! If you have the extra money in your pocket and want a portable handheld PC this one is for you. Pros: Runs AAA games, Steam OS, Nice Microphone, Good speakers, Thumb-sticks that’ll never have drift, 2 USB-C ports, and hairpin triggers. Cons: A little heavy (not anything too bad), Sometimes takes a while to boot up (could just be my WiFi) which I figured can be fixed by pressing the power button once to put it to sleep, then press it again and it boots up, Fairly loud fans but it’s to be expected when playing heavily demanding games in performance mode, and the track pad is horrendous. Definitely recommend buying a keyboard and mouse like I did if you’re using the legion as a desktop like me. Overall a very good handheld especially with the specs. This is basically an upgraded Steam Deck that can double down as an actual desktop/laptop setup.

Excellent handheld, with plenty of RAM and the Z1e chip can play pretty much most of my backlog of games. Battery is not the best, but you can squeeze more hours by adjusting TDP and frame rate in the settings. SteamOS is top notch and the 8 inch screen is beautiful. VRR is amazing, and though it’s not OLED, the display is absolutely beautiful. TLDR: good performance, not so great battery. Overall? Worth it IMO

I was lucky enough to grab this open box right around $900 which these days (with ram-flation) is sadly a pretty good price. I know a year ago people were grabbing these for like $650 on sale which is insane value. The legion go S is the ultimate balanced handheld for me. I’m pretty snobby when it comes to PC performance but I was shocked how good 30-40 fps looks on demanding games because of the pixel density and VRR. I play a range of games like AC black flag, ghosts of Tsushima, efootball, and hades ii and they’ve all been super enjoyable. You won’t get perfect 120hz ultra settings performance, but if you want that just get a pc. With managed expectations, this genuinely plays great. This is also by far the most ergonomic handheld I’ve ever used. My hands are slightly on the larger side (I’m around 6”1) so not sure if that affects it. But the weight is solid - not too heavy and the shape of the controller makes it so so nice to hold. I bought a legion go 2 recently and had to return it because it was heavier and less ergonomic. I’ve used the switch 2, steam deck, legion go 2, and imo this beats all of them by quite a bit when it comes to comfort. The screen is also great. Slightly taller aspect ratio (16:10) which I find really nice for most games. And even tho the panel isn’t OLED, the colors are super vibrant especially if you change the steamOS setting to optimize for the panel vibrancy. You don’t get perfect blacks obviously but I was surprised at the color saturation. One big worry I had was the battery and this will vary a lot depending on how you game but for me I found it perfectly fine. I get about 2h of battery life on average but it charges quickly and I almost always have access to an outlet. I also find that I rarely game more than that in one sitting on a handheld but that’s just me. If I bought this handheld at $700-750 this review would be 5 stars easily. Even at the price point I bought it at I have no regrets. I just couldn’t give it 5 stars considering it’s not a powerful beast for the price. Also the case I have on it is from dbrand if anyone’s curious.

The Legion Go S is an impressive evolution in the handheld gaming space, delivering a premium feel the moment you pick it up. Its compact design fits naturally in the hands, with ergonomics that make long play sessions surprisingly comfortable. The bright, smooth high-refresh display brings games to life, and performance is a clear step up from previous models—titles run beautifully with fewer compromises, making the experience feel closer to a true portable PC than ever before. What really stands out is how well-balanced the device is: strong performance, great build quality, and a sleek form factor that’s easy to carry around. And while the price point sits on the higher side, it matches the level of refinement and the significant upgrade under the hood, making the Legion Go S a worthwhile investment for gamers who want both power and portability in one polished device.

If you are a parent with lots of responsibilities and a demanding job/career and if you also find that the TVs in your house are always occupied by romantic drama scenes and children’s shows then you will adore this product! It can play pretty much all the best games (especially older ones) and steam os is just a smooth and seamless experience. You can load emulators and play those games from your childhood too. I have zero complaints, just don’t expect it to output 4K 120hz anytime soon and you won’t be disappointed! Although it can definitely handle some high resolution stuff.

Excellent Handheld. Totally worth the money. I got it on sale and it was the cheapest Z1E handheld in the market. Has good screen, performance and hall effect sensors Battery life is poor though

I purchased this and the Xbox ROG Ally X within a few weeks of each other and while this seems competitive to the newer device there are some issues that really make this a poor value when compared to the new unit that is only $100 more. For the record, this is not a bad handheld, it is just a bad value for the money. _______________________________________________________________________ Performance The performance of the two devices is fairly similar in many ways and that honestly made this comparison more difficult as the Z1 Extreme pretty much only uses Performance cores and that means there is no slowdown as long as Ample power is provided, even if the means efficiency is compromised. _______________________________________________________________________ Ergonomics The screen size is also something that is nice to look at and have on the go, but the ergonomics aren't as good as the Xbox Ally X and this makes for a real issue when trying to handhold it as the curvature of the Legion Go S is too smooth and has a constant feeling like it is slipping in your hand. I find the ergonomics of the controllers on the Xbox Ally X to be rivaled only by the Steam Deck itself (My friend has one of these and the comfort is similar). _______________________________________________________________________ Battery As for the battery, Lenovo going with a smaller 55 Watt Hour battery, when combined with a less efficient APU, was a poor choice in my opinion. This effectively delivers half the gaming time at the performance equivalent of the Xbox Ally X. This remains the largest reason why I have any reservations when it comes to recommending this handheld. ______________________________________________________________________ Ports There is however, one more area where the Legion Go S just loses me completely. The USB 4 support is only 1st Generation and that means getting better performance from this thing out of an external GPU is severely limited and is only half as capable as the Xbox Ally X USB4 2nd Generation port. I want this device to be docked on my desk as a Desktop replacement and the Legion Go S failed hard in this area, because of this one port. _______________________________________________________________________ Operating System Another point of contention is the operating system. While Steam OS is currently more performant, lacks features like kernel level anti-cheat which limits Online gaming and Gaming largely relies on a translation layer to make the game even run. This means that adding features to any new Direct X and using them in games, would severely delay or even block the use of any such games on Steam and DX 12 is long overdue for an update. With Windows you're waiting for performance improvements, but you're getting much better compatibility and reliability with regard to games being stable. Still, either system will eventually be able to run both operating systems. _______________________________________________________________________ AI Xbox Ally X has it and the Legion Go S does not. You might not care about this, but it does affect efficiency and could eventually be used to enable FSR4 for lossless upscaling of games. _______________________________________________________________________ Controller Technology Legion Go S - Uses HE Triggers and Control Sticks. Xbox Ally X - Potentiometer Based Control Sticks for improved durability and reduced drift. Impulse triggers to incorporate feedback like rumble functions. 8 Way D-Pad for better compatibility with retro games. On paper the Legion Go S appears to have the advantage for reliability, but the controls themselves appear to have smoothing technology turned on, as there is a noticeable latency when using the two devices side by side. This was not something I was expecting when making my decision on which to keep. _______________________________________________________________________ Overall The handheld is decent and at $600 to $700 it would definitely be worth pausing on the Xbox Ally X, but the current price range of $829 to $899 makes this a much harder sell when compared to the Xbox Ally X. The biggest issues for me are the Battery Life, Controller Latency, and USB 4 implementation. If Lenovo turns off the controller smoothing, it might cause other issues, and somebody could potentially come up with a larger battery mod, but you're never going to be able to fix the USB 4 issue and that means eGPUs are out with this device. So, if you do not currently have a device and this is your first device, I would look elsewhere if you can afford better.

After trying out many handhelds , steam deck, rog ally , Xbox ally x , msi claw , legion go full size , This is the most comfortable, and best bang for your buck tbat you will get, it performs pretty much the exact same as the " newer" gen hardware for a fraction of the price . Compared to other systems legion go s is solidly built and not flimsy like other devices such as Xbox ally x

I love this product the graphics are insane Best Buy employees were very helpful the only thing I don’t like is you basically have a an hour of play time but it a great product