We're still in the first generation of handheld gaming PCs but stock Windows 11 isn't the answer.
Let’s get one thing straight, this isn’t a spec-for-spec breakdown, nor a hardware comparison with other portable consoles. This is a real-world, out-of-the-box review for anyone curious about handheld PC gaming, especially those coming from more user-friendly ecosystems like consoles or the Nintendo Switch. And, well… the Lenovo Legion Go S has some problems.
Right away, the device feels cheaper than I expected plasticky, a little toy-like. But I get it. That’s likely essential to keep the weight down, and in that sense, it’s a win, because it is comfortable for long sessions. The buttons are responsive, and the adjustable triggers are a thoughtful touch. But then there’s the trackpad. Thise weird tiny, awkward, and pointless little trackpad. I truly don’t get it. It’s like they added it last minute because someone in a meeting said, “Shouldn’t it have a trackpad?” The screen, on the other hand, is genuinely gorgeous.
But then I turned it on and almost immediately, I was knee-deep in a UI mess.
The Legion Go S runs Windows 11, from what I can tell just full blown stock standard Windows 11, without a lick of optimisation for a handheld form factor. Basic things like the sign-in screen being misaligned, the keyboard refusing to disappear, and app interfaces breaking layout immediately killed the magic. Some apps like Steam ran beautifully, but Xbox Game Pass on the other hand looked like it was having an identity crisis, with menus clipping off-screen, resizing weirdly, and fighting for attention.
And yes, I’m aware there are “essential tweaks” that seasoned PC gamers swear by. Disabling Copilot, turning off widgets, third-party frame limiters, etc. But if you need a laundry list of settings changes to make your $900 AUD device enjoyable, then something’s gone wrong. A device marketed as a plug-and-play portable console should behave like one.
Coming from the world of consoles, including the Switch which reenergised this portable craze, I expected a smoother experience. The Switch proved how sleek and seamless handheld gaming could be. The Legion Go S proves that there are ways to go for portable PC’s.
One of the things I was most excited to try was using it docked plugging into my TV. What can I say, I miss gaming on the couch since joining team PC. But the UI fell apart even more the moment I connected an Xbox controller. Navigating became a war of overlapping menus and bad input mapping. When I finally got Bionic Bay running, it played in actual slow motion. A stylish, low-spec indie platformer. Unplayable. I gave up almost immediately.
To be fair, not everything was a nightmare. Playing Bionic Bay in handheld mode was a dream. It looked great, ran smoothly, and made me remember why I was excited about this device in the first place. But then I tested Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a title I’ve been looking forward to jumping into having been told how stunning it is. This was not the case on the Go S. Frame drops, lighting glitches, stutters. I didn’t even make it past the prologue. The Legion Go S just couldn’t handle it, and I wasn’t about to experience a potential masterpiece in that state.
If this device is really only good for playing small-scale indies, something the Switch excels at already, then what’s the point of spending $900 AUD on it? For that price, I expected at least passable performance on mid-tier titles. And if you have to tweak AAA games settings so much that they stop looking or playing like AAA titles then I ask again, what’s the point?
Ultimately, the Legion Go S feels like a contradiction. The premium price tag suggests high-end performance, but the hardware can’t deliver. And while I genuinely believe most of the blame falls on Windows 11, which is clearly not built for plug-and-play handhelds, Lenovo still shipped a product that’s not ready for the audience it’s seemingly targeting.
The device is much better, like drastically better when running SteamOS, we’ve got a guide to installing it right here - How to install SteamOS on your Legion Go S, a step by step guide. You might be better off buying the version with SteamOS preinstalled if you're not technically savvy, but there are other options.
As it stands, recommending this to anyone, especially casual gamers who won't be brave enough to reflash the device or dig deep configuring it massively, would feel irresponsible. There are better, cheaper, more reliable options out there.
