At CES 2025, we were able to get to grips with Lenovo's new console, the Legion Go S. The latter exists in two versions: Windows 11 and SteamOS. Here are some first impressions and important information to know.
For once, Lenovo is taking advantage of CES 2025 to make a ton of announcements, particularly regarding gaming products. The brand is thus releasing a new portable console: the Lenovo Legion Go S. And the latter exists in two versions to please everyone: one model under Windows 11 and another under SteamOS. It is therefore the first non-Valve device to benefit from this OS (if we do not take into account the small tinkering techniques).
Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows 11) // Source : Frandroid
Lenovo Legion Go S Powered by SteamOS // Source : Frandroid
This is also the only real difference between the two versions, on the hardware side, we are dealing with the same machines with an attractive technical sheet quite faithful to the rumors circulating around the Legion Go S. We therefore have a LCD screen of 8 inches at 16:10 ratio with a definition of 1920 x 1200 pixels. The panel benefits from a refresh rate of 120 Hz VRR and a brightness of up to 500 nits.
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Inside, no surprise: we find an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor accompanied by a Radeon 700M GPU. Also count on 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. The console also has a 55.5 Wh battery capable of recovering 85% battery in 60 minutes of charging.
The Legion Go S also benefits from Wi-Fi 6E compatibility, two USB 4 ports and a microSD slot. Whether it is the Windows 11 or SteamOS version, you will have the same dimensions: 299 x 127.55 x 22.6 mm for a weight of 740 grams. To differentiate the two models without turning them on, you can rely on the colors: white for the Windows version, purple for SteamOS.
A console that makes you want
I will take advantage of this article to give some first impressions when getting started. The first point that stands out pleasantly is the feeling to the touch, neither too silky nor too rough. Plastic is far from doing cheap. And despite the nice weight displayed on the scale, the Lenovo Legion Go S remains well balanced and is not weighted down like a concrete block.
Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows 11) // Source : Frandroid
Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows 11) // Source : Frandroid
Lenovo Legion Go S Powered by SteamOS // Source : Frandroid
This impression of quality is still present on the joysticks, the directional cross and the buttons, even if the latter seemed a little hard to me. The triggers on each side fall under the index fingers and you will have to manipulate small levers on either side at the back to switch from digital mode (where the triggers are simple buttons) to digital (to be able to dose the support with a longer stroke).
Not being a die-hard gamer nor too familiar with this product category – I am the proud owner of a Switch purchased in 2017 – I am still a little surprised by the two Y1 and Y2 on the back, but I don't I have nothing particular to report about them.
Lenovo Legion Go S Powered by SteamOS // Source : Frandroid
Lenovo Legion Go S Powered by SteamOS // Source : Frandroid
Interface-wise, I was surprised by the efficiency of SteamOS. Not being at all used to this system, I found it relatively easy to understand and to choose between the two versions of the Legion Go S, I would turn to this one. Opposite, the Windows 11 model is necessarily more familiar, but has something a little clutter which always disturbs me a little on this type of controller. Even if it is necessarily more complete since you have a PC in your hand where you can open the Start menu, open a web browser, use the file explorer and even draw on Paint.
Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows 11) // Source : Frandroid
Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows 11) // Source : Frandroid
Lenovo Legion Go S Powered by SteamOS // Source : Frandroid
Lenovo Legion Go S Powered by SteamOS // Source : Frandroid
Lenovo Legion Go S Powered by SteamOS // Source : Frandroid
I was able to launch Forza Horizon 5 on the Windows 11 version and Portal 2 on SteamOS. In either case, I appreciated how the ventilation did not cause too much noise pollution. The noise remained quite well muffled. However, a proper test would be necessary to form a better opinion. I only played a few minutes of each of the two games.
Lenovo Legion Go S price and release date
Please note that the release of the Lenovo Legion Go S in its Windows 11 version is scheduled for sometime in January 2025 at a price of 729.99 US dollars.
For the Lenovo Legion Go S “Powered by SteamOS” is announced for May at 499 US dollars.
