3 days ago
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Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS)
ZDNET's cardinal takeaways
- The Legion Go S moving SteamOS is connected merchantability for $600.
- This mentation trims the abdominous and delivers a streamlined gaming acquisition via a vibrant 8-inch screen.
- The simpler OS means little features than the Windows model.
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No, you're not seeing double. This is the 2nd reappraisal I've done for Lenovo's Legion Go S. However, this 1 is peculiar due to the fact that it doesn't tally Windows 11 -- it runs SteamOS. That azygous alteration successful the operating strategy elevates the Legion Go S from a "just okay" gaming handheld to a large 1 -- rivaling the Steam Deck itself.
Before I interruption down the handheld, I should explicate Steam OS to those who don't know, arsenic the bundle is astatine the halfway of what makes this caller exemplary truthful good.
Also: I replaced my enactment PC with this Dell laptop, and it was 1 of my champion decisions
SteamOS is simply a lightweight operating strategy primitively exclusive to the Steam Deck. It delivers a user-friendly interface that isn't bloated with unwanted apps, and much importantly, it's designed specifically for gaming.
It's this streamlined OS is simply a large crushed wherefore the Steam Deck has been truthful fashionable -- it's nary fuss, nary muss. Back successful January, Valve (the developer of Steam) announced it would statesman licensing the operating strategy to third-party companies, with Lenovo being the archetypal (and astatine the clip of this writing, only) partner.
A acquainted design
Design-wise, it's identical to the earlier exemplary with the lone discernable quality being the color. It is present successful Nebula purple alternatively of Glacier White. The instrumentality itself is conscionable arsenic comfy successful my hands and doesn't consciousness bulky. Textured grips connected the broadside halt slipping, hall-effect analog sticks support accuracy and forestall drifting, and the switches connected the backmost impact the question region for the rear triggers.
However, the touchpad nether the close analog instrumentality has mislaid its purpose. In the erstwhile model, it was utilized to power the cursor for assorted purposes, similar navigating a web browser. But, this instrumentality doesn't enactment immoderate browser oregon apps for that substance -- it's conscionable Steam.
The touchpad tin beryllium utilized successful games arsenic different fastener oregon to assistance purpose weapons, though performing the second doesn't consciousness great. It's truthful tiny that it's hard to get precise movements. Most of the time, I ended up aiming my quality successful a wholly antithetic absorption erstwhile I meant to sprout the force successful beforehand of me.
Gaming connected the go
Your gaming acquisition connected the Legion Go S depends connected the titles you play. As chill arsenic this handheld whitethorn be, it is inactive conscionable a handheld, not immoderate ultra-powerful desktop. Underneath the hood is an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, an AMD Radeon GPU, and 16GB of RAM. This configuration is overmuch happier tackling lightweight games similar "Hades" oregon "Stardew Valley". Titles similar those tally astatine a consistently creaseless 120Hz. It's similar art.
AAA games similar Monster Hunter Wilds person a harder clip moving connected the Legion Go S. Graphics are blurry, and show slows down erstwhile there's a batch connected screen. That sounds similar a sound against the device, but the Steam Deck besides struggles with the same. It's the quality of the tech, and the information that it tin adjacent tally these titles astatine each is commendable successful its ain right.
Luckily, you tin tweak the hardware's show connected the fly. Pressing the fastener astatine the precocious close country of the surface launches the settings menu. Then, conscionable click the lightning bolt icon to unfastened the Performance leafage wherever you tin tweak the game's show to champion suit your needs.
If you don't privation to walk fractional an hr adjusting the settings similar I did, you tin conscionable activate a title's default profile. This diagnostic is my implicit favorite. It automatically applies a game's show illustration according to what Steam has for it, taking each of the guesswork out.
Battery beingness isn't great. While "Monster Hunter", the Legion Go S ran for astir an hr and 15 minutes earlier I had to drawback the charger. However, connected lighter games similar "Hades 2", that clip went up to 2 hours.
Lenovo Legion Go S vs Steam Deck
With the merchandise of the SteamOS Legion Go S, I see the erstwhile Windows exemplary obsolete. This mentation is the lone 1 you should attraction about, and it serves arsenic a large alternate to the OLED Steam Deck. Now the question is, what should you get: the Legion Go S oregon the Steam Deck?
It's close, but I similar the Legion Go S much due to the fact that of its touchscreen. Lenovo's instrumentality has an 8-inch LCD that runs astatine a 120Hz refresh rate, portion Valve's Steam Deck has a 7.4-inch OLED touchscreen that runs astatine 90Hz max. I worth higher refresh rates due to the fact that they guarantee smoother animations and faster effect times, which tin mean the quality betwixt winning and losing.
On the different hand, the Steam Deck's OLED surface does mean its colour output is much impressive.
Also: I replaced my ThinkPad with a dual-screen Windows laptop - here's my verdict aft a month
There are different deciding factors to consider. The Steam Deck's OLED show delivers a much vibrant colour palette, and Valve's instrumentality is lighter astatine 1.4 pounds, portion the Legion Go S clocks successful astatine 1.62 pounds. Also, the Steam Deck has importantly larger touchpads underneath the Deck's analog sticks, which marque controlling first-person shooters easier.
ZDNET's buying advice
Lenovo's Legion Go S is connected merchantability for $600 astatine Best Buy close now, which is simply a competitory price. I had a blast with this product, and it's a instrumentality I would perfectly get for myself, particularly connected sale. However, if you worth much vibrant colors and bigger trackpads, get the Steam Deck, which retails for $549.
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