Lenovo's Legion Go S handheld gaming PC has received a notable price reduction of 14% for Amazon Prime Day, positioning it as a compelling alternative to the Steam Deck in terms of both cost and performance. The device, featuring a Ryzen Z2 Go chip, is currently available for $731 at Amazon, a significant drop from its original retail price of $650, especially considering the current market for handheld gaming devices.
The memory crisis has driven up the price of the Steam Deck, with its cheapest model now retailing at $789. In contrast, the Legion Go S offers a more accessible entry point for those seeking a capable handheld gaming experience. While the cheapest Steam Deck model includes an OLED screen, the Legion Go S features a comparatively inferior IPS panel, but this trade-off is offset by its greater performance and lower cost.
Reviews of the Legion Go S have previously noted its comfortable ergonomics and strong battery life, crucial factors for handheld gaming. Although initial pricing was considered high and performance lagged behind newer handhelds like the ROG Ally X and OneXPlayer, the current price point makes it a competitive option. These competitors typically command a higher price.
While this particular configuration comes with 512 GB of storage, which may be limiting for extensive game libraries, a more powerful 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM version with a Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip and SteamOS pre-installed is available for $1,000 at Best Buy. The Windows operating system on the Legion Go S offers advantages, such as better compatibility with anti-cheat software, making it a viable option for games like Fortnite. For those prioritizing SteamOS, the higher-tier model offers that integration.
Regarding performance, the Legion Go S can deliver decent frame rates on medium settings for titles like F1 and Horizon Zero Dawn when utilizing upscaling techniques. However, demanding games such as Black Myth Wukong and Cyberpunk 2077 on medium settings remain challenging for the device, even with upscaling.
Handheld Gaming PC Deals
For those interested in exploring other options or seeking further deals on handheld gaming PCs, a wide selection is available on Amazon. Both the Lenovo Legion Go S models are recommended for consideration by consumers in the market for a handheld gaming device in the coming years.