Used Lenovo Legion Go S handhelds offer competitive performance for a lower price than new units

The Lenovo Legion Go S, specifically the version equipped with the AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, provides a viable alternative to the Steam Deck OLED for users seeking a Windows-based handheld gaming experience. While new units are priced at a premium, the secondary market offers these devices at significantly lower costs, often around $550. The Legion Go S features an 8-inch 120Hz VRR IPS display and a 55.5Wh battery, which are notable upgrades over the Steam Deck OLED’s 7.4-inch 90Hz OLED screen and 50Wh battery. Performance testing in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 shows that the Legion Go S can match or exceed the Steam Deck’s output, particularly when utilizing the device's performance mode and FSR frame generation. The device also supports up to 16GB of dedicated VRAM, which may benefit higher-end games. Although the Windows operating system introduces more background processes that can impact battery life compared to SteamOS, the Legion Go S remains a capable and customizable handheld for those willing to navigate the secondary market.

The Lenovo Legion Go S features an 8-inch 120Hz VRR IPS display that is larger than the Steam Deck OLED's 7.4-inch screen. The device is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, which includes 12 RDNA2 compute units for improved graphical performance.

Users can allocate up to 16GB of system RAM to the integrated GPU to potentially improve performance in demanding games. The Legion Go S includes a 55.5Wh battery, offering a slight capacity increase over the 50Wh battery found in the Steam Deck OLED.

Windows background processes can negatively impact battery life, though users can mitigate this by adjusting performance settings. The secondary market for the Legion Go S is currently more cost-effective than purchasing the device new.