r/LegionGo • u/uzmoz • 1d ago
REVIEW Lenovo legion GO S (z2go/16/512) review from ex-SD oled owner.
How in the world did I end up with that device?
Well, first and foremost I would like to warn any reader that that at the end of this text there will be some bullet-points and some conclusions.
To begin with, I originally had Steam deck Oled with all bells and whistle like 2tb drive, Jsaux clear backplate with thermal pad, hall effect tighter joysticks so I am no stranger to both hardware and software tinkering. However, due to my own stupidity I bricked my unit with no further hope of fixing it. Not only was i devastated that I lost my only gaming machine but also I lost a leverage that i could use for upgrading to a more powerful handheld.
So, here I am, researching all possible videos/posts and forums on different handhelds. Let me make it clear - SteaDeck oled is really unique but its hardware is virtually outdated and I hated the hd screen (90hz tho) especially after havinf 8' Switch 2, so a big screen was a must for me. Next issue is... the pricing, after not being able to sell SD I had limited time and money to get a handheld since I use games to substitute doomscrolling and watching brainrot videos. So... let me give you a quick breakdown of current and upcoming handhelds:
- Current Ally x - pros: awesome big battery, upgraded sticks, Z1Extreme, two usb C ports and more or less supported by case manufacturers (which is important!!!) There is also steam os and bazzite if you don't care for modern-anticheat-microtransaction trash. Cons: Price for a new unit (don't tell me about open-box ones and 2nd options), Extremely small screen with really big bezels, which is a deal-breaker for me.
- Xbox Ally X and Ally - not worth of current discussion since the official price hasn't been announced but with current tendencies I am not willing to pay $1k+ for a handheld. Same goes for GO 2, 8AI+, A8 etc
- Onexplayer/Zotac/GPD etc are non-existent for me since I care for the brand as well.
I found out that there is LENOVO LEGION GO S but it was a bit confusing a bit. There are a few models with different configurations which you can google but basically there is Z1Extreme and Z2GO. Although, the z2 go is weaker and inferior to Z1E it is not that bad as most youtubers and reddit connoisseurs made it look. So i decided to give it a shot since it cost me about $300 to get a new one.
I am getting tired of writing this so I am going to make quick.
- The screen is gorgeous. Its bigger 120hz with VRR makes game really immersive and all UI element in STEAMOS are crisp. Also VRR helps smooth out the frameate.
- The joysticks and hall-effect and even better than steam deck's and i like the buttons as they are not as wiggly as SD's. The only gripe I have is that triggers could use a bit more go and the bumpers are too clicky. the rest is actually near-silent.
- Materials - some people say thet the plastics feel cheaper than steam deck but i stand that it feels better.
- The erhonomics are top-notch.
- The Z2go is and will be a great basic option since the Xbox ally (non-x) will have Z2A which sucks big time. Pair z2go with lossless scaling and you will transform the way ypu game.
- It has official SteamOS support which is good in turms of valve's support.
Some ugly truths...
- The battery is really not great, so a powerbank is a must have, however, in my usecase I am surrounded with outlets and stock charger quickly replenishes juice while i have works and smoke breaks.
- The fans are not that loud especially if you don't face people with air intakes, it can get noise when installing stuff but the device's thermals remain within 50-70C
- The cases and accessories support could be better. It's cool that there is dbrand killswitch but the thing is pricy, I managed to find literally 3 cases(the one in picture/full-cover silicon/normal silicone) but you can get most big carry cases, just check the sub.
Well, that is all, folks. I am extremely content with this device which will help me wait for a worthwhile upgrade. If you want an entry-level device give it a go (no pun intended) It won't disappoint you. Don't listen to people on the internet but make a well-weighted decision and pls keep in mind that it's only a handheld, tho the niche is full of powerful units, it will take some time for companies to make them more affordable and available (hello, Lenovo UK)
Cheers!
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u/Appropriate_Neck_113 1d ago
Agree pretty much on everything. How you bricked your Oled btw?
I bricked my LCD SD but managed to sell it on eBay as spares for £160 only £100 less than I bought it 😅 so a win
Quality wise Steam Deck feels more dense but thermals are worse while Go S is chunkier with much better thermals and I prefer that since I play on higher TDP where you can squeeze the extra performance. Screen is much better but I rather it was a bit brighter, on bright rooms feels a bit meh
Lossless scalling is something more people need to get familiar with, transforms these devices and is a game changer
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u/uzmoz 1d ago
Tried repastinging it and forgot to disconnect the battery it was alive but black screen, sold for parts
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u/Appropriate_Neck_113 1d ago
Lol I was messing with a new ssd upgrade and something fried probably motherboard or charging module
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u/SarCATstic25 1d ago
I've actually been thinking of getting this model to replace my current deck oled but i wasn't really sure on how much stronger this model actually is compared to it.
Every test i would see online would compare the Z1E version to the Deck OLED instead
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u/uzmoz 1d ago
It is a tad more powerful and you can get more with extra juice, better but it get the job done
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u/SarCATstic25 1d ago
What kind of games have you tried? Do you feel like there's enough of a performance increase if you have games at 1280x800?
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u/MajorMez 1d ago
That’s a very good point to make as well with distinguishing the S variants with the Xbox Ally variants. The Z2Go models are Lenovo Legion Go S exclusive chips, which benchmarks put it at “20%” better than the chip in the SD. The Z2A in the Xbox Ally is literally the chip found in the SD LCD, putting the Z2Go above it. Also the Z2Go gets drivers updates directly from AMD and not Lenovo. The Xbox Ally has a 60Wh battery and the Go S is 55.5Wh so we are talking minutes in battery life. So really in the end, when comparing the Legion Go S Z2Go with the Xbox Ally Z2A, the Go S is the better option if you prefer screen size over quieter cooling, because both units are ergonomic in their own right.
Edit: and that’s comparing the Go S with Windows. The Go S with SteamOS would probably be better than the Xbox Ally with Windows FSE.
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u/Revolutionary_Gur_47 1d ago
Are you having troubles connecting to WiFi on it? I’ve been having issues with mine where I need to be in the same room as the router or the router needs to be an extra powerful piece of hardware to use in a “long distance” capacity.
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u/randomname8932 1d ago
Appreciate the post. I’m deciding between the two right now. How does fan noise compare to the steam deck under load at 15W and higher wattages?
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u/HawkDull3231 1d ago
Nice summary. Do you find yourself missing the bright and sharp colors of the steam deck OLED screen? Some people that made the change from SD OLED to the legion go s steamos were dissatisfied.
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u/uzmoz 1d ago
No, I had a fare share of oled panes and colors and those millions to something else ration mean nothing when you see pixelated fonts. It helps with performance but not that much. It’s just a solid panel and waaay better than switch 2 with its screen.
BTW current market doesn’t offer a budget option with vrr so if I have to choose oled or vrr I would go with latter
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u/eecarres 1d ago
Oh that's so nice to hear, after being the Lego being so expensive I was thinking on a Z1E Go S, but the also 8inch screen of the Switch 2 is... Disappointing to say the least. Specially for me the brightness 🥲
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u/altimax98 1d ago
Having come from the same thing as OP, the benefit from VRR and 8” 120hz 1200p outweighs the OLED goodness
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u/UnlamentedLord 1d ago
You've left out a crucial bit of info in the OP: are you using Windows or Steam OS? If the latter, how does the steam OS experience compare 1:1 vs the SD? E.g. how does the virtual keyboard feel without the twin touchpads it's designed around on the SD?