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There is no single best Windows setup for every game on the Legion Go S. For a plugged-in session where performance matters most, start with Lenovo’s 30 W Performance thermal mode and Windows’ Best performance power mode. On battery, Lenovo’s 15 W Balance mode is the practical starting point; choose 10 W Quiet when longer runtime and less fan noise matter more. Then tune resolution, refresh rate, and each game’s graphics settings to suit your priorities.
Start with the right thermal mode
Lenovo’s Legion Space thermal modes set the device’s TDP, or thermal design power. Lenovo documents 30 W Performance, 15 W Balance, 10 W Quiet, and a Custom range of 5–40 W. These are available modes and Lenovo’s recommended use cases—not measured promises of a particular frame rate or battery life.
| Situation | Starting mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plugged in; prioritize performance | Performance, 30 W | Lenovo recommends this mode when the console is connected to an outlet and best performance matters. Expect more fan noise. |
| Playing on battery; general use | Balance, 15 W | Lenovo recommends Balance for battery operation and mixed tasks. |
| Playing on battery; prioritize lower noise and power use | Quiet, 10 W | Lenovo associates Quiet with saving battery and reducing noise. |
| A game needs a different trade-off | Custom, 5–40 W | Adjust TDP only if performance, noise, or power use warrants it. Lenovo does not specify one ideal custom value for every game. |
Change thermal mode in Legion Space. Lenovo’s guide describes Performance as the choice when “You want the best performance,” specifically in the context of being plugged into an electrical outlet. Do not treat that as a recommendation to use 30 W on battery.
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Set Windows power mode separately
Windows power mode is a separate control from Legion Space’s thermal mode. Lenovo documents both controls and recommends Best performance while plugged in when performance is the priority, or Best power efficiency on battery when saving power matters more.
#1 Best Overall
- ALL GAMES, ALL PLACES, ALL YOURS – Get ready to game on the 8" 120Hz Lenovo PureSight display and launch any title using Legion Space. The AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor and AMD Radeon graphics deliver incredible gaming performance.
- SEE EVERY DETAIL – Make every scene pop with 500 nits of stunning brightness and 100% sRGB color accuracy. And with 10-point touch support, your interactions are as precise as your aim.
- PLAY YOUR WAY – Play hundreds of high-quality PC games with your complimentary 3 months of PC Game Pass and EA Play. With new games added all the time, there’s always something new to play.
- POWER-UP AND GO – When it comes to gaming on the go, battery life is everything. The Lenovo Legion Go S is built with a robust 55.5Whr battery that delivers the long-lasting power you need for extended play sessions.
- TAKE FULL CONTROL – Get ready to dominate with the ergonomic Legion TrueStrike Controllers, designed for all-day comfort and precision. With their anti-slip texture, you’ll stay in control during even the most intense battles.
- Open Settings > System > Power & battery.
- Choose Best performance, Balanced, or Best power efficiency under the power mode control. Lenovo also exposes OS power mode in Legion Space.
Windows power-mode selection is unavailable while Energy Saver is on. If the control is missing or unavailable, check Energy Saver before troubleshooting anything else.
Choose resolution and refresh rate for the game
Higher resolution preserves more image detail but asks the device to render more pixels; reducing resolution or a game’s render scale can ease that workload at the cost of sharpness. A higher refresh rate can make motion look smoother, while using 60 Hz is more energy efficient and adequate for many situations, according to Lenovo.
Rank #2
- Broad Game Compatibility with Windows 11: The Windows 11 Operating system provides maximum game platform and title compatibility.
- Lenovo PureSight Gaming Display: The 8" Lenovo PureSight Display offers a larger, ultra-vibrant screen space for immersive gaming. A 120Hz refresh rate and VRR ensure smooth, responsive play. With a 16:10 aspect ratio, 500 nits brightness, 100% sRGB color, and 10-point touch support, visuals are vivid, and interactions precise.
- Take Full Control: Legion TrueStrike Controllers deliver all-day comfort and precision with an anti-slip texture for total control. Adjustable triggers switch effortlessly between short and long presses. Hall effect joysticks and triggers ensure smooth, accurate movements. A touchpad, Pivot D-Pad, RGB joysticks, and Legion O power button add style and functionality.
- Designed for Comfort, Built to Last: The Lenovo Legion Go S features a lightweight 1.6 lb (730g) ergonomic unibody for fatigue-free gaming. Its Nebula polymer finish resists dirt and oil, while an anti-slip texture ensures a secure grip. With dual USB Type-C ports and a combo audio jack, it seamlessly connects to your accessories. Built to last with Windows 11 Home.
- With 128GB MicroSD card, Mytrix 5-in-1 hub, microfiber cleaning cloth, and 9H tempered glass screen protector.
- Change resolution in Settings > System > Display.
- Change refresh rate in Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
- Legion Space also provides resolution and refresh-rate controls in its Display section.
Use the highest resolution and refresh rate that still let the game run smoothly at the quality you want. If it does not, lower the in-game render scale or resolution first, then reassess detail and motion. The Legion Go S is sold in different configurations, so check your exact model before relying on specifications for another SKU. Lenovo’s 8ARP1 specification lists Windows 11 Home, an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, integrated Radeon graphics, and a microSD card reader: Lenovo PSREF: Legion Go S 8ARP1 specifications.
Use windowed-game optimization only for compatible titles
Windows 11’s Optimizations for windowed games setting is aimed at compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed or borderless-windowed mode. Microsoft says it can transition compatible games to a newer flip-model presentation, reducing frame latency and enabling features such as Auto HDR and variable refresh rate on supported displays. It is not a universal performance switch.
Rank #3
- 【Lenovo Pure Sight Gaming Display】Feel every pulse of the game with the native landscape 8" Lenovo PureSight display, offering a larger, ultra-vibrant screen. The buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and VRR keep you in perfect sync with the action. Immerse yourself with vivid colors, sharp details, and precise touch control—your world, your game, your rules.
- 【AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor with integrated RDNA graphics】 Experience incredible portable performance that lets you take your gaming adventures anywhere. Powered by the cutting-edge ‘Zen 3’ architecture, the legion go s boasts 4 high-performance CPU cores and 8 threads, delivering ultra-responsive gaming that keeps you ahead of the competition. Elevate your gaming experience to new heights with unmatched speed and efficiency!
- 【Play Your Way With Legion Space】Customize your game with Legion Space. Need more battery in the heat of battle? Adjust power modes on the fly. Want sharper visuals for that boss fight? Boost your resolution mid-game. Fine-tune your joystick sensitivity and create custom profiles for your favorite games —all while jumping between Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and more with one click.
- 【Take Full Control】Dominate with the ergonomic Legion TrueStrike Controllers— the perfect combo of style and function with the iconic Legion design. Switch effortlessly between a short and long trigger press using the adjustable trigger switch for different scenario play. Experience ultra-smooth control with hall effect RGB joysticks, and unleash combos with the large Pivot D-Pad so you're equipped for every game.
- 【Connect and Go!】The Legion Go S features dual USB C 4.0 ports for seamless accessory connections, including docks and external monitors with DisplayPort 1.4. Transfer files at blazing 40Gbps speeds or boost performance with eGPU compatibility for desktop-level gaming. Whatever your setup, Legion Go S adapts for the ultimate versatility.
- Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Enable Optimizations for windowed games for compatible games, then restart the game.
Auto HDR turns this optimization on automatically. Microsoft says to turn Auto HDR off first if you want to disable the optimization. See Microsoft’s Windows 11 windowed-game optimization guidance for details and current labels.
Tune graphics one game at a time
Begin with the game’s own recommended or default graphics preset. If frame rate or stability is not good enough, change one demanding setting at a time—such as resolution, render scale, or graphics quality—and check both smoothness and image quality. If the title offers upscaling or frame generation, evaluate it in that game rather than assuming it will help every game.
Rank #4
- 【Upgraded】We sells product with professionally upgraded to 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD. Original Seal is opened for upgrade ONLY.
- 【Lenovo Pure Sight Gaming Display】Feel every pulse of the game with the native landscape 8" Lenovo PureSight display, offering a larger, ultra-vibrant screen. The buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and VRR keep you in perfect sync with the action. Immerse yourself with vivid colors, sharp details, and precise touch control—your world, your game, your rules.
- 【AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor with integrated RDNA graphics】 Experience incredible portable performance that lets you take your gaming adventures anywhere. Powered by the cutting-edge ‘Zen 3’ architecture, the legion go s boasts 4 high-performance CPU cores and 8 threads, delivering ultra-responsive gaming that keeps you ahead of the competition. Elevate your gaming experience to new heights with unmatched speed and efficiency!
- 【Play Your Way With Legion Space】Customize your game with Legion Space. Need more battery in the heat of battle? Adjust power modes on the fly. Want sharper visuals for that boss fight? Boost your resolution mid-game. Fine-tune your joystick sensitivity and create custom profiles for your favorite games —all while jumping between Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and more with one click.
- 【Take Full Control】Dominate with the ergonomic Legion TrueStrike Controllers— the perfect combo of style and function with the iconic Legion design. Switch effortlessly between a short and long trigger press using the adjustable trigger switch for different scenario play. Experience ultra-smooth control with hall effect RGB joysticks, and unleash combos with the large Pivot D-Pad so you're equipped for every game.
For a useful comparison, keep the game scene, resolution, thermal mode, and plugged-in or battery state the same while testing. Lenovo’s general Windows gaming guidance supports Game Mode and per-game graphics adjustments as starting points, but does not establish a Legion Go S-specific optimal graphics profile: Lenovo’s Windows gaming-experience guidance.
Update the exact device before comparing settings
Before tuning, check for driver and BIOS updates through Legion Space’s settings and Lenovo’s update route for your exact Legion Go S model. Avoid installing drivers intended for a different Legion Go model. Menu names and app details can change with software updates, so use the labels currently shown on your device and Lenovo support information for its SKU. The Windows user guide describes the update route and settings: Lenovo Legion Go S Windows user guide.
Best Value
- Broad Game Compatibility with Windows 11: The Windows 11 Operating system provides maximum game platform and title compatibility.
- Lenovo PureSight Gaming Display: The 8" Lenovo PureSight Display offers a larger, ultra-vibrant screen space for immersive gaming. A 120Hz refresh rate and VRR ensure smooth, responsive play. With a 16:10 aspect ratio, 500 nits brightness, 100% sRGB color, and 10-point touch support, visuals are vivid, and interactions precise.
- Take Full Control: Legion TrueStrike Controllers deliver all-day comfort and precision with an anti-slip texture for total control. Adjustable triggers switch effortlessly between short and long presses. Hall effect joysticks and triggers ensure smooth, accurate movements. A touchpad, Pivot D-Pad, RGB joysticks, and Legion O power button add style and functionality.
- Designed for Comfort, Built to Last: The Lenovo Legion Go S features a lightweight 1.6 lb (730g) ergonomic unibody for fatigue-free gaming. Its Nebula polymer finish resists dirt and oil, while an anti-slip texture ensures a secure grip. With dual USB Type-C ports and a combo audio jack, it seamlessly connects to your accessories. Built to last with Windows 11 Home.
- With 128GB MicroSD card, Mytrix 5-in-1 hub, microfiber cleaning cloth, and 9H tempered glass screen protector.
What published benchmarks can—and cannot—tell you
Tom’s Guide’s June 27, 2025 review published 1200p results for two differently configured Legion Go S systems. The SteamOS/Z1 Extreme/32GB configuration scored 32 FPS in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, 32 FPS in Dirt 5, and 39 FPS in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Its Windows/Z2 Go/16GB comparison scored 21, 20, and 16 FPS, respectively. Because both the processor and memory configuration changed, these results do not isolate an operating-system effect and should not be read as a Windows settings recommendation. The review also reports Doom: The Dark Ages results under its stated settings. See Tom’s Guide’s Legion Go S review for its test configurations and conditions.
Quick Recap
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