The Lenovo Legion Go: A Promising New Entry in the Handheld Gaming Computer Market
By [Author Name]
The current trend of handheld gaming computers continues to pique the interest of gaming enthusiasts. While the concept of having access to one’s Steam library on the go is undoubtedly exciting, it is not without its shortcomings. Many believe that the technology is still a few years away from reaching a wider user base. However, recent developments in the market suggest otherwise. The debut of the Steam Deck 18 months ago marked a significant milestone, followed by the release of more capable systems like the ASUS ROG Ally and cloud units such as the Logitech G Cloud. Now, renowned tech company Lenovo is joining the fray with its highly anticipated Lenovo Legion Go. I had the opportunity to test this new device, and it seems that Lenovo has successfully identified the strengths and weaknesses of Valve’s device, making the necessary improvements.
Impressive Design and Functionality
At first glance, the Legion Go may not appear particularly impressive with its large size and high-quality plastic construction. However, this is merely an optical illusion. The dimensions of the Go’s design are surprisingly well-balanced, resulting in a lightweight and comfortable handheld gaming experience. As I delved deeper into the device, I discovered a well-thought-out button layout and functional elements that justify its larger dimensions.
The Go boasts a generous 8.8-inch display, which is both competitively sized and offers QHD+ resolution. Its operating system allows users to effortlessly adjust the panel’s resolution to their preferences, catering to those who prioritize visuals or performance. Additionally, the Go’s software enables customization of power output, fan speed, and refresh rate, providing users with greater control over their gaming experience. This versatile system grants the flexibility to achieve high-quality imagery for movies and web browsing or prioritize high frame rates for gaming while preserving battery life.
Performance and Durability
Equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z1 chip and a 16GB LPDDR5 RAM clocked at 7500MHz, the Legion Go offers ample power to run the latest games smoothly while supporting various other applications. Its Windows operating system and touch screen display transform the Go into a versatile tablet for general use. With at least 512GB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage (expandable with up to a 2GB MicroSD card), Lenovo ensures that users have ample space to store their gaming library and other digital content.
One significant advantage of the Go is its quiet and efficient cooling system. Even under significant stress, the device remains cool, a rarity among portable PC units. However, the effectiveness of its 49.2 Whr battery is yet to be fully tested. With fast charging capabilities, it is unlikely to pose a significant issue.
Enhanced Gaming Experience
The Legion Go not only caters to PC gaming enthusiasts; it also incorporates elements reminiscent of the popular Nintendo Switch. The attached controller can be detached, allowing for remote gaming. With responsive controls designed to eliminate drift, as well as additional buttons and a small trackpad, the controller’s design is sophisticated and user-friendly. In FPS mode, the controller doubles as a mouse, further enhancing its convenience and versatility.
Lenovo plans to support the Go with a comprehensive software suite that consolidates various PC storefronts and streaming services. This easy-to-use software provides seamless access to a user’s entire gaming library from platforms such as Steam, Xbox, Epic, and Ubisoft.
Convenient and All-Inclusive
The Go comes with a convenient carrying case featuring a designated cut-out area for easy charging without the need to remove the device. Additionally, the device features two USB-C ports, allowing for seamless connectivity to a TV or monitor for a larger gaming experience. With the inclusion of an audio jack and an adjustable back panel, the Go can stand on its own, much like the Nintendo Switch.
Despite its less-than-stellar aesthetics, the Lenovo Legion Go is undeniably a workhorse among handheld gaming systems. It encompasses all the essential features desired in a portable PC gaming device—power, customization options, removable controls, connectivity, and more. While certain minor bugs and issues have been observed, Lenovo is expected to address these concerns with software patches and updates before the Go’s official release later this year.
Naturally, the price tag is an important consideration. The ROG Ally surprised many with its relatively high cost of around £700. Similarly, the Lenovo Legion Go targets a similar price range. However, considering its impressive capabilities, the Go presents itself as a highly capable device—perfect for those seeking a portable gaming PC experience without the bulk of a traditional gaming laptop.
I find the current trend of handheld gaming computers odd. On the one hand, having access to your Steam library on the go is an exciting premise, but at the same time, I’ve always felt that the technology is still a few years away from really attracting a wider user base. The key part of this perspective is the time frame, as the Steam Deck debuted 18 months ago, and since then we have seen more capable systems like the ASUS ROG Ally and cloud units like the Logitech G Cloud. Lenovo is now getting in on the action with its new Lenovo Legion Go, I recently got a chance to get my hands on the system, and to be honest, Lenovo seems to have identified the strengths and weaknesses of Valve’s device and made the necessary improvements.
Removable controller.
On the surface, the Legion Go isn’t that impressive. It is made of high quality plastic and looks absolutely huge on a table or in someone’s hand. But it’s a bit of an optical illusion because the dimensions of the Go’s are so good. The system is surprisingly lightweight, and when you start to peel back the layers and start examining what each button and element does, you realize there’s a method to the madness.
The Go’s display is quite large, measuring 8.8 inches across. Otherwise, this is a very competitive QHD+ panel that looks impressive and clear while being able to run at a range of resolutions, from 800p all the way up to 1600p. As for how The Go manages this, the device’s operating system gives you a handy way to adjust and change the panel’s resolution without having to do it manually for every game you launch. It might seem like an odd feature to brag about, but it paves the way for allowing users to decide for themselves whether they prefer visuals or performance first. In that spirit, the Go’s software even lets you adjust its power output, fan speed, refresh rate (up to 144 Hz), and more. It all combines so you can decide whether you want high-quality images when watching movies and browsing the web, or aim for high frame rates when gaming – or you can significantly extend battery life by running the system on its minimum.
It’s big, there’s no denying that…but thankfully, it’s not heavy.
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The Go is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z1 chip, which from what I’ve seen and tested is more than enough to play the latest games at decent frame rates, and then use the system on for anything else you might need. This is a key part worth mentioning because the system has a touch screen display and runs on Windows, making it essentially a tablet. Under the hood, there’s 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM clocked at 7500MHz, and at least 512GB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage, which can basically be doubled and then further enhanced with up to a 2GB MicroSD card. It takes a lot of technology to keep a portable gadget going, and Lenovo has managed to do that by keeping it quiet and cool even under stress, which is not something many portable PC units can shake away. The problem, of course, is that the Go is quite large for its proportions (though not heavy), and again, it’s hard to really know how effective the 49.2 Whr battery will be until you put it to the test , but with fast charging , hopefully it’s not too much of a problem.
But that’s only about the PC gaming side of the Go, as the device also has elements that are really similar to Nintendo Switch. The controller attached to the side of the system can be functionally removed (yes, it requires a little elbow grease) and then used for remote gaming. Each controller has a joystick that uses a new responsive control system designed to eliminate any appearance of drift, as well as plenty of buttons and even a small trackpad. The actual controller even comes with a series of extra buttons around its body that can be activated when the FPS mode switch on the bottom is toggled, as you can plug the controller into a plastic peripheral that makes it similar to a flying stick but like a mouse. You have left and right buttons, a scroll wheel, thumb buttons, and the ability to physically move them to move the cursor, and in my testing it all felt very responsive and accurate. These aren’t motion controllers like the Joy-Con, but these controllers feel very sophisticated and well designed for the functionality they offer.
Go enters FPS mode and the right controller acts as a mouse.
Lenovo also plans to support Go with an additional software suite that will allow you to easily tie together various PC storefronts and streaming services so you can access your library in one place. Whether it’s Steam, Xbox, Epic, Ubisoft, etc., the software is very intuitive and easy to operate.
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Beyond that, the Go comes in a carrying case and even has a defined cut-out area where you can slide the charging cable and connect it to the USB-C port without having to remove the device . This is on top of the Go, which includes a second USB-C on top so you can easily connect the system to a TV or monitor for big-screen gaming. Also offering an audio jack, and an adjustable back panel so the Go can stand on its own like the Switch, the Go is really a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, a Swiss Army Knife of equivalent to mobile gaming PC units.
So while there’s no denying that the Lenovo Legion Go isn’t the most attractive system around, it comes across as a workhorse. Everything you could want from a portable PC gaming system seems to be included here, be it power, customization options, removable controls, connectivity, and more. Sure, I’ve noticed some bugs and issues, like one controller disconnecting and then not being able to reconnect, and some frame drops in some menus, but with the release later this year, hopefully some software patches and updates are deleted. and resolve. And of course there is the price tag. The ROG Ally surprised many when it asked fans to pay around £700, and as The Go targets the same price range, some of the responses will no doubt be the same. But from what I’ve seen, it’s a very capable device, and if you don’t want the guts of a gaming laptop for PC gaming on the go, this looks like it could be a very, very good solution.
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