All image credits: Lenovo
What is the Lenovo Legion Go?
You may have heard of a new gaming handheld called the Lenovo Legion Go (or not). But what is it and what sets it apart from other gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck, the Asus ROG Ally, and the Nintendo Switch? Let's dive in.
The Lenovo Legion Go is the latest gaming handheld to hit the market that's aimed at PC gaming on the coattails of the before-mentioned offerings. It's a Windows-based mobile touch-screen with detachable controllers attached to each side.
It comes in at $699.99 and can be purchased on Lenovo's website, Best Buy, and Microcenter. Let's discuss what makes the Lenovo Legion Go similar and different from its counterparts.
What Makes the Lenovo Legion Go Different from the Competition?
This product has all the standard buttons you would expect from a standard controller. It has a large yet travel-friendly touch screen in the center that charges via USB-C and contains a micro SD card slot.
Next, let's talk about what makes this product unique and how Lenovo has positioned this product within the greater market amongst steep competition. Then we'll get into the specs and final thoughts.
The Lenovo Legion Go goes for $699.99 and has not one but two USB-C ports--one on the top and one on the bottom.
It contains an 8.8-inch QHD (2560 x 1600) display with a 144Hz refresh rate at 500 nits brightness and covers 97% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It's important to point out that this display is exactly double the resolution of that of the Steam Deck.
Lenovo has also touted the cylindrical design of the Legion Go as being better for grip and ergonomics. Their handheld has a singular touchpad on the right side compared to the Steam Deck which contains two touchpads (one on either side).
This device includes a built-in adjustable stand on its back similar to the Nintendo Switch. The detachable controls are also very similar to the Nintendo Switch. This allows you to continue gaming while the console is set down and the controls are detached.
However, Lenovo takes things one step further by adding a never-before-seen feature to this handheld, namely, an upright mouse built into the right controller.
When you detach the right controller and magnetically attach it to a flat round base that comes with the device, you can transform it into a fully functional gaming mouse complete with extra buttons and all. Pardon the pun, but this is an absolute game-changer for those who want to play first-person shooter games on the go.
Lenovo has put a lot of thought not only into the design of the Legion Go but also into the functionality and features that it packs.
Additionally, one major downside for the Steam Deck is the utter lack of compatibility with popular first-person shooters such as Call of Duty and Destiny 2. But the Lenovo Legion Go is Windows-based which means that it is compatible with every anti-cheat used by the most popular games.
This combined with a detachable gaming mouse, a built-in stand, and a 144Hz display creates a great option for FPS players who want the convenience of a portable gaming computer without the downsides of a full-sized gaming laptop.
But when it comes to the controllers, there's even more added utility to discover. The right controller contains a physical scroll wheel while both controllers contain many additional side and back buttons that are remappable.
But for some, the asymmetry of the four back buttons may be offputting and awkward to use. This comes down to preference and game selection.
With the key defining features out of the way, let's talk about the specs.
Technical Specifications
HARDWARE:
CPU/GPU Combo: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA Graphics
RAM: 16GB 7500Mhz LPDDR5X (onboard)
STORAGE: Up to 1TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 (2242)
BATTERY: 49.2 WHr (2-cell) with 900 mah controller battery capacity
OS: Windows 11 Home
DISPLAY: 8.8″ QHD (2560 x 1600) IPS, 500 nits, 16:10 aspect ratio, 144Hz refresh rate, 97% DCI-P3, 10-point touchscreen, Gorilla® Glass
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi 6E* 802.11AX (2 x 2) with BlueTooth 5.1
TOP PORTS: USB-C 4.0 (DP 1.4, PD 3.0), MicroSD card reader (up to 2TB), Headphone/mic combo jack
BOTTOM PORTS: USB-C 4.0 (DP 1.4, PD 3.0)
CONTROLLER INPUTS:
Legion L/R
ABXY buttons
D-pad
Hall Effect joysticks (L & R)
Bumpers (L & R)
Analog triggers (L & R)
Legion buttons (L & R)
View button (L)
Menu button (L)
Trackpad (R)
6 assignable grip buttons
Mouse wheel (R)
ADDITIONAL CONTROLLER INFO:
Mouse sensor (R)
2 controller release buttons
Haptics: HD Haptics
Gyro: 6-Axis IMU
detachable (works in any attached/detached combination)
This device allows you to connect an external GPU if that's your thing, too.
We mentioned that the Lenovo Legion Go runs off of Windows 11 but Lenovo is also utilizing their own software version of Steam OS or ROG Armoury Crate that Lenovo is calling "Lenovo Space".
This is where most of the games will be launched and tweaked but this device functions like a regular gaming computer. You can use whatever you'd like so it's a matter of convenience and preference.
Final Thoughts
The Lenovo Legion Go is an incredible device that combines unique features with robust functionality. Competition in the mobile gaming space has never been better and it's always great to have options.