A lot has happened in the field of mobile game consoles in recent months. In addition to the Nintendo Switch, there are now, for example, the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally and the Aya Neo Air. Now Lenovo is also launching its own handheld console.
The new device is called Lenovo Legion Go and was first shown at the IFA in Berlin. The concept is very reminiscent of the Nintendo Switch, because the Legion Go also comes with detachable controllers and has a display with a stand that can be set up separately. However, the game console runs on Windows 11 and thus appeals to a different group of gamers.
Game console in the style of the Nintendo Switch
The name Legion Go indicates mobile use. However, the console is anything but light and compact. The QHD display alone has a diagonal of 8.8 inches. It therefore offers a lot of space for gamers, but the device also weighs 640 grams. If the controllers are also attached, the total weight increases to a whopping 854 grams. The Legion Go from Lenovo is therefore one of the heaviest handheld consoles on the market. Gamers shouldn’t be able to hold them in their hands for long without getting tired.
However, as mentioned, the controllers can be removed and then allow gaming operations that are reminiscent of the Nintendo Switch. Thanks to the stand, the display stands independently and offers a really good display with its 2560 x 1600 pixels, a refresh rate of 144 Hz and a brightness of up to 500 nits.
Lenovo also supplies a base for the right controller, with which it can be transformed into a gaming mouse. The principle works quite well in emergencies, but is less suitable for longer gaming rounds. On the one hand, the use requires a hand position that is not really ergonomic. On the other hand, the pedestal and the controller are not firmly connected and easily fall apart as soon as you lift the latter.
Also read: Leaked video shows Sony’s new handheld console with all the details
Lenovo Legion Go with high-end chip and Windows 11
Even more important than the detachable controllers is the inner workings of the console. Here Lenovo relies on the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme including RNDA-3 graphics. Originally developed for notebooks, the chip is in the high-end sector and has 8 cores and hyperthreading (SMT). Incidentally, the same chip is also used in the ROG Ally, which we have already been able to test extensively. In terms of memory, there is 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and an SSD with either 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB capacity. The internal memory can also be expanded by up to 2 TB via a microSD card. Users can expect a capacity of 49.2 watt hours for the battery. Two USB-C ports (USB 4) with DP Alternate Mode and Power Delivery are on board, as is a 3.5 millimeter jack.
The system is based on Windows 11, so the console not only offers access to numerous games, for example via Steam. In principle, you can work with it like on a PC. Whether Microsoft Office, Teams, Facebook or Solitaire – the programs known from the PC are also available on the Lenovo Legion Go. Lenovo Legion Go buyers get a free three-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
First impression when gambling
At the IFA, TECHBOOK had the opportunity to try out the Lenovo Legion Go. However, the product shown was not the final and fully developed version. Our first impressions of the hands-on can therefore change before the market launch.
That’s perhaps not wrong either, because we didn’t find a few small points to be quite successful. For example, operation via the controller. Not only do they each bring a Hall Effect joystick, they also have an integrated trackpad, large D-Pad, angled mouse wheel, and a total of 10 assignable shoulder buttons, triggers, and grip buttons. However, the keys creaked a bit when playing for the first time and the joysticks seemed a bit spongy. Hopefully the manufacturer will make improvements here.
The screen, on the other hand, impressed us with its high-contrast and colorful display. However, you should keep in mind that the glass can sometimes be very reflective, which makes gaming outdoors difficult. The loading times were okay and vary depending on the game. Once loaded, test games like Hot Wheels reacted extremely quickly. The fan, which dissipates the heat at the upper edge of the display, turns on under load. You hardly hear him at all, but you can feel him because he lets the air out with quite a bang. A nice gimmick and typical for gaming products is the RGB lighting on the power button as well as on the customizable RGB rings around the joysticks.
Lenovo Legion Go pricing and availability
According to Lenovo, the Legion Go will be available in stores in October. The RRP is 799 euros, with accessories such as the case and the mouse attachment included in the price. Gamers can also get the ROG Ally for the same price, but it has to make do with smaller memory and a smaller battery.