Lenovo Legion Go Review: Is This the Ultimate Windows Handheld?

 

Lenovo Legion Go Review: Design and Display

The Lenovo Legion Go is notably large and heavy, weighing in at 854g, which is substantial for a handheld device. Lenovo has ambitiously packed numerous features and controls into its design. The front sports a generously sized screen protected by Gorilla Glass 5, flanked by controllers on either side. Its versatile design allows for multiple usage scenarios—you can use it as a traditional handheld with the controllers attached or detach them and deploy the built-in kickstand for a lighter gaming experience after extended use.

The Legion Go's kickstand is adjustable to multiple angles, enhancing its versatility. One standout feature is the detachable controllers, a rarity in its class, which Lenovo wisely included to cater to varied user preferences.

At the rear, you'll find the intake grille alongside an exhaust port, with essential ports like the Power button, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot, a USB Type-C port, volume controls, and dual speakers positioned at the top.

One of the Legion Go's strengths lies in its dual USB Type-C ports, both supporting USB 4.0, Power Delivery 3.0, and DisplayPort 1.4. This capability allows for connectivity with external peripherals like eGPUs and monitors, transforming it into a makeshift desktop setup.

Display-wise, the Legion Go boasts the largest screen in its category—an 8.8-inch QHD+ IPS display with a blazing-fast 144Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness. This display offers vibrant colors, excellent touch response, and ample size for navigating Windows 11 comfortably. Lenovo claims it covers 97% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, ensuring a rich visual experience. Gaming benefits from the smoothness of the 144Hz refresh rate, although the glossy surface does tend to attract fingerprints easily.

Speaking of fingerprints, the soft matte finish on the Legion Go's body also tends to collect smudges, requiring periodic cleaning.

Lenovo Legion Go Review: Controllers

Lenovo has integrated a comprehensive array of controls into the Legion Go. The hall-effect joysticks on the controllers offer precise gaming control. These controllers are detachable, which proves handy for prolonged gaming sessions. Detaching them involves a button press and slide-down action, though it's a bit more challenging than anticipated.

The left controller includes essential features like the Legion Space key, L/S joystick with click, D-pad, and Menu and View buttons. However, the placement of the latter near the bottom may prove inconvenient in certain games. Additional buttons like triggers and LB are strategically placed around the back and top.

On the right controller, you'll find a Quick settings button, R/S click joystick, A/B/X/Y keys, and a small trackpad that doubles as a mouse. It also features triggers, M1 and M2 keys, a scroll wheel, M3, and Y1 keys at the back. A unique FPS mode button allows the controller to function as a vertical mouse when detached and mounted on the included base, although this feature is more of a novelty than practical for regular use.

The controllers offer a comfortable grip and tactile feel, although accidental button presses can occur when handling the Legion Go.

Lenovo Legion Go Review: Specifications and Software

Under the hood, the Legion Go packs an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU paired with AMD Radeon RDNA 3 graphics, 16GB of LPDDR5x-7500 RAM, and up to 1TB of M.2 2242 SSD storage. While the RAM isn't expandable, additional storage can be added via the M.2 2242 slot. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1.

Running Windows 11 Home, the Legion Go comes equipped with Lenovo's Legion Space software, facilitating performance mode adjustments, device customization, and game management. The Quick settings button on the controller enables quick resolution changes, power mode adjustments, and system settings tweaks.

Lenovo Legion Go Review: Performance

Gaming performance on the Legion Go is commendable, although demanding AAA titles may require lowering settings for optimal frame rates. The handheld offers three preset power modes—Quiet, Balanced, and Performance—alongside a customizable mode that allows up to 30W TDP from the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, ensuring smoother gameplay in more demanding titles.

Benchmarks such as PCMark 10 and 3DMark demonstrate the Legion Go's capability, scoring 5,907 and 3042, respectively, showcasing its prowess in various performance metrics.

Cooling is managed by a single fan setup, effective in dissipating heat during extended gaming sessions, albeit generating noticeable noise.

Lenovo Legion Go Review: Battery Life

Battery life on the Legion Go varies depending on usage. For AAA gaming, expect around 1 to 2 hours, while lighter games and indie titles extend playtime up to approximately 3 hours. The 49.2 Whr battery's performance is constrained, with noticeable depletion from 20% to 5% charge levels. Charging the device from zero to full takes about 1.5 hours, with a 10-minute charge providing minimal additional playtime.

Overall, the Lenovo Legion Go offers robust gaming performance in a portable form factor, complemented by a spacious display and versatile control options, although its battery life and weight are factors to consider for prolonged usage scenarios.