Lenovo Legion Go Review: A Powerful Handheld Gaming PC with Windows 11
If you are looking for a handheld gaming device that can run any Windows game or program, you might want to check out the Lenovo Legion Go. It is a new entrant in the handheld gaming market, competing with the likes of Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally.
It has a lot of impressive features, such as a large 8.8-inch, 144Hz display, a powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, and detachable controllers.
It also runs on Windows 11, which gives you a lot of flexibility and customization options. However, Windows 11 also comes with some drawbacks, especially for a handheld device. In this review, I will share my personal experience with the Lenovo Legion Go, and tell you what I liked and disliked about it.
Design and Build Quality
The Lenovo Legion Go looks and feels like a premium device. It has a sleek and sturdy plastic chassis, with a smooth finish and a comfortable grip. It is relatively large and heavy, measuring 11.8 x 5.15 x 1.61 inches and weighing 1.88 pounds with the controllers attached. However, the weight is well-distributed, and it does not feel too cumbersome to hold. It is similar in size and weight to the Steam Deck, which is also a hefty handheld device.
The Legion Go has a slim bezel around the screen, and a kickstand on the back, which allows you to prop it up on a table or other surface. It also has two detachable controllers, which can be locked in place on the sides of the device, or removed and used wirelessly.
The controllers have a nice ergonomic design, with responsive buttons and joysticks. They also have some extra features, such as a trackpad, a turbo button, and a Legion button, which launches the Legion Space launcher.
The Legion Go has two USB-C ports, one on the top and one on the bottom, which can be used for charging, data transfer, or connecting external devices. It also has a microSD card slot, which can expand the storage capacity, and a headphone jack, which can deliver high-quality audio.
The device comes with a hardshell case, which protects it from scratches and bumps. The case has an opening on the bottom, which aligns with the USB-C port, so you can charge the device while it is in the case.
The case also has a circular plastic attachment, which can turn the controller into a wireless mouse, which is handy when using Windows 11.
Overall, the Legion Go has a very elegant and practical design, which reflects Lenovo’s reputation for making top-notch gaming laptops and PCs. It is a well-built device, which can withstand some wear and tear. It also has some thoughtful touches, such as the case and the mouse attachment, which make it more convenient to use.
Display and Audio
The display is one of the Legion Go’s biggest and best features. It has a large 8.8-inch touchscreen, with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 and a refresh rate of 144Hz. It is bright and colorful, and it offers excellent color accuracy and contrast. It also has wide viewing angles, and it supports HDR10, which enhances the visual quality of some games and videos.
The display is very responsive to touch, and it supports multi-touch gestures, such as pinch-to-zoom and swipe-to-scroll.
The display is also very immersive, as it covers most of the front of the device. It is much bigger than the 7-inch screens of the Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally, and it makes the games look more detailed and vivid.
The high refresh rate also makes the games run more smoothly and fluidly, and it reduces motion blur and screen tearing. The display is definitely one of the main selling points of the Legion Go, and it is a joy to use.
The audio quality of the Legion Go is also very good, thanks to the dual speakers on the front of the device. They can produce loud and clear sound, with decent bass and treble.
They also support Dolby Atmos, which creates a surround sound effect, and enhances the audio experience of some games and videos. The headphone jack also delivers high-quality audio, and it supports Dolby Atmos as well.
The audio quality of the Legion Go is not exceptional, but it is more than adequate for a handheld device.
Performance and Battery Life
The Legion Go is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, which is a custom-made processor for handheld gaming devices. It has four cores and eight threads, and it can run at up to 3.6GHz. It also has an integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 graphics card, which can handle most games at high settings.
The device also has 16GB of RAM, which is more than enough for multitasking and running multiple programs. The device comes with either 512GB or 1TB of SSD storage, which is fast and spacious.
The Legion Go can run most games at high settings, but you may need to tweak the resolution or graphics settings for the best performance. For example, I was able to run Doom Eternal at high settings, with an average of 60 frames per second (fps), but I had to lower the resolution to 1,920 x 1,080.
I was also able to run Cyberpunk 2077 at medium settings, with an average of 30 fps, but I had to lower the resolution to 1,280 x 720. The performance of the Legion Go is not as impressive as some gaming laptops or PCs, but it is very impressive for a handheld device.
It can run most games smoothly and enjoyably, and it can also run other Windows programs, such as Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and Chrome.
The battery life of the Legion Go is not very impressive, however. It has a 10,000mAh battery, which can last for about 2 hours of gaming, or 4 hours of video playback.
This is not very long, especially for a handheld device, which is meant to be used on the go. The battery life of the Legion Go is similar to that of the Steam Deck, which also has a 10,000mAh battery, and can last for about 2 to 8 hours, depending on the game and the settings. The battery life of the Legion Go is not terrible, but it is not great either. You may need to carry a power bank or a charger with you, if you plan to use the device for a long time.
Software and Features
The Legion Go runs on Windows 11 Home, which is the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system. This means you can run any game or program that is Windows-compatible, which gives you a lot of flexibility and customization options.
You can also access the Microsoft Store, which has a variety of apps and games, including some Android games, which you can purchase and download. You can also use Windows Hello, which allows you to set a PIN or a fingerprint for an extra layer of security.
However, Windows 11 also comes with some drawbacks, especially for a handheld device. Windows 11 is not optimized for touch controls, so you may need a mouse and keyboard to navigate the interface. You may also encounter some compatibility issues, bugs, or crashes, as Windows 11 is still a new and evolving operating system.
Windows 11 also takes up a lot of storage space, and it may slow down the device over time. Windows 11 does allow for a great degree of customization through apps and programs, but it simultaneously hinders Legion Go from achieving a seamless, handheld, plug-and-play experience like the Nintendo Switch does.
The Legion Go also has a built-in Legion Space launcher, which is a custom-made software that runs smoothly and makes launching games a breeze. You can bypass the Windows 11 experience and just use the Legion Space launcher, which allows you to connect your gaming services, such as Epic, Xbox, Steam, GeForce Now, and Ubisoft Connect. You can also customize the Legion Go via the settings menu, choosing from many options, such as display resolution, controller mapping, and refresh rates. You can also check the progress of downloads, the battery level, and the temperature of the device. The Legion Space launcher is a very useful and user-friendly feature, which enhances the gaming experience of the Legion Go.
Final Word
The Lenovo Legion Go is a powerful and versatile handheld gaming device, which can run any Windows game or program. It has a lot of impressive features, such as a large 8.8-inch, 144Hz display, a powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, and detachable controllers. It also runs on Windows 11, which gives you a lot of flexibility and customization options.
However, Windows 11 also comes with some drawbacks, especially for a handheld device. It is not optimized for touch controls, and it may cause some compatibility issues, bugs, or crashes. It also affects the battery life, which is not very long. The Legion Go is a great device for gamers who want a handheld PC, but it is not a perfect device for gamers who want a handheld console.
The Lenovo Legion Go is available for $699 on Lenovo’s website, for the 512GB model, or $749 for the 1TB model. It is a bit pricey, but it is worth it, if you are looking for a powerful and versatile handheld gaming device. It is a device that can do a lot of things, but it also has some flaws. It is a device that you will love, but also a device that you will hate. It is a device that you will go for, but also a device that you will go against. It is the Lenovo Legion Go.
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