Lenovo Legion Go Handheld Gaming PC Review – CGMagazine

The Legion Go is the latest handheld gaming PC from Lenovo. Boasting console-level performance, the Legion Go packs many features into this portable package. Featuring an 8.8 QHD display, up to 1TB storage with expandable storage options and TrueStrike controllers, the Legion Go aims to be a one-stop shop for all your gaming needs. There are two models to choose from, and the good folks at Lenovo sent along the upgraded model for review.

The Legion Go measures 1.6” thick, 11.76” long, and 5.16” tall and weighs 1.88 lbs with the TrueStrike controllers attached. While it is hefty to hold for long periods, the Go comes with a sturdy full-width kickstand that offers an impressive amount of swing to accommodate multiple viewing angles while resting on surfaces. The unit is impressively rugged, sturdy to hold, and durable when used.

There isn’t a lot of IO offered on the Legion Go, with two USB-C 4.0 ports with DisplayPort™ 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0 support, a single combo audio jack and a MicroSD port for additional storage options. Being a handheld PC with attachable controllers, IO doesn’t feel as pressing to include, especially when considering the Bluetooth 5.1 support. While the Bluetooth 5.1 support is appreciated, it did seem a little odd that the latest iteration of Bluetooth was not included. Overall, however, the Legion Go has no issues connecting multiple peripherals via the Bluetooth connection if needed.

On the point of peripherals, The Legion Go includes two TrueStrike detachable controllers. The TrueStrike controllers have been designed from the ground up for both comfort and customization. When attached, the controllers sit quite comfortably in hand. Most notable was how easy it is to reach any of the many programable buttons.

“With 500nit brightness and 144z refresh rate, games look crisp, clear and beautiful on the Legion Go.”

As for responsiveness and accuracy, the twin sticks performed exceptionally well in testing, and they felt very similar to an Xbox Series X controller. Likewise, the face and programmable buttons were responsive and offered a satisfying tactile experience. The TrueStrike controllers are quite nice to use and offer a premium gaming experience.

Unlike many programmable button layouts, the Legion Go’s button positioning made it exceptionally easy to reach any one of them. The only critique of the layout was the side button on the right controller, which, unfortunately, was positioned too close to my palm, resulting in more than one missed button slip-up. Thankfully, it is programmable and, when docked to the Go, was simply a button that wasn’t used.

Interestingly, when detached, the controllers offer a different, albeit quite comfortable, experience. In this mode, once again, the controllers were positioned nicely in the hand and were large enough to feel secure when gripped. The Legion Go also comes with a single controller stand that can be used on a hard surface. While it’s an interesting concept, I didn’t find any game that leveraged the design of the stand.

As for the display, this is where the Legion Go really shines. The 8.8 QHD 16:10 aspect ratio display is absolutely gorgeous and doubles as a capacitive touch screen. With 500nit brightness and 144z refresh rate, games look crisp, clear and beautiful on the Legion Go.

“Featuring an 8.8 QHD display, up to 1TB storage with expandable storage options and TrueStrike controllers, the Legion Go aims to be a one-stop shop for all your gaming needs.”

The inclusion of touchscreen capabilities also makes navigating Windows 11 a much smoother experience. For those who still prefer a touchpad, though, the Legion Go also includes a touchpad below the stick on the right controller. While it’s a bit odd to get used to navigating with a thumb, it is a nice feature for those who want that extra level of precision. While you could theoretically use it for gaming (which was totally tested), I’d recommend sticking to the TrueStrike Controllers.

As for performance, the Legion Go comes stacked with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with AMD Graphics. The Ryzen Z1 is an 8-core, 12-thread processor rated for 3.3 GHz processing speed at the baseline, with the ability to push up to 5.1 GHz for heavy process applications. Coupled with 16 GB of LPDDR5x RAM and integrated AMD graphics, the Legion Go packs an impressive punch for a portable system.

Many titles, such as Diablo 4, Halo Infinite and the Wolfenstein collection, all ran exceptionally smoothly with solid 50-60FPS in all cases. In all cases, every game immediately recognized the TrueStrike controllers and treated them like an Xbox controller with the added bonus of additional programmable buttons. Overall, the performance of the Legion Go is impressive.

However, there is a bit of a caveat to this statement, and it’s more a reflection of software and drivers than hardware. Some titles struggled to perform on the Legion Go with either exceptionally poor performance or random crashes. DOOM Eternal (a staple title for testing here at the office) ran into all sorts of crash issues. Interestingly, while DOOM Eternal, which runs on the IDTech 7 engine, struggled, every game on the IDTech 6 engine (Wolfenstein, DOOM 2016, etc) ran without issue.

Other titles, such as No Rest For the Wicked, would load up and run but with terrible shuttering issues. This leads me to believe that it is more of an issue with driver support and software configuration. With this unique processor in the Legion Go, it would make sense to sort out some drive support issues.

However, with that being said, the Legion Go performed quite well overall. Being able to bring the PC experience to a handheld device is no small feat, and the Legion Go does a great job with it. For those who still like the keyboard and mouse option for gaming, It is possible to run a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard setup quite easily. In fact, in testing, both performed well, allowing me to play shooters with much better accuracy than I could with controllers. 

Impressively, despite producing a solid gaming experience, the Lenovo Legion Go stays relatively cool. Thanks to a centralized fan located at the back of the Go above the kickstand, cool air intake is quite efficient, with all heat dissipating through heatsinks and an active exhaust located on the top edge of the Legion. It is also impressively quiet, considering the hardware packed into a relatively small space.

“Impressively, despite producing a solid gaming experience, the Lenovo Legion Go stays relatively cool.”

As for battery life, the Legion Go comes equipped with a 49.2 Wh battery with a quick charge function. Battery life varied considerably based on the game being tested. Resource-hungry titles reduced the overall battery life considerably, while lighter titles allowed for longer playtime. On average, though, the Legion could handle 4 hours of gameplay and over 6.5 of video playback. As for quick charge, the Legion Go can change from 0%-100% in about 80 minutes.

The Legion Go comes with a host of quick access features to aid gamers in adjusting settings to fit their needs. A settings menu for the Legion Go can easily be accessed at any time on the right controller to allow you to adjust an impressive amount of features and settings. It works quite well and saves a lot of time when loading up a title for the first time.

Another impressive feature is the Legion Space software. It acts as a game consolidation suite and scans the systems for all installed titles, allowing for easy tile-based launching. While it’s not the first of its kind, Legion Space works exceptionally well, is easy to use and quickly finds new titles after they are installed. Once again, it’s a nice addition to Legion Go.

The Legion Go is an impressive piece of hardware. It offers everything needed for a console-like experience in the palm of your hand. While there are a few driver issues still to be sorted out, most titles work exceptionally well on the Legion Go. With great controllers, optional peripheral support and a host of software to make life a little easier, the Go is a great mobile option for gamers on the go.