The competition for Windows handheld consoles is rapidly intensifying in India. Just a year ago, the market for these devices hardly existed. Now, major brands like Asus, MSI, and Lenovo have entered the fray. While there are other handheld options such as the Steam Deck OLED and Ayaneo available through unofficial channels, Asus ROG Ally and MSI Claw A1M are the only options currently available in India with assured service and spare parts.
The newest addition to the market is the Lenovo Legion Go, which claims to offer enhanced features compared to its competitors. But do these features justify a purchase? How well does it handle AAA game titles? What’s the battery life like? Is it genuinely more portable than a laptop? After testing the Legion Go for a week, these are my insights.
Pricing of the Lenovo Legion Go in India
The Lenovo Legion Go is set to launch in India on July 1, priced at Rs. 89,990. It will be available in the Shadow Black color option and currently offers a single variant with 512GB of SSD storage, which is upgradeable.
The carrying case is sizable but does not accommodate the charger.
Lenovo includes a spacious carry case for the Legion Go, along with a 65W charger (which cannot fit inside the case) and a controller base.
Design and Display of the Lenovo Legion Go
The Legion Go is notably large and weighs 854 grams, which may feel cumbersome for a handheld device. The construction includes a generous screen protected by Gorilla Glass 5, flanked by controllers on either side. The design permits versatility: it can function as a traditional handheld or, if the weight becomes uncomfortable, users can detach the controllers, activate the kickstand, and continue playing.
The adjustable kickstand on the Legion Go.
The detachable controllers are a differentiator from competing models, which makes gameplay a lot easier. More details on the controllers will be provided later.
The back of the device features an intake grille and exhaust port at the top, as well as buttons for power, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot, USB Type-C ports, volume controls, and dual speakers.
Both USB Type-C ports support Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4.
The bottom side of the Legion Go includes another USB Type-C port. Notably, both Type-C ports feature USB 4.0 compatibility, supporting Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4, enabling users to connect an eGPU or a monitor for a desktop-like experience.
Now, let’s discuss the impressive display. The Legion Go boasts the largest screen in its category, featuring an 8.8-inch QHD+ IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a brightness of 500 nits. This display is bright enough for indoor play, offering a vibrant visual experience with excellent touch response, making it suitable for Windows 11 use. Lenovo also claims that the panel covers 97 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Gaming feels fluid and enjoyable due to the fast refresh rate, although the glossy surface catches fingerprints readily.
The Legion Go features the largest display in the handheld Windows console category.
However, the soft matte finish tends to attract fingerprints and oil smudges. Cleaning the screen is manageable, but maintaining the body’s cleanliness proves challenging.
Controllers Overview
The design of the Legion Go encompasses a plethora of controls, which can sometimes feel overwhelming but beneficial for unique gaming scenarios. The controllers feature hall-effect joysticks, optimizing gaming performance. The detachable feature, particularly useful for extended play sessions, requires a bit of effort to detach without frustrating ease.
Detaching the controllers requires some effort, although reattaching them is straightforward.
On the left controller, you’ll find the Legion Space key in the top right corner, an L/S joystick with click function, a D-pad, along with Menu and View buttons on the bottom, whose positioning may be awkward during certain gameplay scenarios. More buttons are positioned around the back and top, such as triggers and assignable keys.
The right controller includes a Quick Settings button, an R/S click joystick, action buttons (A/B/X/Y), and a small trackpad that doubles as a mouse. There are additional buttons for triggers and M1/M2 assignments along the sides and back.
The numerous buttons on the controllers may feel excessive.
A unique feature of the right controller is the FPS mode button at the bottom, allowing the controller to function as a vertical mouse when detached and mounted on the provided controller base. Though this mode allows for some innovative gameplay, it is easier to revert to regular controller use.
FPS mode may not be frequently utilized.
The controllers provide a comfortable grip and tactile feedback. However, sometimes buttons might be inadvertently pressed while lifting the device, although these accidental presses do not affect gameplay.
Specifications and Software
The specifications of the Legion Go closely resemble those of the Asus ROG Ally, featuring an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU paired with AMD Radeon RDNA 3 graphics, 16GB LPDDR5x-7500 RAM, and expandable storage of up to 1TB M.2 2242 SSD. Although the RAM itself is not upgradable, users can bolster storage with an M.2 2242 drive. Connectivity is further enhanced with support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1.
The Legion Go is powered by a 49.2 Whr battery, complemented by two 900mAh batteries housed in the controllers.
The Legion Space software requires refinement but facilitates various adjustments on the handheld.
In terms of software, the device operates on Windows 11 Home, supplemented by the Legion Space software that allows for performance mode adjustments, customization of settings, and functions as a centralized game hub. The Quick Settings button on the right controller offers easy access to resolution and power settings.
Although Windows 11 may not be optimized for handheld devices, the 8.8-inch display helps mitigate some frustrations associated with this OS.
Performance Analysis
Performance-wise, the Legion Go can handle AAA titles, but high frame rates at ultra settings are not feasible due to its mobile chipset limitations. The device provides three power modes along with a custom mode where a total thermal design power (TDP) of 30W can be achieved with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, yielding the best framerates. Users can also choose from Quiet, Balanced, and Performance modes. While testing, I used Performance mode and achieved a TDP of 20W during gameplay.
The device includes multiple preset modes along with a custom setting that maximizes TDP at 30W.
In benchmark tests and various games, such as Hogwarts Legacy and Far Cry 6, maintaining smooth gameplay required reducing the refresh rate and setting the resolution at 1080p or lower. During tests, I achieved around 50 to 55 fps in Hogwarts Legacy on low graphics and similar performance in Far Cry 6 on higher settings.
Benchmark results showcased the Legion Go with a score of 5,907 in PCMark 10, and it scored 3042 in the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark test. Overall, the performance for gaming is commendable.
Playing demanding AAA titles may not be as enjoyable as less resource-intensive games.
The cooling system of the Legion Go effectively prevents excessive heat, featuring a single fan setup that can become loud enough to mask the sound of the dual speakers positioned nearby.
Battery Performance
Battery performance on the Legion Go is relatively average. Engaging with AAA titles typically results in just 1 to 2 hours of playtime. However, lighter indie games can extend the battery life up to approximately 3 hours. The 49.2 Whr battery simply doesn’t support extended gaming sessions. Additionally, the battery drains rapidly from 20 percent to 5 percent without warning. The device also suffers from a lack of effective sleep mode, often waking unexpectedly during the night.
Playing games at lower settings may extend the battery life.
Charging the Legion Go takes about one and a half hours to reach a full charge, and a brief 10-minute charge yields only about 25 percent battery power, insufficient for gameplay.
Final Thoughts on Lenovo Legion Go
In India, the Lenovo Legion Go has only two official competitors: the Asus ROG Ally and MSI Claw A1M. The Legion Go matches the performance and capabilities observed in the Asus ROG Ally review and performs slightly better in terms of higher frame rates. While the MSI Claw has yet to be tested, it is unlikely to outperform the Lenovo device.
The Legion Go stands out due to its impressive display and solid performance, despite a potentially overwhelming array of buttons on its controllers. Its size is cumbersome, particularly when packed into its case, necessitating a sizable backpack for transportation, which could alternatively carry a gaming laptop available for Rs. 89,990.
For those seeking a handheld Windows gaming device primarily for home use, the Legion Go is worth consideration. However, others may wish to wait for future iterations. If you have the budget, this innovative gadget offers a unique experience. It may not be the ultimate handheld console, but it undoubtedly leads the market for Windows handhelds currently available in India.
Pros:
- Outstanding display
- Strong performance
- Detachable controllers
- Sturdy build quality
- Compatible with various PC games
Cons:
- Bulky design
- Moderate battery life
- Windows 11 OS limitations
Ratings (Out of 10)
- Design: 8
- Display: 9
- Software: 7
- Performance: 9
- Battery life: 6
- Value for money: 7
- Overall: 8
