A Handheld Made For Massive, Meaty Claws

You purchase Lenovo’s new Legion Go 2 handheld for the display screen. The efficiency is secondary to how stunning latest 2D titles look on the 8.8-inch, 1200p OLED show. The Legion Go 2 is in any other case an enormous, meaty handheld for avid gamers with big, meaty claws. You’ll battle to carry it above your head mendacity in mattress until you’re an expert energy lifter; the controls received’t be your favourite; it’s as wonky as its predecessor. And it’s laborious to argue anyone ought to spend nicely over $1,000 on a gaming handheld somewhat than simply shopping for a full gaming laptop.

Regardless of all that, I can’t assist however benefit from the hell out of it. My preliminary hours spent rolling my eyes at all the pieces Lenovo failed to repair from its first iteration slowly morphed into the form of appreciation that may solely happen when a tool begins to really feel private. It’s what occurred once I downloaded Hole Knight: Silksong and Hades II to the gadget and needed to maintain again a puff on a crowded aircraft for a way beautiful each video games seemed on Lenovo’s large, costly, stunning show.

It’s the identical feeling I get from Valve’s $550 Steam Deck OLED, which makes use of the identical natural light-emitting diode display screen know-how to current deeper distinction and wealthy colours. Valve’s handheld maxes out at 800p on an older, customized AMD chipset. Even whenever you consider efficiency and show measurement, the Steam Deck OLED remains to be a a lot, significantly better deal. My evaluate unit model of the Legion Go 2 with the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, prices $1,350. I may actually purchase two Steam Decks for this worth (extra if I opted for the LCD mannequin). For Lenovo’s inflated worth, I may run out and purchase three $450 Nintendo Switch 2 handhelds. You may nab a version of the Legion Go 2 that begins at $1,100 for a model with a AMD Ryzen Z2, however judging by my checks that chip will land nearer in energy to handhelds which might be three years previous and value a lot much less.

It’s a ridiculous state of affairs that customers are taking the brunt of Donald Trump’s obsession with import taxes, aka tariffs. And in that approach, shoppers are screwed it doesn’t matter what. The upcoming Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, which is ready to launch on Oct. 16 with the identical Ryzen Z2 Excessive chip, will set you again $1,000. The unique Legion Go requested for $700 in 2023. The Asus ROG Ally X demanded $800 at launch final yr. Each now retail at the next worth, seemingly as a consequence of tariffs. I’d inform you to attend and purchase a brand new handheld, however there’s no technique to inform if costs would possibly enhance in coming months.

Actually? You stored FPS mode?

What drives me mad utilizing the Legion Go 2 is how Lenovo held again from bettering over the 2023 handheld. The revised model is way extra ergonomic than the two-year-old gadget with its sharp corners. Each handhelds allow you to take away every controller and play with the display screen separated, just like the Nintendo Change. The Change 2 did away with rails and went for magnetic connections for each Joy-Con 2, which makes attaching and detaching the controllers slightly simpler. Lenovo’s previous and new system nonetheless use a sequence of uncovered pins you jam right into a cavity on all sides of the display screen. You want two arms and a powerful pitching arm to take away every controller with a down and out movement. Reattaching them may be simply as annoying.

See Lenovo Legion Go 2 at Best Buy

The controller makes use of Corridor impact sticks which might be significantly better at surviving stick drift, although they nonetheless really feel slightly too skinny on my fingers in comparison with different handhelds I’ve used. The Legion Go 2 has barely redesigned bumper buttons that make it simpler to press and the identical, massive triggers. The $650 Legion Go S had a swap to allow immediate triggers with much less journey—higher for first-person shooter video games, however due to the detachable controllers you’ll have to stay with the total vary of movement.

The Change 2’s large standout function is its new mouse mode enabled simply by placing the controller down on a desk or your pant’s leg. Lenovo did it first on the Legion Go along with its FPS mode. So is it any higher now? No, completely not. You continue to have to take away the correct controller and flick the “FPS” swap to activate an optical mouse sensor. You then want to fit it right into a base to carry it like an old-school flight stick, the place the 2 aspect buttons act because the left and proper mouse click on. The DPI remains to be low sufficient you’ll battle to get it engaged on something however a desk. Even whenever you do, utilizing a joystick and the FPS controller collectively necessitates altering the in-game controls. I attempted it in each Cyberpunk 2077 and Borderlands 4, and it brought on such havoc with each titles I used to be detest to make use of the FPS mode once more.

As for I/O, the Legion Go 2 has each a backside and high USB-4 port. In concept, this might permit you to hook it as much as an eGPU. Extra seemingly, it’s sole objective is for charging or hooking as much as a dock for HDMI passthrough. As a lot as Lenovo implies you’ll create a full “battle station” out of your gadget for instantaneous PC, you don’t wish to hook it as much as something bigger than a 1440p monitor, and solely then for enjoying video games most programs can run anyway.

Surprisingly sufficient, among the best enhancements during the last era handheld is the Legion Go 2’s new comfortable carrying case. The previous case was very protecting, nevertheless it was additionally huge. The brand new model is smaller and extra squat than the default Steam Deck case, which makes lugging across the 8.8-inch handheld onto planes surprisingly simple. There’s two little hidey-holes for the FPS mode stand, however because you’ll by no means use it, you’ll be able to stick anything in there. Simply don’t inform me what.

The Legion Go 2 is so rattling fairly

All the brand new ergonomics make it simpler to carry, however not sufficient that it received’t really feel heavy in your arms. You’ll discover you’ll want a desk or lap to relaxation your elbows on, or else you’ll use the built-in kickstand to prop it up in your desk. Both approach you maintain it, you’ll find yourself having fun with this handheld principally for the show. As I stated earlier, the 8.8-inch OLED show is elegant. It doesn’t have any greater display screen decision than the Legion Go’s 1,920 x 1,200, nevertheless it’s sufficient to make video games pop.

For my arms, the Legion Go 2 is simply massive sufficient the place I can grip it and entry all of the controls. Different customers who’re smaller in stature might not be so fortunate. Ignore all these 11-inch handhelds on the market. Close to-9-inch units are greater than sufficient. The display screen additionally sports activities a 144Hz refresh charge with VRR, or variable refresh charge. All these video games that may hit above 100 fps (which, let’s be trustworthy, will principally be older or 2D titles), will look their peak on the Legion Go 2.

The display screen feels shiny sufficient indoors, however whereas Lenovo guarantees you’ll get 1,100 nits of HDR brightness, the display screen isn’t nice for utilizing open air. It’s blinded by direct daylight, and even sitting close to a window you’ll see most particulars disappear. The display screen can be very reflective. A matte coating would have dulled the show high quality, nevertheless it’s on the threat of catching a glimpse of your girlfriend strolling up behind you.

Ryzen Z2 Excessive isn’t an enormous leap

The AMD Ryzen Z2 Excessive APU is solely iterative. If you happen to’ve been watching like a hawk, hoping to devour the most recent and quickest handheld chip, this isn’t it. The efficiency distinction era to era is minimal. In some video games, you could possibly get 5 to 10 fps extra on the highest TDP, or thermal design energy, Individuals who focus too laborious on benchmarks will come away disillusioned. If you happen to care extra about whether or not the system can play the most recent AAA video games, know that you simply’ll have the ability to obtain playable body charges on the max 1200p decision although solely by dropping any hope of ray tracing for more-realistic lighting results.

See Lenovo Legion Go 2 at Best Buy

I’m basically a gamer who refuses to drop the decision of video games for the sake of efficiency. I’ll decrease graphics settings in a determined try and eek out the minimal 30 fps. The Legion Go 2 can handle to take some AAA video games into playable states on the max 35W of TDP (thermal design energy) as soon as the hand held’s engines are firing on all cylinders. TDP determines how a lot energy is being despatched to the processor, which can dictate general efficiency. Borderlands 4 is a type of video games infamous for working poorly on PC and consoles alike (you won’t find the sport on Change 2 within the coming days, both). I used to be capable of get a secure sub-40 fps on the bottom potential graphics settings. I may obtain slightly higher body charges in Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle. Even at decrease graphics settings, the sport nonetheless appears to be like and sounds nice on the small display screen.

Older video games fare higher. Management may common 40 to 49 fps at low settings with the hand held plugged in. The Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark at 1200p and medium settings preset with AMD’s FSR upscaling noticed a mean of 44 fps, whereas at 1080p with the identical settings it may hit 48 fps. In Baldur’s Gate III, I may common above 60 fps within the open areas of Act 1 and get between 45 and 55 fps within the metropolis environments of Act III.

In 3DMark benchmarks, the Legion Go 2 hit a rating of three,305 and 24.48 common fps in Metal Nomad Lite checks. That’s 1,000 factors higher than the Legion Go S with its Ryzen Z2 Go chip working on Home windows, nevertheless it’s solely slightly greater than 300 factors higher than the Z1 Excessive on the Asus ROG Ally X from 2024. The brand new gadget hit 3,897 factors in Time Spy checks, which once more is barely greater than 300 factors higher than an Ally X. It’s not significantly better than an MSI Claw 8 AI+, which makes use of a full Intel laptop computer chip. Merely put, the Legion Go 2 isn’t an enormous step over the earlier gen on the max wattage.

Nevertheless, the gadget’s secret sauce is in how nicely it performs at decrease wattages. Checks with a number of video games at wattages as little as 34 fps nonetheless enabled comparatively secure body charges in video games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Whereas in Cyberpunk 2077 at full decision and Steam Deck settings, the gadget will get 44 fps in benchmarks, at 15W it nonetheless managed to eek out almost 30 fps. I don’t anticipate anyone will run high-end video games on decrease energy. As an alternative, one of the best expertise comes from video games which might be far much less intensive. I may web nicely over 160 fps in Hades II on the “Balanced” efficiency setting. Hole Knight: Silksong looks as if it was constructed with the Legion Go 2 in thoughts with computerized settings to remain round 144Hz. These video games play so gloriously on this handheld, I don’t wish to play them on anything. It’s a disgrace you need to spend $350 greater than an Xbox Ally X jut for that fairly display screen and better refresh charge.

Home windows nonetheless sucks for handhelds, nevertheless it may get higher

On balanced energy settings, I may recreation for round 2 hours and 40 minutes earlier than the gadget was actually begging me to plug it in. In different checks the place I used to be gaming on the full decision and wattage enjoying Indiana Jones, it lasted nearer to 2 hours. The Legion Go 2 sports activities a 74Wh battery, which is barely worse than the ROG Ally X’s 80Wh. The bigger OLED show and better max decision will inevitably drag the battery life down.

At this level, gamers mustn’t anticipate a handheld that can final very lengthy. The ROG Ally X nonetheless has among the best battery life at full energy when it will get nearer to three hours of runtime. In actual life, the distinction is negligible. At this level in my life, having a max two hours of playtime is unusually helpful. If I’m clearing room after room in Hades II late at night time, the battery timer is basically my alarm. If it’s near 12 a.m. and I’m about to expire of energy, it’s an indication I ought to get some relaxation.

Relying on the sport you’re enjoying, the gadget’s followers can get comparatively loud. Even at max pace I wouldn’t name them jet engine noise. It’s sufficient to remind you to be aware when sitting subsequent to strangers on a aircraft. The gadget stored very cool in my time utilizing it. I by no means felt any warmth across the controls, and the world across the followers additionally didn’t really feel steamy when enjoying a recreation at max wattage.

I can’t excuse the value, however I had such a superb time with the Legion Go 2 it felt like a private companion after touring for greater than every week and a half away from house. However there’s an elephant within the room formed like an enormous “X” we have to tackle. The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are purported to launch with a brand new model of Home windows, dubbed the “Full Display screen Expertise” (FSE) constructed solely for gaming handhelds. Whereas this will likely repair the lingering usability problems with Home windows 11 on a 7- or 8-inch display screen, the improve must also remove background duties and—hopefully—increase efficiency by 20%. The difficulty is that Microsoft has stated chances are you’ll want to attend till subsequent spring to get it on handhelds just like the Legion Go 2.

Home windows is horrible on handhelds. It will get in the way in which when making an attempt to place the gadget to sleep whereas nonetheless in-game. It bombards you with popups for OneDrive that it is advisable use the touchscreen to excise. It saps energy and makes the gadget run worse than it might if it was working SteamOS, the identical Linux-based working system working on the Steam Deck. In our checks, the Legion Go S with SteamOS outperforms its Home windows counterpart by 20 to 30%. Until you’re useless set on maintaining your Xbox Sport Cross video games useful, I’d counsel wanting into putting in Valve’s software program on the Legion Go 2. I’ve not confirmed whether or not you’ll be able to set up SteamOS on the brand new handheld, although if its not appropriate at launch, I assume an replace could also be across the nook. With out the FSE or SteamOS, this may’t be my handheld of alternative. With a brand new working system, the Legion Go 2 would change into the bell of the ball for contemporary PC handhelds.

See Lenovo Legion Go 2 at Best Buy