Legion Go 2 overview: More mini PC than gaming handheld

The best strategy to describe the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is that this: it’s a PC gaming handheld I’ve used that repeatedly tries to persuade you to not deal with it like a handheld, because of what I felt are design selections by Lenovo engineers that appear to quietly nudge you in the direction of desks, tables and energy sockets.

That already places it on a really totally different footing from the ROG Xbox Ally X, which I reviewed beforehand (learn it right here). The Xbox Ally X all the time felt like a Windows PC that had been considerably simplified to behave extra like a console – higher ergonomics, clearer intent, and a normal sense that Microsoft and ASUS needed you to overlook there was a full desktop OS buzzing away beneath. Meanwhile, the Legion Go 2 doesn’t attempt to conceal its PC roots in any respect. In reality, it leans into them aggressively.

Read on to seek out out why.

A refined model of the unique Legion Go

There’s no sugar-coating the Legion Go 2’s measurement. It’s giant, heavy, and instantly commanding in a manner that no different mainstream PC handheld at present is. Or any gaming handheld, to be precise. Coming from the Xbox Ally X, which already pushes the higher limits of what I’d casually carry round, Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 appears like a acutely aware rejection of restraint.

This isn’t a tool you absentmindedly toss right into a bag like, say, the Nintendo Switch. It’s one thing you would need to pack intentionally. On the sofa, it’s comfy sufficient as soon as you compromise in, however you’re all the time conscious of its weight and heft. On the transfer, the dimensions turns into extra noticeable. I discovered myself far much less inclined to tug it out and recreation when flying within the tighter areas of economic system class or finances airways in comparison with the Xbox Ally X, which nonetheless feels extra moveable in such eventualities.

That weight, nevertheless, additionally brings stability. The Legion Go 2 feels planted within the palms, and prolonged periods are much less fatiguing than I anticipated, offered you’re seated and have your arms supported on a desk (or a tray on the entrance of your coach seat). The removable controllers from the unique Legion Go make a return right here. They’re not fairly as slick to take away as Nintendo’s magnetic Joy-Con, however as soon as indifferent, the Legion Go 2 instantly adjustments into a distinct mode of use. Prop it up with the built-in kickstand, and it stops feeling like a handheld console and begins feeling extra like a compact gaming terminal.

This is one thing the Xbox Ally X merely doesn’t try. ASUS and Microsoft targeted on making that system really feel cohesive and console-like, from ergonomics to software program stream. It’s constructed to be moveable. Lenovo, in contrast, appears to wish to give avid gamers optionality. Handheld mode, tabletop mode, pseudo-desktop mode – none of those really feel unintentional.

Input high quality is strong throughout the board. The Hall Effect joysticks are responsive and lightweight, and after weeks of use, I had no complaints about precision or drift. Face buttons and triggers felt good too, and the rear paddles are positioned properly sufficient to be genuinely helpful in shooters and motion video games.

What continues to set the Legion Go 2 other than ROG’s handhelds is the touchpad constructed into the best controller. Windows 11 on a handheld continues to be Windows 11, and anybody who’s used the Xbox Ally X will keep in mind how usually you find yourself nudging menus with a thumbstick or poking the display screen simply to get one thing achieved – and it isn’t very intuitive on a small 7-inch display screen. The Legion Go 2’s touchpad doesn’t magically repair that, however it makes on a regular basis friction far simpler to reside with. Installing launchers, dismissing pop-ups, tweaking settings – all of it feels much less like a chore as in comparison with the ROG Xbox Ally X.

Ports are plentiful too, with twin USB-C connectors, a microSD slot, and a headphone jack. That mentioned, the Legion Go 2’s structure isn’t good – particularly when charging and gaming on the identical time – however functionally-wise, there’s loads of flexibility with it.

Gaming efficiency

If there’s one purpose to go together with the Legion Go 2, it’s its attractive 8.8-inch OLED. Compared to the Xbox Ally X’s smaller 7-inch IPS display screen (which is spectacular, by the way in which), the distinction is straight away apparent – every little thing feels much less cramped. Texts are simpler to learn, and crucially, video games with crowded HUDs merely make extra sense on a bigger show. And as a result of it’s an OLED, distinction is powerful and hues are wealthy and vibrant and it’s noticeably superior to the Xbox Ally X’s.

Performance-wise, the Legion Go 2 shares the identical AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor (for our overview unit) because the Xbox Ally X. So gaming performances are virtually neck-to-neck for each handhelds. The former does include the next reminiscence rely of 32GB although, and may carry out simply barely higher at some productiveness and content material creation duties, though on this case you may wish to connect it with an exterior monitor. Gaming-wise, that reminiscence rely benefit doesn’t give it any noticeable edge.

In video games like Cyberpunk 2077, the Legion Go 2 can ship a superb expertise, particularly when plugged in and allowed to attract extra energy. But in comparison with the Xbox Ally X, which advantages from tighter system-level optimisation because of Microsoft’s involvement, Lenovo’s handheld feels barely much less forgiving for avid gamers who aren’t aware of tweaking video games’ settings. The identical sample emerged in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Both gadgets can run it, each require tuning, however the Xbox Ally X felt marginally simpler to dial in for secure play.

Battery-life is the place issues begin to get fascinating. The Legion Go 2 comes with a 74Wh battery, whereas the Xbox Ally X’s encompasses a bigger 80Wh. Yet, regardless of it having a extra power-demanding OLED panel in addition to the next reminiscence rely, the Legion Go 2 manages to carry up fairly properly in our Modern Office (the check simulates web and Office workloads). Gaming is the place it stumbles in opposition to its competitor, shedding out by 40 minutes – that’s fairly a big recreation time. But that mentioned, with a extra highly effective display screen and a smaller battery, I’d anticipated the Legion Go 2 to carry out a lot worse right here. Lenovo did some fairly good optimisations with their handheld.

The Legion Go 2 might not have the identical tight OS integration that Microsoft did with ROG for the Xbox Ally X, however after studying classes from the unique Legion Go, the Legion Space is now a extra practical hub. This makes it simpler to handle video games and efficiency with out continually diving into Windows menus. It doesn’t have the identical console-first really feel because the Xbox Ally X’s Xbox-centric strategy, however it works fairly properly in its present kind.

Final ideas

Spending time with the Legion Go 2 after having lived with the ROG Xbox Ally X makes the distinction between them very clear. The Xbox Ally X is a extra disciplined handheld. It is aware of what it desires to be, and it largely succeeds at delivering a console-like Windows gaming expertise with fewer compromises and fewer friction.

The Legion Go 2 is one thing else completely. It’s greater, heavier, and with a beginning value of $1,399 for the mannequin with the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, dearer too. But it affords a stage of flexibility that the ROG Xbox Ally X can not match. You received’t use all of its options on daily basis. Some of them it’s possible you’ll solely attempt as soon as, like how the best controller will be undocked to turn out to be a hybrid mouse and joystick in FPS mode. But when every little thing comes collectively, the hand-held delivers an expertise that feels nearer to a conveyable PC than a standard handheld console.

If you need one thing you’ll casually deliver alongside and play anyplace, the Xbox Ally X nonetheless makes a stronger case. If you desire a system that may shift roles relying on the place you’re and what you’re doing – handheld one second, tabletop console the following, mini PC after that – the Legion Go 2 affords that versatility.

The Legion Go 2 is obtainable at Lenovo’s e-store, with value beginning at $1,399. Click here to buy.

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