I Opened Up a Bunch of Handheld Gaming PCs to See Which Ones Are Best to Improve

I’m an enormous fan of each the unique Asus ROG Ally X and its successor, the Xbox Ally X. Despite their smaller screens, they’re simply so comfortable to really use. But whereas these two consoles look fairly distinct from one another on the surface – largely owing to the Xbox Ally X’s bizarre controller protrusions – they’ve quite a bit in widespread.

For the Ally X, you simply should take away six screws alongside the again of the machine, three of that are captive, which implies they received’t come all the best way out. Then, you simply pry the again open to get inside. The Xbox Ally X is basically comparable, with 5 screws on the again, and three extra alongside the underside of the machine. Once these are eliminated you’ll be able to take away the again of the hand held.

On each of those consoles, although, there’s a tiny ribbon cable that runs from the motherboard to the again panel, presumably to energy the rear paddle buttons. Be cautious you don’t simply yank the again of the console off, as a result of it’s very potential you’ll rip one among these cables – I for positive virtually did.

Once the again is eliminated, although, you’ll be capable of see the full-sized 2280 SSD proper in entrance of the battery. Just watch out right here, the battery cable runs fairly tight above the SSD, and the precise battery connector on the motherboard may be very fragile. You’re going to need to take care to not snap something whenever you’re disconnecting it.

Luckily, as soon as the battery is disconnected, it’s tremendous simple to take away the M.2 retention screw, pull out the SSD and substitute it. And, as a result of it’s a 2280 drive, just about something you discover on Amazon will do the job.

Lenovo Legion Go

At first, it appeared just like the Lenovo Legion Go would have been one of many best handhelds to open up and improve. After all, the detachable controllers make eradicating the again panel extraordinarily simple, with out worrying about shoving thumbsticks into the desk.

However, after you take away the six screws on the again and take away the panel, you’ll see how a lot of a ache the Legion Go actually is. Looking extra like a standard laptop computer than a lot of the different handhelds right here, you’ll see what’s primarily a sticker masking the battery and SSD. To substitute the drive, the sticker must be pulled again a bit, with the intention to reveal the wires between the drive and the battery. Then, when you’ve disconnected the battery, you may get on the 2230 M.2 SSD.

However, the SSD is roofed on this bizarre mylar tape, prone to shield the electronics on the SSD from the tape that was simply eliminated. I don’t understand how mandatory it’s, however I’d take that mylar tape from the unique drive and wrap it across the substitute drive, simply in case.

Lenovo Legion Go 2

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is just about higher than the unique in each method. Better show, higher controllers, however it’s so a lot tougher to get into.

Not solely are there two additional screws below the stand, however as soon as I received inside, I noticed the drive instantly – it was simply sitting between the CPU fan and the battery meeting. But seeing is just half of the battle right here.

First, I needed to take out two screws on both facet of the fan, after which pull out the entire battery – which is big, thoughts you. Once the battery is out of the best way, there’s one other screw on the underside proper of the fan meeting that’s securing it to the board. Once that’s eliminated, it’s important to tenderly take away the heatsink, which is connected through thermal pads to the SSD, RAM modules and the cooling system itself.

Finally, I received to the SSD. The Legion Go 2 does include a 2245 drive, nevertheless it no less than has area for a full-sized 2280 drive, you’ll simply have to maneuver the adapter over just a little. That’s a small win, nevertheless it comes together with a handheld that it’s important to virtually utterly tear all the way down to improve the SSD. But, hey, no less than Lenovo continues to be letting you improve it.

Steam Deck

Handheld gaming PCs would in all probability nonetheless be area of interest if not for the Steam Deck, so credit score the place it’s due, however Valve’s handheld is without doubt one of the hardest ones to crack open and substitute the drive. Valve even went out of its option to attempt to warn those who opening it could make the Steam Deck extra fragile, in a teardown it did with The Verge. But I did it anyway.

Getting the Steam Deck itself open isn’t exhausting – simply take out the screws across the exterior and take away the again panel. But as soon as that’s out of the best way, it’s not instantly clear the place the SSD is. Turns out, it’s hiding beneath this silver steel bracket proper subsequent to the battery and fan. After eradicating it through three small screws, one among which is hidden beneath silver tape for some purpose, I used to be in a position to take away this little protect.

Once that’s out of the best way, the little 2230 drive is true there, and similar to the unique Legion Go, the drive is wrapped in mylar tape, however this time it looks as if it’s to cease it from shorting in opposition to the steel plate that’s positioned over it. I’m not solely positive that’s mandatory, however I’d preserve it wrapped up round any new SSD you toss in your Steam Deck both method – it may well’t damage.

Lenovo Legion Go S

The Lenovo Legion Go S might be my favourite handheld, notably the one which comes with SteamOS put in. It simply has such a good looking design, and it feels so good within the hand. Unfortunately it’s a ache within the ass to really open it up.

I stared on the Legion Go S for a great couple of minutes, noting that it solely has three screws instantly seen on the chassis, and determined to lookup a information. Luckily, this teardown video from WinDeck Tech was extraordinarily useful.

After eradicating the three screws on the underside of the machine, I needed to pry off the little strip of plastic that runs alongside the buttons on the highest. Then, there are three extra screws below that. But that’s not all, as a result of after these screws are gone, it’s important to pry the left and proper bumper out of their slot to entry two extra screws below these. Just remember the fact that these are captive screws, and received’t come out.

Once these final two screws are loosened, I began prying it aside, however similar to WinDeck Tech defined in his video, the captive screws across the triggers did get caught a pair instances, so I needed to gingerly work my method round them, till I finally received the factor aside.

Luckily, as soon as I labored my method into the system, the SSD is sitting proper within the open, proper beneath the CPU fan. You simply should take away the facility cable, which can also be very simple, and also you’re good to switch the 2245 SSD the hand held comes with. Luckily, just like the Legion Go 2, this handheld is suitable with a full-sized 2280 drive. So no less than it has that going for it.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC elements queen. You can comply with her @Jackiecobra