Legion Go

The front of a Legion Go, with DualStrike controllers attached.

The Lenovo Legion Go is a handheld PC manufactured and released by Lenovo. It was released on 2023 October 31. Like the ONEXPLAYER 2 and Nintendo Switch, it features detachable controllers. Like the Nintendo Switch, these controllers can work independently via a wireless connection. This enables diverse functionality not seen in other handheld PCs to date, such as a industry-first vertical mouse input mode, convertible from the right controller, branded as DualStrike controllers.

For me, this has wholly superceded the Nintendo Switch for me. Legion Go similarly offers an improved highly versatile gaming control layout, as well as the same hybrid handheld and docked functionality. In regards to gaming, emulation can achieve the same or better performance as the console, with built-in support for modifications and inherent customisability on a system-level, without the need of an ever-changing exploit environment. It successfully transforms from a gaming console, to a PC workstation, to even a tablet, allowing me to use the same hardware from work to play high-end games and emulation, as well as stay at home for office work and reading.

Introduction

LEGION is Lenovo's brand of gaming-centric hardware, which includes laptops and tablets. Legion Go is Lenovo's first foray in the handheld PC industry, and the third major handheld PC release in America following the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. All SKUs come equipped with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU and 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, with a variable amount of this being dedicated for the onboard graphics. The PC is packed with a carrying case, 65W AC adapter, and magnetic stand for the right DualStrike controller for use in "FPS Mode", a configuration that converts the controller into a vertical optical mouse. The base is not necessary for FPS Mode to function.

As of November 6, the unboxing experience involves fighting the device to display properly in (reverse) landscape mode during the Windows Out of Box Experience (OoBE). This is because the Legion Go's display is manufactured as a portrait oriented display with a resolution of 1600x2560, and some software does not support this configuration by default.

The Legion Go is not a finished product on the software and firmware end, not by any means or stretch of the imagination. Lenovo has shipped out outdated graphics drivers for the APU, which leads to graphical issues and crashes on cutting-edge software, which are most notably emulators. The fact that the device was shipped out with 16GB shared APU RAM leads to endless struggles with Windows or games running out of memory or VRAM. There is not a singular reason a device of this magnitude should have been shipped with the same amount of RAM as phones. It is also the reason you must kiss any form of multitasking while gaming goodbye. This has been an issue for me personally, as I use my handheld PCs for work, and then use them for gaming on the bus ride home. This really does hurt that a single decision that inhibits the device nearly ruins the usage of the product entirely. This isn't exclusive to the Legion Go, as the ONEXPLAYER 2 (16GB RAM model) and Steam Deck (when running Windows as a general-purpose device) both have these exact issues.

Comparison to ONEXPLAYER 2

Audio

The factory experience of the speaker setup on the OXP2 features much richer audio with more defined mids and lows with properly mitigated highs. In general, the OXP2 is an overall superior experience, but the Legion Go can be improved with software such as FXSound to remove some tinniness and introduce a noticeably richer soundscape. Even with these optimisations, the audio of the Legion Go suffers most notably in volume output.

A recording of audio from Lenovo is hosted here, while OXP2 is hosted here. In this unprofessional test, it can still be heard how lacklustre and quieter the Lenovo speakers are by default, compared to the bolder OXP2.

Controllers

OXP2 controllers are shown in white.

The controllers of the Legion are a mixed bag, but they are an overall improvement. The analog sticks utilise hall effect sensors. The OXP2 was advertised with these, but it was a lottery of ALPS sticks and hall effect sticks. The Legion's analog sticks are much more sensitive than that of my OXP2, which should be hall effect. Compared to the OXP2, which only featured a single color ring, the Legion Go features full RGB around its analog sticks.

I overall prefer the +Control Pad of the Legion due to its lack of travel, but it is completely preference. I find it hard to find enough of a grip to actuate the +Control Pad due to the DualStrike's rear buttons, which the OXP2 (thankfully) lacks.

The system buttons (used to control Legion Space) take the place of Start/Menu and Select, ruining muscle memory of literally any other video game controller. On the OXP2, these system buttons are located neatly underneath the right analog stick. This is probably the worst flaw of the DualStrike controllers.

Another flaw has to do with the physical design of the shoulder buttons. In high-paced action games such as Bayonetta 2, I find that I accidentally hit M1 located on the side of the controller next to the B button. M1 is physically on the same shoulder as RB, so when I attempt to trigger Witch Time at a moment's notice, I'll click down on M1 as well. I believe these buttons can be disabled via Legion Space, but I don't yet know if this will cause issues with FPS Mode.

The OXP2 controllers are slightly lighter, but also wider than Legion's controllers. DualStrike controllers also feature a textured back. The experience of removing the controllers is also much better on the OXP2 as it uses a real sliding rail system, like the Nintendo Switch. To remove the DualStrike controllers, you have to feel around for a button on the bottom of each controller, and press it towards the half-rail of the console, moving the controller downwards in order to release. While the other controllers from Nintendo and One-Netbook can be detached with one hand, without picking up the console, this is a two-handed operation on Legion Go.

A flaw I had with the OXP2 were its weak shoulder buttons. L1 and R1 physically lack any support in hardware and float in space, meaning the physical button can become physically detached from the console if pressed hard enough. If this happens, it is likely for the responsible pads to rip off the motherboard, permanently damaging the controller. On the Legion, I have not had any issues so far (and will update this if I do).

I also noticed that my analog caps came off twice on the OXP2, requiring a full replacement. This one I can admit to error on my end, but the analog caps on Legion Go are natively removable.

Unlike OXP2, you can use the right DualStrike controller as a vertical mouse.

Display

An image showing both displays at their minimum brightness value. Leftmost is the Legion Go.

This is arguably the largest to second largest upgrade in favor of the Legion Go compared to the OneXPlayer 2. Without specific calibration testing results, the IPS LCD of the Legion Go meets 97% of the DCIP3 color profile. In terms of vibrancy, it is comparable to a Super AMOLED panel in their most vibrant color setting, even if it cannot inherently reach the same level of contrast. It also refreshes at 144hz compared to OXP2's 60hz. Despite being the same resolution, the significantly improved black levels and contrast on the Legion Go lends to an unmatched visual experience for content consumption and gaming alike, where content on the Legion seems much sharper than OXP2's, like a Retina display. Despite my inexperience of owning only three handheld PCs (as well as a DeckHD), it will take a lot of convincing for me to dethrone this as the best available handheld PC display on the market. The only upgrade I can see as feasible would be OLED.

In the rudimentary side image, there is a visible contrast between the purples and blues on Legion that is not as pronounced on OXP2. The reds are also more vibrant, showing almost as an orange on OXP2. The difference in black levels is also a defining trait of the Legion's display, as it allows an HDR-like contrast level compared to OXP2. Legion uses one of the best LCD panel I have ever encountered on any device, it truly rivals a Super AMOLED panel. The Razer Phone 2 is the only other LCD I've owned that compares to it. In terms of minimum brightness, OXP2 is comparatively bright compared to Legion's minimum value. In terms of maximum brightness, the Legion does get noticeably brighter at 500 nits.

At an angle, the display does lose a noticeable amount of black contrast and shifts to a blue-green hue, like the OXP2.

Compared to OXP2, the Legion also features slimmer screen bezels on the sides of the device which are about half the width of the OXP2 side bezels. The top and bottom screen bezels are about the same.

Design

ONEXFLY on a slot-in ONEXDOCKING station.

The OXP2 utilises pogo-pin connections for its non-standard accessories, such as its magnetic keyboard and detachable controllers. The bottom USB 3.2 port is located adjacent to the bottom pogo-pin connection, which is still balanced enough to be used for docks with bottom-firing connectors.

Unfortunately, on the Legion Go, both USB4 connectors are located on the far left side of the device, making it more difficult to find a dock which is a slot-in solution similar to the Nintendo Switch and ONEXDOCKING. This issue necessitates the use of USB4 extension cables or top-firing docking stations similar to the official Steam Deck dock, which are generally less elegant than simply sliding the system down into place. In addition, the Legion Go lacks a USB-A port entirely, whereas the OXP2 features a singular USB 3.1 port.

Aside from the USB situation, Legion lacks a few console buttons, but makes up for them in the form of dedicated volume buttons, which were missing from OXP2. The microSD reader is also located at the top of both devices.

The Legion is slimmer on average compared to the OXP2, the latter of which is a larger rectangular slab which lacks the slimness and curvature of Legion Go. While I haven't been able to weigh these devices on a scale, the weight distribution and ergonomics of the Legion Go lends itself to feel lighter in weight, when compared to the blockier and thicker ONEXPLAYER 2.

Performance

ONEXPLAYER 2 features a APU which is effectively one and a half generations older than the Legion Go, which is the AMD Ryzen 6800U. As of yet, I have not run comparisons between the ONEXPLAYER 2 and Legion Go's Z1 Extreme, but the Legion's APU should be comparable to a slightly more powerful Ryzen 7840U. I will update this part of the page when I get around to performing tests.

Summary

My main complaints are of the device lacking a USB-A port entirely. It would also be better if it were compatible with 2280 SSDs instead of requiring 2242. My issues with the controllers can also be viewed in the OXP2 comparison paragraph. But for the general gaming experience, and the functionalities of the controller, I won't be returning this one. I have faith on this device on a hardware level, as it is physically capable of being a near-perfect Windows handheld. All I have to do is wait.

I will be soon preparing my OneXPlayer 2 for resale.