2023-09-01 04:00:23
The Steam Deck and the ROG Ally have a new competitor from Lenovo: the Legion Go. The concept of this portable console can be summed up in a few words: it’s a Nintendo Switch running Windows 11. Landing scheduled for October, at a price of 799 euros: we were able to take control of this big beast before its presentation, to reveal our first impressions.
The Lenovo Legion Go // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
It was on the sidelines of IFA 2023 that Lenovo announced the Lenovo Legion Go: like Valve and its Steam Deck, Asus and its ROG Ally, the brand has its own portable console running Windows 11. We were able to try it out a few tens of minutes during a presentation, to discover this rather imposing machine.
A massive design for a big screen
What is quickly noticeable on the console is the screen: it is an 8.8-inch QHD + IPS LCD panel, in 16:10 format. As for the maximum brightness of 500 cd / m², it seems more than enough to play indoors. Don’t get me wrong though: the console is cut out for gaming with its refresh rate of 144 Hz: on paper, the screen is better than that of the ROG Ally. A nice comfortable screen to play on. As for the speakers, they are far from having convinced us and are very similar to those of the first Switch: it distorts quite quickly.
The Lenovo Legion Go // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
The bezels of the screen aren’t that thick and the controllers seem solid: obviously, the Lenovo Legion Go is a nice looking machine. A beautiful machine that makes up with some LED button contours whose colors can be configured. Aside from that, she opts for a gray in her colorway, and in shapes with sharp edges. No doubt either, it is indeed a portable game console.
Lenovo-style Joy-Cons: one of them even turns into a mouse
In hands, it is indeed a well-born baby: 854 grams with the controllers. Let’s talk about the controllers: the grip is good, the grips are pleasant and we are not afraid to slide the console. The joysticks as well as the triggers are well finished and the feeling is pleasant, which is not the case for the other buttons (at the back of the joysticks or even the directional cross). We could expect it, but it’s still a shame. The same goes for the touchpad, which isn’t the most precise and emits slight vibrations each time you touch it.
The Lenovo Legion Go // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
They’re not just controllers, but PC equivalents to the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons. By pressing a button, you can remove and replace them: it’s not very easy, getting started takes time.
The Lenovo Legion Go // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
This allows you to play the console, while placing it where you want, since there is a support (which takes up the entire length of the console, not like on the first Switches) to keep the screen almost at the vertical. What’s unfortunate is that these controllers seem to quickly go to sleep when not in use, which can display messages on the screen.
The Lenovo Legion Go // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
The right controller is somewhat special: you can use it as a mouse. There is an optical sensor that can be activated by switching to ” FPS », via a switch. Then we put said controller on a kind of plastic support, so that it does not fall on the side. Above, we have buttons that allow you to right click and left click. Unfortunately, as it is a vertical mouse, the grip is quite complicated. Besides, this is not a recommended format for playing FPS. For a few games on a corner of the table or on the move, this may be enough, but no more.
Will the Lenovo Legion Go be the most capable Windows handheld console?
On the hardware side, we find in this console the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip (the same as on the ROG Ally), integrating an RNDA 3 graphics processor. On the RAM, we are entitled to 16 GB of RAM in LPDDR5X (at 7500 MHz ) and for storage, a 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. In this regard, there is a microSD slot to expand storage, up to an additional 2 TB.
The Lenovo Legion Go // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
The Lenovo Legion Go runs on Windows 11, which means that you can install all the games from the Steam catalog, access PC Game Pass and the Epic Games Store, as well as run any service of cloud gaming.
Lenovo also presented the Legion Space, an interface dedicated to video games, on which you can find your games and gaming platforms, but also thanks to which you can configure the console (screen, performance). An interface that we did not test during the presentation of the brand.
During our grip, we were able to try the console on Hot Wheels Unleashed as well as on top Powerwash Simulator. On the first title, the Legion Go works perfectly, but it must be recognized that on the second, the number of FPS was clearly below 60. We do not know what the settings of the games and the console were for the demonstrations, but note that these two games do not require huge resources. On paper, therefore, the Legion Go seems as efficient as the ROG Ally, but may have more arguments (larger screen, joysticks that stand out).
The Lenovo Legion Go // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
On the connection, we are entitled to two USB-C ports compatible with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0: this allows you to recharge the console, but also to connect it to a screen. No dock was presented by Lenovo, but it allows you to play all its games on a larger screen. For the rest, a jack port in particular. In wireless, we have Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
The ultimate accessory: screen glasses at 500 euros
The originality of the Lenovo Legion Go is above all its detachable controllers. But in truth, that’s not all: the brand is preparing an accessory that makes the difference, the Lenovo Legion Glasses. It would seem that it is actually the Lenovo Glass T1, renamed for the occasion: even the design has not changed. Anyway, they will be available at 499 euros and should be released in October. They connect via USB-C to the console (and to any other Windows PC, macOS computer or Android device).
The Lenovo Legion Glasses // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
It is in fact a micro Oled screen (not to be confused with the micro LED), which offers Full HD definition and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. We also have the right to speakers, which can unfortunately easily be heard by the people around you.
The Lenovo Legion Glasses // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
The grip is not easy: as there is no adjustment of lenses, wearers of glasses like me must wear theirs during the gaming sessions. In addition, the height of the glasses must be adjusted so that the screen is well positioned. Lenovo sells it as a solution for having discretion and/or more privacy when you’re outdoors. 500 euros to pay in addition to the 800 euros for the Lenovo Legion Go, not sure that everyone will be seduced by the proposal.
Lenovo Legion Go pricing and availability
No release date has been indicated by Lenovo, but we know that the console is scheduled for October. Regarding the price, the first version will be available from 799 euros. The same price as the ROG Ally in France.
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