Lenovo has formalized the Legion Go, its portable console with Windows 11 with which it intends to compete in an increasingly crowded segment of devices. The unfortunate thing for the Chinese brand is that the surprise factor of this presentation was completely ruined due to the multiple leaks it suffered in recent weeks.
The design —with detachable Switch-type controls—, the specifications, the price and up to the date of presentation, had been revealed in different reports that we have seen during the last month. Still, Lenovo did its part and brought the Legion Go to IFA 2023, where it was formally introduced to society to confirm that previous leaks were correct.
Beyond the total absence of surprise, Lenovo has confirmed a very interesting initiative in the hands of the Legion Go. It is that, although the Steam Deck continues to be the first reference when talking about this type of product, it is clear that the company is betting on competing directly against the ASUS ROG Ally. The price and its specifications —both hardware and software— are proof of this.
But what is truly interesting is that Lenovo has opted for a broader strategy than ASUS, with accessories that expand the playable experience. We are talking, of course, about Legion Glasseshis augmented reality glasses, and headphones Legion E510 with 7.1 surround soundwhich had also been leaked in days past.
Lenovo claims that development of the Legion Go began more than 2 years ago, but now it will need to prove that the console is up to the task.
Main features of the Lenovo Legion Go
As we said previously, the Lenovo Legion Go will have the ROG Ally as its main rival. Something that is evident when looking at the table of specifications. both consoles use AMD’s Z1 line of processors with RNDA graphics, and offer the same amount of RAM (16 GB). Plus, the two devices run Windows 11 Home, and their starting prices are identical.
The differences? If we refer to the hardware, Lenovo’s console offers more storage options, a larger screen and more complete controls. Without forgetting the possibility of expanding the playable experience with augmented reality glasses. But let’s take a deeper look at what the new Legion Go is up to:
| Screen | 8.8-inch IPS touch panel with QHD+ (2560 x 1600) resolution, with a refresh rate of 144 Hz and a maximum brightness of 500 nits. |
| Processor | Up to AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with AMD RDNA graphics |
| RAM | 16GB (LPDDR5X) |
| Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB (SSD), expandable up to 2 TB via micro-SD slot. |
| Battery | 49.2 Wh, with support for fast charging up to 65 W with the charger included in the box. The battery of the detachable controls is 900 mAh. |
| ports | 2 USB-C (USB 4.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0), one on the top and one on the bottom. 1 micro-SD card reader at the bottom. 1 3.5 mm headphone jack on top. |
| Audio | 2 2 W speakers and double microphone. |
| connectivity | WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. |
| OS | Windows 11 Home with Legion Space. |
| Dimensions | Base module with the controls connected: 299 mm x 131 mm x 41 mm. Base module with the controls disconnected: 210 mm x 131 mm x 20 mm. |
| Weight | 854 grams (with the controls connected). 640 grams (with the controls disconnected). |
| Color | Shadow Black (black). |
The controls of the Lenovo Legion Go
The Lenovo Legion Go incorporates a very interesting variety of controls. In this case, the choice of the manufacturer it does seem more aligned with what is seen on the Steam Deck, although with some differentiating elements. The console incorporates a directional pad, ABXY buttons, two sticks, triggers, shoulder buttons6 programmable buttons, plus a mouse wheel and its corresponding sensor.
The latter is very interesting, since the Lenovo Legion Go incorporates an FPS mode. As its name indicates, it is a modality specially designed for those who want to enjoy first-person shooter games. What this mode does is allow the player to undock the right controller and add a magnetic attachment to it to use as a mouse. In this way, users accustomed to playing titles like call of duty from a PC they will have more elements to replicate the experience on this portable device.
Expanding the possibilities of the console
As we have already indicated, Lenovo proposes to expand the possibilities of the Legion Go with its new augmented reality glasses. The Legion Glasses they incorporate two micro-OLED screens with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 in each eye and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. They connect to the console via a 1.2-meter long USB-C cable and include a frame for graduated lenses, as well as adjustable nose pads in different sizes.
The interesting thing about the Legion Glasses is that its use is not limited to the Legion Go. The glasses can be used on Windows and macOS computers, as well as Android devices, as long as they have full-featured USB-C ports.
Regarding the headphones Legion E510, Lenovo promises a 7.1 surround sound experience. In addition, to give it a more gamer touch, they have RGB lighting.
Price and availability
The Lenovo Legion Go will be available in Europe from November with a starting price of 799 euros. The company has not yet mentioned when reservations will open, nor on what specific day deliveries will begin.
For its part, the Legion Glasses will be sold from October in exchange for 499 euros. While the Legion E510 headphones will also hit the market in the same month, priced at €49.99.