Lenovo Legion Go Gaming Handheld Review: Good Idea, Not Quite Perfectly Executed

The AMD Z1 Excessive and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U have introduced a breath of unpolluted air into the sector of gaming-handheld construction. What Valve began with its Steam Deck is now operating complete steam forward. Because of this, the Legion Move is getting into a marketplace stuffed to the brim with sturdy pageant. Even so, Lenovo provides a large number of attention-grabbing options which goal to assist the gaming hand-held stick out from the hundreds. Due to its removable controllers, the Legion Move can be used as a pill. In doing so, an built-in kickstand helps to keep the tool stable. Alternatively, the controllers’ FPS mode is the true superstar of the display. FPS stands for first-person shooter. Which means the appropriate controller part turns into a mouse and the keys of a Home windows keyboard are reflected at the left part. Supposedly, this will have to evoke emotions of desktop gaming. If you do not want to regulate a recreation the use of the 2 controllers, then you’ll be able to merely transfer to the use of them like a mouse and keyboard. Moreover, the Legion Move boasts a high-res 144-Hz show.

However in sensible use, no longer the whole thing tried through the producer works as meant. Many small weaknesses may upload as much as make one in every of its competitor gadgets appear the extra sexy selection. We not too long ago examined the Ayaneo Air 1S, the Asus ROG Best friend Z1 Excessive and the OneXPlayer 2 which might be additionally very sturdy handhelds. The latter additionally options wi-fi controllers very similar to the Legion Move.

The Lenovo Legion Move’s 8.8-inch show makes it some of the greatest gaming handhelds available on the market. The left and correct controller halves may also be indifferent. Each really feel great to carry—on their very own and in addition connected to the pill. Alternatively, it weighs slightly a little bit in general. At 855 grams, enjoying video games may quickly really feel like a little bit of a exercise. If in case you have a desk in entrance of you, you’ll be able to fortunately simply dangle either one of the controller halves to your fingers, making gaming really feel a lot more uncomplicated.

Lenovo has incorporated some RGB lighting fixtures in its on/off button in addition to across the controllers’ thumb sticks. Customers can alter the lighting fixtures by the use of Legion Area and you’ll be able to optionally set it to offer data at the tool’s charging standing or different standing updates.

The more than a few case parts are constructed from black plastic. Best the display screen is secure through a plate of glass. If each controllers are attached correctly, not anything seems free and the tool feels as though it’s been forged from a unmarried mildew. The pill component itself is solid as neatly. The usage of the built-in stand, the tool may also be held securely at a variety of other angles. Alternatively, because the kickstand is most effective constructed from skinny plastic, it may be bent ever so somewhat. Because of this, we’d advise maintaining it within the center when folding the stand outward.

The Legion Move weighs about 855 grams, making it significantly heavier than the Asus ROG Best friend or the small Ayaneo Air 1S. The pill itself weighs 641 grams, whilst the left controller weighs 99 grams, and the appropriate one weighs 115 grams with out the FPS ring and 146 grams with the hoop incorporated. The scope of supply features a soft-shell case and if the hand held is transported inside of this, it provides every other 400 grams to the scales. In general, this implies you can be lugging round 1.3 kg with you—and that does not come with the facility provide.

Something will have to be made transparent: The Legion Move has the largest display screen with the comparability box. After all, its removable controllers additionally upload a specific amount of weight.

Two totally provided USB-C ports and a quick microSD card are same old for many gaming handhelds—with this fashion being no exception. Alternatively, the Legion Move is lacking a webcam. Best sensible use can display whether or not the site of the person ports is perfect. We might a minimum of have preferred for the SD card reader to be somewhat extra secure. microSD playing cards could be housed extra safely beneath the kickstand or with an additional masking.

Our AV Professional V60 microSD provides switch speeds of as much as 280 MB/s. The Legion Move reads our reminiscence card at as much as 146 MB/s, which is very good in comparison to the comparability gadgets.

Lenovo’s gaming hand-held did in point of fact neatly in our Wi-Fi assessments. The excessive switch speeds by no means suffered any primary drops.

The Legion Move comes delivered within a soft-shell case which additionally has house for the appropriate controller’s FPS ring. Alternatively, the equipped 65-watt energy provide does not are compatible within the huge case. In flip, the charging cable may also be attached to the tool via an eyelet when the case is close. Alternatively, whether or not you will have to fee the tool when it’s within its case is somewhat questionable because of the reality the battery may warmth up when doing so.

It takes a large number of effort to take away the again duvet of the pill, even if it’s only hung on the use of six screws. Sadly, numerous plastic chips dangle the plastic element in position, because of this it’s important to paintings with a number of alternatives to pry them out. By the way, you would not have to unscrew the kickstand to take away the rear duvet, nevertheless it does make the task more uncomplicated. Even if it nearly is not even well worth the effort, as at the within, you’ll be able to most effective change out the M.2-2242 NVMe SSD—if you’ll be able to unpeel the entire more than a few adhesive foils previously, this is. All of the different parts are soldered or glued on.

The gaming hand-held’s controllers really feel at ease to carry. You’ll achieve the entire buttons neatly even though you’ve gotten smaller fingers. The shoulder buttons, in addition to the A, B, X and Y buttons and the regulate pad, display somewhat little bit of resistance and feature a transparent force level. Lenovo has positioned a serve as key at the best of each and every aspect of the controller. There are two additional keys on each and every aspect at the backside which may also be assigned purposes by the use of Legion Area. The Legion Move’s controllers have Corridor Impact joysticks which should not display any indicators of damage. Because of this, stick go with the flow is just about unattainable. When gaming, we spotted that the controller’s deadzones are set to be slightly huge. Particularly in video games that help you set the deadzone, the controls temporarily develop into obscure except you alter them.

Lenovo has put in a serve as button into each controller halves. Those both turn on Legion Area or the fast settings. Moreover, numerous button mixtures are made conceivable via either one of those. A couple of examples come with taking screenshots, opening the duty supervisor, final apps and switching the controllers off and on when used wirelessly.  

The correct controller includes a small touchpad which helps you to regulate the desktop cursor. It can be used to regulate sure video games. When trying out this out, we famous that the touchpad does not be offering a right-click serve as. On the finish of the day, the touchpad turns out to get in the way in which a little bit, moderately than if truth be told making it more uncomplicated to regulate the cursor. The FPS mode is extra appropriate for this.

Slightly any Home windows video games enhance enter by the use of touchscreen, however this is not the case in relation to Android video games. These days, they are able to even be downloaded onto Home windows gadgets by the use of the Amazon app retailer. The Legion Move in point of fact displays its strengths right here, because it lets in for speedy and actual inputs.

Either one of the Legion Move’s controller halves mechanically hook up with the pill while you take away them—with none noticeable latency. Additionally, the 2 controllers are great and light-weight. They do not slightly really feel as ergonomic when held through themselves in comparison to having them attached to the pill. That is most commonly as a result of you find yourself crossing your fingers with each controllers held to your fingers. Checking out a 3-d-printed adapter from Prusa Printables hugely advanced the texture.

In comparison to different gaming handhelds, the Legion Move provides a substantial benefit in relation to enjoying first-person shooters. When the use of FPS mode, the appropriate controller is reworked right into a wi-fi mouse and the left controller turns into a keyboard alternative. As bizarre as this may increasingly appear in the beginning, the FPS mode if truth be told feels unusually at ease. The largest downside which we known has not anything to do with the way it feels or how correct it’s. The left controller can accommodate as much as 11 enter keys. As maximum video games which might be performed the use of FPS mode are historically ones which use a mouse and keyboard, it will get somewhat tight seeking to assign keys. As an example, you would need to assign about 20 purposes to the Legion Professional’s 11 keys when enjoying Cyberpunk 2077. In CS:Move, it is about 16 purposes or even within the much-loved recreation PUBG, it is 12 purposes which require person keys. Because of this, you’re going to continuously in finding your self having to assign some purposes to the appropriate controller, however this simply impedes your gaming. 4 preconfigured profiles may also be decided on by the use of Legion Area. Then, extra actual configurations must be set in-game. This, too, does not paintings in each recreation.

One actual factor could also be how the FPS ring is attached to the controller. It’s hung on magnetically and in our check, this led to some ugly scratches on our controller, as tiny steel items controlled to get trapped in between the 2 portions. We will most effective suggest maintaining each portions (in addition to your desk) extraordinarily blank, as mud debris can get lodged between the 2 portions, leading to scratches.

The Legion Move’s 8.8-inch show options as much as 1600p, 10 touchpoints and a refresh fee of 144 Hz. Lenovo advertizes a most brightness of 500 cd/m², while we measured a most of 460 cd/m² with a moderately asymmetric distribution. Very similar to many different handhelds, the Legion Move’s display screen is a vertical pill display screen this is refreshed from left to correct as a substitute of best to backside. Right through some video games with deactivated V-Sync or Body Buffer, this can be extra noticeable in comparison to horizontal presentations. 

The show’s answer may also be switched between 1200p and 800p by the use of Legion Area or Home windows. This makes extra difficult video games run so much smoother. The FullHD+ answer provides a just right choice specifically, as even on the lowest answer, you’ll be able to rarely make out person pixels on its relatively small show.

One large unfavourable facet which we spotted is that the display screen’s refresh fee is locked in battery mode. Once you pull the plug at the tool, it does not mechanically transfer to 60 Hz to save lots of power—as a substitute, it merely does not will let you alternate it in any respect. 

If you’re taking a look to depict video games in all their true glory, then a display screen will have to a minimum of grasp sRGB. The Legion Move’s show covers this nearly solely and as well as, it provides just right AdobeRGB and DisplayP3 protection.

We sadly famous that the display screen of Lenovo’s gaming hand-held suffers from a slight blue tint instantly out of the field. After making use of our ICC profile, this blue tint was once advanced significantly and its colour depiction was once advanced to a just right price with a ΔΕ2000 of under 3.

We measured the display screen’s reaction occasions at 144 Hz and 60 Hz. Each modes confirmed an identical values. This can be a disgrace that at 144 Hz, one person body is depicted for approximately 7 milliseconds. Because of this, the Legion Move’s reaction occasions do not slightly are living as much as our expectancies, alternatively, they’re definitely sufficient for many players.

It grew to become out to be somewhat tough to judge the background lighting fixtures’s flickering. We measured a slight flicker at a variety of other brightness ranges at the Legion Move. We will’t definitively say whether or not this will probably be a topic for delicate customers. The brightness fluctuations remained throughout the single-digit proportion vary.

The show’s reflective floor makes the use of the hand held outside a little bit of a nuisance. On the finish of the day, you’re going to extra continuously than no longer in finding an attitude that works for you because of its excessive show brightness and just right viewing angles. 

The AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive and 16 GB RAM energy the gaming hand-held. An RX 780M additionally sits throughout the Z1. This can be a relatively robust iGPU that if truth be told even controlled to overcome a couple of dGPUs in our benchmarks. Because of this, you’ll be able to experience a variety of present video games at about 60fps with excessive element settings and at Complete-HD answer.

The Lenovo Legion Move’s TDP may also be configured through customers, as can the enthusiasts. We made up our minds to let the gaming hand-held make a decision what to do with its enthusiasts, deciding on the automated excessive cooling mode. We additionally left its most TDP at 30 watts. You’ll alternate slightly a couple of settings inside of Legion Area and the Keep an eye on Heart. We spotted that Legion Area may most commonly do with some enhancements. Controlling the appliance by the use of mouse and keyboard or the use of FPS mode is made tougher through some small insects.

The Phoenix-series AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive is one in every of AMD’s maximum robust computer processors. This processor has been optimized for gaming and does its task neatly throughout the Asus ROG Best friend, too. In comparison to the technically-similar AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, the Z1 Excessive is lacking the AI core Ryzen AI. Even if consequently, the Z1 Excessive will have to be somewhat extra environment friendly whilst gaming.

Inside the Lenovo Legion Move, the processor is provided with somewhat much less energy than within the ROG Best friend Z1 Excessive. Therefore, Lenovo’s gaming hand-held is at more or less a ten % downside over the ROG Best friend. In the end, the Legion Move can not retain its efficiency at 30 watts, because the Cinebench loop printed. After a number of runs, its efficiency sank to the extent of the Ayaneo Air 1S with the Ryzen 7 7840U. This hand-held ran at 20 watts right through our check. Nonetheless, the Lenovo hand-held’s processor efficiency is greater than sufficient for gaming, as our additional benchmarks showed.

The PCMark 10 benchmarks, which focal point most commonly on place of job and inventive makes use of, should not be too attention-grabbing for many customers of the Legion Move, alternatively, they do nonetheless let us know so much in regards to the gaming hand-held. It is because PCMark additionally assessments RAM and SSDs. It temporarily was transparent that the Legion Move has a transparent benefit over the Ayaneo Kun, even if it could provide its AMD Ryzen 7 7840U with as much as 54 watts. Because of this, the Ayaneo hand-held will have to if truth be told have controlled to succeed in extra issues on this benchmark—however the Kun’s SSD temporarily will get scorching and sluggish. It most effective did higher within the benchmark focussing on content material introduction, the place graphics efficiency counts essentially the most. The additional PCMark 10 effects display that the Legion Move and Asus ROG Best friend’s reminiscence and processors are in a similar way rapid—their ensuing level ratings lie slightly shut in combination.

The small NVMe SSD from Western Virtual that is put in within the Legion Move had an inclination to overheat temporarily in our DiskSPD learn loop. After a twinkling of an eye, the SSD’s learn speeds dropped considerably, leading to moderate values. Right through brief classes of load, the garage tool may give rapid knowledge get entry to. Alternatively, the Legion Move is not the one tool liable to this; the SSD throughout the Ayaneo Kun could also be liable to overheating.

The AMD Radeon 780M is assessed as one of the crucial robust iGPUs however within the period in-between, the 14th gen Intel Arc iGPUs in AMD’s graphics gadgets can stay up neatly. Our contemporary evaluation of the Acer Swift Move 14 and the MSI Status 16 confirmed this. 3 GB of the 16 GB RAM within the Legion Move are reserved for graphics. Within the Asus ROG Best friend, 4 GB are reserved for its RX 780M. The Ayaneo Kun and the Air S1 reserve an ordinary 6 GB RAM for his or her iGPUs. Relying at the software, this, together with the upper TDP values, once in a while led to somewhat higher or worse efficiency within the person graphics benchmarks. The Legion Move’s small RAM turns into in particular noticeable in video games which most effective need to use the devoted VRAM. In Lenovo’s hand-held, allocation may also be modified by the use of the UEFI settings.

Initially, we will be able to state that the entire video games we examined may also be run at the Legion Move. Nonetheless, chances are you’ll need to restrict your self to Complete HD answer if you wish to succeed in easy gameplay. In comparison to the opposite handhelds, important downward efficiency deviations had been most effective noticeable when it got here to person settings in numerous of the video games. This incorporated Shadow of the Tomb Raider, GTA V and Some distance Cry 5 with the best possible settings decided on. We estimate that this is attached to how a lot RAM is allotted to the tool’s iGPU, as a result of we famous same deviations at the Ayaneo Air 1S once we diminished its VRAM to a few GB. We might subsequently suggest to regulate this throughout the Legion Move’s BIOS/UEFI.

Even so, lots of the body charges completed through the Legion Move within the person benchmarks are high quality for Complete HD and most significantly, they’re no doubt playable. Moreover, the hand held is in a position to stay its efficiency solid, which the Witcher 3 fps graphic displays. However, you’ll be able to slightly employ the show’s complete answer when enjoying present video games. Even if, you’ll be able to’t in point of fact make out the variation to Complete HD answer on its 8.8-inch display screen. Plus, because of its 144-Hz show, the Legion Move isn’t slightly as liable to display screen tearing as different handhelds, however we’d nonetheless suggest V-Sync for just about each recreation.

The Legion Move options various fan settings. In our check, we decided on the excessive cooling choice however with this mode decided on, the enthusiasts at no level reached their complete rotation pace and consequently, did not achieve their complete noise emission ranges. Even so, the tool’s temperatures remained slightly at ease. We famous a most noise emission fee of 37.5 dB(A) 15 cm clear of the tool—this was once so long as the automated fan regulate was once energetic. Alternatively, you’ll be able to additionally set the fan settings manually. At 100 % energy, we famous 46 dB(A) when enjoying The Witcher 3 Extremely. On the similar time, the Legion Move by no means produced any high-frequency noises however moderately a refined whirring sound.

As is the case with many capsules and handhelds, the Legion Move dissipates a variety of warmth by the use of its display screen. In all check scenarios, the removable controllers remained cool. Alternatively, the Legion Move’s show starts to warmth up significantly in idle mode already. We if truth be told slightly famous a distinction in front-facing warmth emissions when evaluating idle mode and cargo situations. 

In our tension check, we measured notable warmth emissions close to the fan outlet which sits above the processor and the cooling unit in comparison to in idle mode. At the warmth map, the processor with a temperature of 60 °C shines during the fan outlet. The again surfaces achieve most temperatures of a manageable 40 °C. When gaming, your fingers hardly come close to the tool’s hotspots.

After a brief spice up segment, the processor’s energy intake balanced out slightly temporarily between 25 and 28 watts. This efficiency remained stable all the way through. The tension check the use of 3DMark’s Time Undercover agent benchmark additionally confirmed rarely any adjustments between the person runs.

The Legion Move’s audio system do not get all too loud and with reference to sound high quality specifically, they go away so much to be desired. Top tones and bass sounds are performed again significantly diminished. Alternatively, this may be tolerable if it wasn’t for the truth that the audio system are located at the best of the tool. What effects from that is the sound being blasted into the room surrounding you moderately than at once towards you and as well as, it has to compete with the noise coming from the fan outlet.

A 65-watt USB-C energy provide is incorporated within the Legion Move’s scope of supply and it has the entire energy this is wanted—the Legion Move’s most energy intake is set 55 watts. We simply must criticize the gaming hand-held’s excessive energy intake in idle mode, particularly simply over 11 watts. Maximum laptops and handhelds ship decrease values in relation to this. One reason why for this might be to do with Legion Area which runs frequently within the background, whilst additionally being accountable for controlling the tool’s energy and translating the controllers’ serve as keys and key mixtures. With the appliance deactivated, the Legion Move calls for 3 to six watts much less power however in flip, the hand held’s vary of purposes is specific.

The Legion Move’s small battery most effective holds round 50 Wh. The most important tool among the handhelds additionally options some of the smallest batteries. The Ayaneo Kun and OneXPlayer 2’s batteries are particularly robust.

Therefore, the Lenovo Legion’s runtimes are disappointing. The hand-held’s battery lasts for simply over 5 hours whilst browsing and 1.5 hours when enjoying The Witcher 3. We wish to have noticed a little bit extra stamina, specifically whilst you bear in mind the portability you are expecting from a gaming hand-held. You are going to most likely really feel a little bit uneasy in case you are not any place close to an outlet right through your gaming periods.

The Lenovo Legion Move’s ergonomics and design are spectacular—with none ifs and buts. Due to the sturdy AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive and its corresponding iGPU, the hand held is obviously within the place to play essentially the most present video games easily and in just right high quality. Its FPS mode and 144-Hz show earn the tool further plus issues for convenience. Sadly, we concluded that Lenovo hasn’t long past the entire period had to ship a super tool. Its worst factor appears to be its deficient battery lifestyles—in a similar way sized gadgets such because the ROG Best friend, Ayaneo Kun and the OneXPlayer all have a lot greater batteries. We famous many smaller problems in this gaming hand-held, too. This comprises its wobbly stand, how a lot the FPS ring draws scratches, the audio system which might be directed clear of customers and Legion Area, which once in a while takes ages to begin up ensuing within the device being blocked or just going through some small insects.

On the whole, the gaming hand-held simply does not display exceedingly just right efficiency, stamina or purposes. Its FPS mode, which is the one distinctive promoting level this tool has to provide, may simply get replaced through a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard—plus, it might most certainly even finally end up feeling extra ergonomic. With the intention to be performed totally by the use of a mouse and keyboard, many video games merely require extra keys than the Legion Move can be offering.

The Lenovo Legion Move is a robust gaming hand-held 95% of the time. Its many small weaknesses tarnish its general influence a lot more than essential.

Through now, the hand held marketplace is beautiful oversaturated. One downside which Lenovo faces is that the producer has made slightly a not on time access into the cell console marketplace. What began with the Steam Deck (which has now been rereleased with an OLED show) in no time attracted different producers. Ayaneo, OneXPlayer and Aokzoe are only some examples throughout the Asian marketplace and they’ve been in a position to assemble years value of enjoy in growing and production handhelds. As a hand-held newcomer, Lenovo will definitely in finding it tough to take care of.

Purely in relation to computing energy, the Ayaneo Kun and Asus ROG Best friend Z1 Excessive are slightly a little bit more potent. If you’re on the lookout for one thing in particular compact and light-weight, then chances are you’ll choose the Ayaneo Air 1S. Due to their equipment similar to a keyboard, enter pen and wi-fi transmitters for his or her removable controllers, the OneXPlayer 2 and the OneXPlayer 2 Professional display a lot more versatility in comparison to different handhelds. For all those that have a big Steam library or who get alongside slightly neatly with Linux, there may be after all the Steam Deck.

These days, the Lenovo Legion Move may also be bought from primary on-line outlets similar to Amazon for $699.99.

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