THE leaked took place by our colleagues from Windows Centralthe latter were able to get their hands on the characteristics of the Legion Go, the next portable PC console from the Chinese manufacturer Lenovo. The least we can say is that the machine has as much chance of impressing us as it has of disappointing us.
For those who missed it, Lenovo wants to compete with ROG Ally on its own ground: that of PC consoles gaming portableunderstand by this machines to “play everything” overpowered that can be used both at home and on the go. The Chinese firm will however have to be force of proposal to try to snatch a ROG Ally from the hands which has been able in a very short time to establish itself as the reference in the matter.
Let’s break the suspense! In view of its specificities, the Lenovo Legion Go seems to have been made for one and only purpose: to bury the competition!
- Processor: Up to ADM Ryzen Z1 Extreme;
- Touch screen : LCD 8.8 inch IPS (2560×1600)16:10, (144Hz / 500nits / 97% DCI-P3);
- Memory: 16 GB 7500Mhz LPDDR5X;
- Storage : 256GB / 512 GB / 1TB NVMe M2 2242;
- Console Battery: 49.2Wh | 2 cells;
- Battery of controllers: 900mAH;
- Charger: 65w (USB Type-C);
- Connectivity: 1x Wi-Fi 6E, 1x Bluetooth 5.2;
- Ports: 3.5mm jack, 2x USB 4.0 Type-C port (Display Port 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0), 1x micro-SD reader;
- Controller: hall effect joystick, HD haptic feedback1x gyro, 1x mouse wheel, 1 mouse sensor;
- Audio: 2x 2w speakers, 2x microphone;
- Operating system : Windows 11 Home ;
- Weight : Without shifters: 640g, with shifters: 854g;
- Dimensions:
Without controllers: 210mm x 131mm x 20mm;
With controllers: 299mm x 131mm x 41mm;
Color Shadow Black
3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included;
- Price : 799 € ;
- Availability : October 2023?
First thing that strikes, the console would be offered in several versions, both in terms of power and storage. So, the processor may be, in one of these versions, the same as that which equips the ROG Ally: the Z1 Extreme. If we are reassured that the console can match that ofAsus, the 2K screen worries. Indeed, the choice of such a definition risks being energy-intensive, both in terms of performance and autonomy.
Remember, if you already have to make some graphic concessions on the portable PC console ofAsus – ex: go down to 720p – to reach 60 FPS, we can’t imagine the next Starfield displaying in 2K 30 FPS native on the console of Lenovo. Like virtual reality headsets, the more the definition increases, the more the consumption increases, and the more the definition increases, the more the power SHOULD increase! This is not the case here since we are staying on the same chip as the ROG Ally, which is already struggling, on the most demanding games, to hold 60 FPS at 1080p.
Besides, if it is possible to play in 720p on the consoleAsus pleasantly (due to the quality and smallness of the screen), we can’t imagine the rendering that this could give on a screen approaching 9 inches. L’upscaling (or FSR) can certainly be misleading, but we should not expect miracles. Appreciable thing, refresh rate can automatically ramp up (VRR) up to 144 Hz (compared to 120 Hz for the ROG Ally), which allows the console to produce what it needs when it needs it, a good point for autonomy.
Speaking of the latter, the machine has a battery approaching 50whit’s already 23% difference compared to the Asus console, which would allow, in turbo mode, to hold the 1 h 20 of autonomy. At the RAM levelwe remain on 16 GB, but at a slightly higher frequency than that of the ROG Ally since the console reaches 7500 MHzthere where Asus reaches 6400 MHz.
We already knew this, but we still need to remember: the micro SD port is located at the bottom of the machine, far from the heating points. The console also has two strictly similar USB-C ports, which will not require the player to inquire about a hub to want to connect a screen (or any other device).
At controller level, the firm promises us HD haptic feedback, let’s hope they are more convincing than those from the ROG Ally, who settle for the bare minimum. More importantly though, THE joysticks are magnetic (hall effect)which means you won’t have a problem with drifts or dead zones. Important detail, the controllers being separable from the machine, you can replace them in case of problems. Surprisingly, a mouse sensor and a scroll wheel are includedprobably for use in a possible RTS. Finally, concerning the gyroscope, although the machine is equipped with it, nothing says that the controllers are also equipped with it.
The Legion Go is clearly the ROG Ally-Killer we’ve been dreading so much. Lenovo clearly seems to have had fun listing the faults of the console fromAsus to complete his: a Micro SD port that does not burn out, a slightly better battery life, a larger screen, a higher refresh rate, the ability to obtain 1 TB of storage from the start, the possibility of playing 2 via detachable controllers, the ability to indulge (thanks to the sensor and wheel of an on-board mouse) in genres of games we never imagined playing on them (RTS), all offered at a competitive price of €799.
However, let us keep a certain reserve. You will need to have it in hand and test it for several weeks (or even a few months) to find out if it keeps its promises. Its 2K screen may certainly impress, but so few 3D games can natively run on it or the image turns out to be blurry. once the game is switched to 720p, the console could lose a lot of its appeal.
Besides power, it will also be necessary to check that the console has ventilation that is as silent as it is efficient. Finally, surely the black point of the machine, it will be very heavy, heavier than a ROG Ally without the joysticks and up to 3x heavier than a Nintendo Switch ! Like always, it will be necessary to see if the weight is well distributed and if this does not cause some inconvenience over time. Either way, we can’t wait to get our hands on it and give you our first impressions.