If some were able to test a prototyped version of the Lenovo Legion Go to theIFA from Berlin, here is Sergey Balashov, product designer of said machine, comes, in a AMA (question-and-answer session) affirm or deny certain information, including the European release date of the device!
For those who might have missed it, Lenovo (the famous PC manufacturer) wants to compete head-on Asus and its ROG Ally by offering its Legion Go, a portable PC console which has the merit of presenting, unlike others, numerous innovations (read our article). Without further ado, Here, in detail, is what information we were able to collect:
Gorilla Glass, HDR & Dolby Vision:
Technology Gorilla Glass will be present on the console Lenovoincluding all protection against reflections, fingerprints, etc. Surprise, contrary to what we might have thought, the shiny screen of the prototype available atIFA will give way, in the final version of the device, to a matte screen, much more relaxing for the eyes. The brightness remains (as advertised) at 500 nits, Lenovo did not consider it useful to certify (or make compatible) its screen with the technologies HDR Or Dolby Vision.
FPS & VRR limiter:
An FPS limiter would be in the Roadmap (road map) of the company. On the other hand, the Legion Go will not be equipped, unlike the ROG Ally, with VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)a technology that saves precious resources while streamlining the number of frames per second. According to the Chinese manufacturer, the VRR would not have a significant impact on a portable PC console.
The different modes of definition:
Here are the 3 types of screen definitions that will benefit from a shortcut via the overlay of Lenovo (Legion Space):
The software overlay of Lenovo (equivalent to‘Armoury Crate SE) will offer several shortcuts :
- Cloud Game (for games playable in streaming) ;
- Game Store (to display the main PC game download platforms);
- Library (to display the games installed on the machine);
- Settings (settings) ;
- Android Game (to display the games of theAmazon Appstore) ;
- Home Stream (For streamer image and sound from another device to the Legion Go).
Rather than proposing (way ROG Ally) a jumble of applications that the player installs, Lenovo had the excellent idea of proposing, from the outset, several categories. This will increase responsiveness, since by knowing by what method the game should be launched, it will be easier to find it.
TDP:
Even if we had seen‘IFA the possibility of obtaining a custom TDP (power level) amounting to 48 watts, here is that the product designer belies its “reality”. The prototypes that were present at the show had an overlay (Legion Space) essentially visual, and not 100% functional. The aim was indeed to present what could resemble, when it is released, the shortcut menu of the Legion Go. Here is now what is actually planned by the Chinese manufacturer:
- Silent mode : 8w;
- Balanced mode: 15w;
- Performance mode: 20w/25w;
- Custom mode: from 5w to 25w on battery / up to 30w once plugged in.
Lenovo still hesitates to include 30-35w in its proposal, for reasons of heating and noise. Eh yes ! Asus has already been there and was able to show them what overheating could cause in terms of material damage (particularly to cards or the SD port). Lenovo wants to prevent as much as possible from any problem linked to high temperatures. When it comes to ventilation, we all have in mind (or rather in our ears) the deafening noise of the fans in the Steam Deck at its output, Lenovo takes this into account.
eGPU:
Concerning a possible surplus of power, the firm does not seem to be interested in the eGPUor the possibility of connecting an external graphics card to increase the performance of the device tenfold. Sergey Balashov said his team had not tested this possibility, due to a real lack of interest. The latter thinks that it is clearly preferable to streamer a PC Gamer on the Legion Go than putting that much money into a mobile graphics card.
COULD :
THE Z1 Extreme will be the processor that will equip the base model of the Legion Go. The company reserves the right, if demand is high, to offer a version of their machine equipped with a Z1.
Autonomy:
The autonomy of the console varies depending on use: with a TDP at 8w, at 60 Hz, at minimum brightness and headphones connected, if you want to watch your films or series, you will last eight hours. In full pot mode and on a big triple A game, you’ll get a little over 1 hour 30 minutes.. Finally, on a 2D game in 8w, the console could last five hours. We’re a little skeptical (in other words, it smells like bull shit full face), as the announced battery does not seem to make that big of a difference compared to that which equips the ROG Ally. But as the English say, wait & see.
By the admission of Sergeysound was sacrificed to the detriment of other elements deemed more important. Too bad, you will have to expect a standard sound, far from the incredible spatialization that theAsus ROG Ally.
2 controllers, 2 joysticks?
Huge disappointment, if you thought, like on the console Big Nremove one of the controllers and pass it to a friend to play together, know that this will not be possible! Yes, the two controllers are considered by the device as part of a single controller, even when detached.
What about their strength?
Good news, according to internal tests, the lifespan of the detachable controllers would be estimated at five and a half years, at the rate of five disconnection/reconnection sessions per day. If the firm has opted for a magnetic system and not a slide (way Nintendo Switch), it is above all because the company with the mustachioed plumber has a patent on the latter.
A Joy-con grip with sauce Lenovo ?
Image (artist’s impression): Bald Sealion Productions
Lenovo would like to create an adapter to connect the two controllers, like the Joy-con grip of Nintendo. The manufacturer would even plan to provide the player with a 3D model so that the latter can print it themselves.
What about controller compatibility on a machine other than the Legion Go?
Sergey mentions the possibility of ensuring controller compatibility on a device other than the Legion Go. If Lenovo uses, for its controllers, technology Bluetooth owner, the firm does not refrain in the future (and if possible) from offering compatibility with other deviceswhich would be, commercially speaking, much more interesting.
A battery holder for the controllers is provided:
Lenovo is working on a support to extend the life of the controllers’ integrated batteries, which does not bode well for their basic autonomy levels.
It feels good when it stops:
The famous click (as noisy as it is annoying) of the multi-directional pad, present on the prototypes shown onIFA has indeed been corrected on the latest iterations of the product, we are reassured.
RGB now has its uses:
Another subtlety, the possibility of adjusting the RGB of the sticks depending on the level of autonomy of the console. From now on, it will no longer be necessary to bring up the shortcut menu in order to know its battery level. Even better, this will prevent the console from shutting down unexpectedly if the notification Windows – low battery – does not appear.
If the console would be more difficult to disassemble than a ROG Ally or a Steam Deck, replacing the SSD will not void the warranty! The firm specifies that the damage linked to SSD replacement will, however, not be covered.
The Lenovo Legion Go is scheduled to “hit shelves” on October 31, 2023. Good news, the basic version will have 512 GB of storage and will be offered at €799 (the same price as the ROG Ally), including a hard bag at no extra cost. The 1 TB model is planned for 2024.
Lenovo planned to send (well before its official release) Legion Go in preview to the specialized press. Let’s bet we’re in his sights and if so, you will be the first to know.
Here is what to remember from these different announcements:
- The screen changed to a matte screenwith a colorimetric respect similar to that of the ROG Allythe same goes for the treatment aimed at protecting the screen;
- THE VRR will not be offered on the console but a limitation of the number of images per second will be possible;
- The definition would start from 800p and rise to double (1600p);
- The overlay (Legion Space) would allow a much more harmonious and rapid organization of your games library access than competition;
- The power of the device would be limited to 25w, Lenovo works to reduce the heating and noise of its console before proposing values which are well beyond;
- The console would last 8 hours on videos, 5 hours on a 2D game, 1h30 on a (large) 3D game;
- The Legion Go, in its basic version, will be equipped with Z1 Extreme ;
- The sound will not be the machine’s asset;
- Once detached, the controllers continue to be considered a single controller;
- Lenovo works on a support allowing to connect the 2 controllers (way Joy-con grip) ;
- The replacement of SSD will not void the warranty;
- The release date of the console is scheduled for October 31, 2023, in its 512 GB version at a price of €799, bag included.