Game-Changer Unleashed: Lenovo Legion Unveils Unleashed Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU with Detachable Controllers

Highlights

Lenovo Legion Go enters the handheld gaming market dominated by Valve, Asus, and Ayaneo, offering detachable controllers, a faster CPU, and a touchpad.

The Steam Deck's form factor and value have garnered significant attention in the handheld gaming market, prompting other players like Asus to enter with the ROG Ally. Lenovo's Legion Go, priced at EUR 799 (around $1174), boasts an 8.8-inch QHD+ display, an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, detachable controllers, an efficient cooling system, and fast charging.

The Lenovo Legion Go is the newest gaming device to hit the market, joining other major players such as Valve, Asus, and Ayaneo. Taking inspiration from popular devices like the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Nintendo Switch, the Legion Go offers features like detachable controllers, a faster CPU, and a touchpad.

The handheld gaming market has seen significant growth, especially since the launch of the Steam Deck last year. Prior to the Steam Deck, companies like Ayaneo were already focusing on making gaming more accessible on portable devices. However, the Steam Deck gained widespread attention due to its unique form factor and value proposition. It allowed users to play a wide range of games from the Steam library while on the go. Recognizing the potential of this market, Asus also entered the competition with its ROG Ally, featuring superior specifications in a smaller size, albeit at a higher price point.

Presenting the Steam Deck

The much-anticipated portable console from Valve has finally arrived, making a significant impact in the realm of handheld gaming. In collaboration with AMD, Valve has designed a bespoke APU for the Steam Deck, specifically tailored to optimize the gaming experience on the go. This APU, comprising Zen 2 + RDNA 2 technologies, possesses an extraordinary level of performance, ensuring seamless operation of the latest AAA games while maintaining exceptional power efficiency.

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ASUS ROG Ally

The Asus ROG Ally is the ideal portable device for PC gamers, offering exceptional performance with the latest AMD Ryzen Z1 processors. This handheld system effortlessly handles any game you throw at it, while its 7-inch 1080p Full HD display with FreeSync Premium ensures a visually stunning and seamless gaming experience. Not only can the ROG Ally run most Windows-compatible games, but it is also compatible with Xbox Game Pass titles. Additionally, its ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip, with all buttons conveniently within reach. Get your hands on the ROG Ally for just $700 at Best Buy.

Lenovo Legion Go Specifications

Lenovo has unveiled its latest handheld gaming device, the Legion Go. As part of the renowned Legion gaming brand, this device boasts the same exceptional build quality that has become synonymous with the Legion lineup. With a generous 8.8-inch QHD+ 16:10 display, offering an impressive peak brightness of up to 500 nits and a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, the Legion Go delivers an immersive gaming experience. Equipped with up to 16GB LPDDR5X (7500Mhz) RAM and up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, it guarantees smooth performance and ample storage capacity. Moreover, it features a micro-SD slot that supports up to 2TB, providing even more flexibility in storage options.

The Legion Go is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor with RNDA graphics, the same chip found in the ROG Ally. It has a maximum power draw of 25W, which is 10W lower than the Ally. Lenovo incorporates its Coldfront thermal technology, including a liquid crystal polymer 79-blade fan, to maintain device coolness. In addition, the Legion Go is equipped with a 49.2Wh battery, larger than both the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, which supports fast charging. Lenovo claims that the battery can reach 70 percent capacity in just 30 minutes.

Moving on to the design and functionality of the Legion Go, the device features detachable controllers reminiscent of those on the Nintendo Switch. While the two controllers cannot function independently for two players, the right one can be used as a vertical mouse with the included accessory. This controller is designed with mouse-like ergonomics, including a mouse wheel and rearranged button layout. The left controller includes a joystick, D-pad, and three additional buttons. The right controller includes a joystick, ABXY buttons, a menu button, and a touchpad. Hall Effect joysticks are utilized for improved reliability and longevity.

Lenovo Legion Go Price And Availability

The Lenovo Legion Go offers superior connectivity options, featuring two USB Type-C ports equipped with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0 support. This ensures seamless connectivity and efficient power delivery. Additionally, the device is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E3 and Bluetooth 5.2, enabling wireless connectivity with remarkable speed and reliability.

To enhance convenience, the Lenovo Legion Go incorporates a sturdy kickstand at the back, reminiscent of the one found in Microsoft Surface products. This kickstand adds stability and versatility, allowing for optimal viewing angles and comfortable usage.

The Lenovo Legion Go, priced at EUR 799 (around $1174) for the base model with 256GB storage, will be available for purchase in November. However, an exact date has not been provided by the company. Additional models with 512GB and 1TB storage are also being offered, although their pricing remains unclear. All three models come with 16GB of RAM as standard, and Lenovo is offering the option of an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA graphics for the Legion Go.

In a recent announcement, Ayaneo introduced its flagship product, the Ayaneo KUN, which is powered by the Ryzen 7 7840U processor. The KUN will be sold through an Indigogo campaign and is currently available at a discounted price of $999 as part of an early bird offer. Once it begins official retail, the price will be $1209. Comparatively, the Steam Deck starts at $399 and the ROG Ally is priced at $599.

Ayaneo KUN

The Ayaneo KUN, Ayaneo's upcoming handheld gaming device, is equipped with the latest AMD Ryzen 7040 series APUs that boast integrated Radeon 700M graphics. With its impressive specifications, the Ayaneo KUN boasts an expansive 8.4-inch 1600p display, complemented by hall-effect joysticks and touchpads. However, the standout feature of the KUN is its massive 75Wh 19500mAH battery, offering approximately four times the capacity of the Steam Deck.