Review: I like the Lenovo Legion Go more than the Steam Deck

Since Steam Deck launched, we’ve seen a lot of companies see the need for handheld gaming PCs and get into that space. Quality and success vary. In Lenovo’s case, we can clearly see the company taking inspiration from not only the Valve Steam Deck for the Lenovo Legion but also the Nintendo Switch. The result is one device that I love not only because it can handle anything I throw at it, but also because it allows me the freedom to do different playstyles when using it.

From the start, the looks of the Legion Go impress Lenovo is targeting a wider audience and trying to do more with its construction. It’s larger than the Steam Deck or Switch, with an 8.8-inch GHD screen. It looks absolutely stunning and is truly fingerprint resistant. Yes, after two weeks of use I started to notice occasional stains, but they were easily cleaned. The brightness setting allows it to look extremely sharp and has admirable precision both when using the touchscreen for control or when seeing the responsiveness when using the included controller due to the speed 144Hz refresh.

It also handled any game I threw at it with ease and without any problems. This is not entirely surprising. After all, it comes with 16GB of RAM to begin with, has an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, and an integrated AMD Radeon GPU. Although in some cases I need to sacrifice running at the highest settings to ensure optimal gameplay, e.g. Bald Gate 3 or Dragon Age: GuardianI have no problems with any game that I consider demanding. Grand Theft Auto V? It runs it like a champ. It can handle it. Witch 3 Worked very well on it. Any HoYoVerse title will do Honkai: Star Railway or Non-Zen zone? Just perfect.

I found myself not actually using the Legion Space software as much as I expected. This is the center that will exploit the games you install on Legion Go across stores and apps. That’s not because it’s necessarily a bad choice. Rather, Steam Big Picture Mode works so well on handheld gaming PCs. Since most of my library is there and I already have the filters in place, that becomes my go-to resource for the system. However, I will say that I appreciate the Legion L-key shortcuts for things like easily accessing the virtual keyboard or taking screenshots.

The Lenovo Legion Go controller is another element that impressed me. At a glance, you get everything you’d expect, and they’re almost identical to the Switch Joy-Con, the touchpad works like a laptop touchpad sideways. But when you actually hold them in your hand, you can feel the extra mouse wheel, the two buttons on the back of the left controller, and the four buttons on the right. They can also be easily programmed via the Legion R button, which will bring up quick settings at any time. Though even more reassuring is the Lenovo Legion Go Hall Effect joystick, especially since I’ve gone through three pairs of Switch Joy-Cons and it feels like the left one on my OLED model is about to come back to life.

The flexibility and ease of using different options for the Lenovo Legion Go also helped me feel more comfortable with it. When I use the Nintendo Switch, I always play in Handheld Mode. The system’s weight, about 2 pounds, is a lot when you hold it in different positions, which can be inconvenient. This doesn’t mean the controller or design is bad. It is quite comfortable for its size. I just find it a bit heavy. So, switching full Tablet Mode with it is a godsend. I usually set it up by the stand on my bed or couch, get used to the controller in each hand, and play. Mistria Fields or Honkai: Star Railway for a few hours. It’s not even unpleasant to do so with Bald Gate 3, although I found the USB-C to HDMI cable and connecting it to the TV was a much better way to enjoy that because then I could also charge it.

Those detachable controllers feel quite sturdy and comfortable when used independently of the system. It took me a minute to feel comfortable removing the controller from the Lenovo Legion Go, as I was used to the Nintendo Switch’s slide-and-detach method. However, they are easy to hold and comfortable, just like Joy-Cons. I’d say they’re even a little better due to the larger size. Although I found the matching controller’s track pads a bit difficult to use when they’re not attached to the system. The battery life is also quite good as they outpace the actual system. If I separate them, I can use them twice as long, if not a little longer. However, I recommend making sure you “click” them back into place when reattaching them, as I neglected to do that the first time I used them and as a result the left side felt a bit shake.

Speaking of overall battery life, the Lenovo Legion Go surprised me a bit. Not considering length. No, as expected, it drains the battery quite quickly. I adjusted my Quick Settings in the Legion-R button-press configuration center and you’re there to let me spend about half an hour on my HoYoVerse game log and about three or four hours on Mistria Fields time. But I expected up to four hours of that, depending on the title. Plus, it only took about half an hour to get enough energy to start playing again and get close to 80%, so I was never away from the game for too long.

In general, I’m a really big fan of Quick Settings. While I usually play on PC, I never really mess around with the settings much. Here, I found myself more often accessing Settings quickly to tweak things based on the game. Mainly because of the desire to be able to extend play time for less demanding indie games, such as the aforementioned one. Mistria Fields. But I also appreciate that control if I notice the back of the device feels a little hot. Dragon Age: Guardian or other games too.

However, I did notice a few minor quirks with the Lenovo Legion Go during my time with it. One is that it keeps prompting me with a notification saying I need a “new app to open this ms-gamebar link”. Checking online made me wonder if it was related to needing the Xbox app, only to find that I already had it. The second is that if a system, driver, or controller update is needed, the Legion Go will do it without regard to what I’m actually playing. (Fortunately, I was preparing to roll the dice for one Bald Gate 3 decided when that came up once!) But again, it was a bigger problem when I first started sorting things out at once and it didn’t come up very often after getting it sorted out .

I really admire the Lenovo Legion Go, especially coming to it as a Switch owner and appreciate the power and flexibility it offers when compared to the Steam Deck. Different options are available when playing, such as the one that involves popping out the stand and removing the controller, making it easier to get comfortable and avoid fatigue due to its weight when playing drag games long. Of course, the comfort of knowing that I can download any recent game and know that it will run is equally valuable. It’s the freedom that comes from this handheld that makes it so enjoyable to use.

Legion Lenovo Go available nationwide.

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