"Is It a Game Console or a High-Performance PC?" Hands-On With the Legion Go Gen 2 Shows a Cooler Screen Than the Steam Deck and the Strength of Detachable Controllers [IT Review]

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[Financial News] After using Lenovo's portable gaming PC, the Legion Go Gen 2, for several hours, it felt much like a small gaming laptop. The first thing that stood out was its larger-than-expected display. The 8.8-inch screen was wider than those on comparable UMPCs such as the Steam Deck. Combined with an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel and 97% DCI-P3 color coverage, it delivered the vivid image quality the format is known for. It also offers up to 500 nits of brightness, Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1200, a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 144-hertz refresh rate, resulting in smooth transitions and strong visibility. The device gave the impression of occupying a middle ground between a handheld console and a gaming laptop.
\r\nOne of the Legion Go Gen 2's most distinctive design features is its detachable controllers, which can be removed and reattached freely like those on the Nintendo Switch. Because of the larger screen, the device weighs about 920 grams, making it heavier than other UMPCs and a potential drawback. Lenovo's answer to that issue is the detachable controller design. With the controllers attached on both sides, users can play it like a handheld gaming device. Once detached and paired with a separate pad, they can also be used like a console joystick. When the weight became tiring during longer sessions, placing the main unit on a desk or chair and using the detached controllers made for a more comfortable posture and a smoother gaming experience. Ventilation systems are installed on both the top and bottom, so heat was not especially noticeable even after several hours of play.
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The device is powered by an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor and an AMD Radeon 890M graphics processing unit (GPU). To measure its gaming performance, a 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark was run, and it recorded a graphics score of 9,030. In the two graphics test segments, it posted 44.48 frames per second and 35.14 frames per second. Another benchmark, 3DMark Time Spy, produced a graphics score of 3,207. At Full HD resolution, the device could run games at around 30 frames per second on average if some settings were lowered to a midrange level rather than pushed to the highest options.
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Battery life has also improved enough to allow about two hours of gaming without charging. The Legion Go Gen 2's battery capacity is 74 watt-hours, up 50.4% from the previous model. It also supports fast charging with Rapid Charge. However, rising component costs, including DRAM and NAND flash memory, have pushed the selling price well above 2 million won, which could weigh on sales. As of that day, Lenovo Korea listed the official price of the Legion Go Gen 2 at 2,374,900 won.
mkchang@fnnews.com Jang Min-kwon Reporter