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The Lenovo Legion Go is currently my favorite PC gaming machine. But it has major drawbacks, which is why I can't fully recommend it.
I've been using Lenovo's Legion Go for about half a year. In the meantime, I've tested and tried more portable consoles and the big portable one with Nintendo Switch vibes is still my favorite.
But while it has received useful updates and improvements over this time, I can't recommend it to everyone – no update will help.
Now you can see what I like so much about this test in the long-term test and what are the important points there.
Why the Legion Go is still my favorite to this day
Best non-OLED screen
Compared to the MSI Claw, Asus ROG Ally, and LCD Steam Deck, the Lenovo Legion Go has the best display of all. In my opinion, only the Steam Deck OLED can keep up, but even here Lenovo’s laptop is ahead in some areas:
- Larger (8.9 inches vs. 7.4 inches)
- Higher resolution (2560×1600 vs 1280×800)
- Higher screen refresh rate (144Hz vs. 90Hz)
I am currently playing Elden Ring on my mobile device.
Admittedly, I don't necessarily see the last two features as particularly important.
The 90Hz refresh rate is enough for me in most games and the Legion Go's high resolution can usually only be achieved in simple games or through upscaling.
But what I don't want to miss anymore is the display size. Not only does it make gaming more fun, but thanks to the larger screen, running Windows is also a little less cumbersome than its handheld competition.
Best buttons and sticks
The Lenovo Legion Go has excellent joysticks and buttons. The operation is smooth and precise. This is one of the reasons why I really enjoy playing in handheld mode.
Additionally, with the Legion Go, I always have a controller with me in case I want to connect it to a friend’s TV. To do that, I simply remove the two JoyCon-like controllers.
I can turn the right controller into a vertical mouse with a switch at the bottom and play strategy games or shooting games.
Built-in trackpad
Unlike many other Windows laptops, the Lenovo Legion Go has a trackpad on the right side that you can use to operate the mouse.
This makes using Windows much easier and allows you to play games like Civilization 6 on your mobile device (the game doesn't support controllers on Steam).
Kick position
Since the screen is so large, a kickstand makes more sense than on other portable devices. Playing in tabletop mode is a perfectly good alternative to local multiplayer gaming.
In my case, these are fighting games: just plug in two controllers, place the Legion GO on the table and you're ready to go.
The kickstand is more useful on a 9-inch device than I initially thought.
2 USB4 ports
The Legion Go has two USB4 ports, which I find very practical. For example, despite having a charging cable, I still have a free USB port, for example for a USB headset.
You also have the option to choose whether you prefer to connect the charging cable at the top or bottom.
Why can't I recommend it to everyone?
height and weight
The main reason I wouldn’t recommend the Lenovo Legion Go to everyone is definitely the size and weight. For a device that’s classified as a portable gaming console, the Legion Go is very bulky and heavy.
If I take the Legion Go and its case with me, I'll need a backpack for it.
The device weighs about 900 grams and this does not go unnoticed when playing. I prefer to play in handheld mode when I can rest my elbows somewhere. For many of my friends, the device is not only too big and cumbersome, but also too heavy.
No matter how good a handheld device is, if you can't play comfortably with it, it's not the right device for you.
Fan size
When the Legion GO came out, the issue was more pronounced than it is today because custom fan curves didn’t exist yet. The update has now been delivered, but the Legion Go is still very loud at high speeds.
The volume itself isn't the problem, but the frequency of the sound. This is on the loud side and a bit shrill and unpleasant.
miserable speakers
Speaking of sound, the Legion Go's speakers aren't great. The equalizer is set too low, but even after adjusting, the sound is still not impressive.
Additionally, speakers can crackle at high volume levels. If good sound is important to you, you should use headphones.
Low graphics settings
This point doesn't apply specifically to the Legion Go, but to all laptops: the first thing you'll do with most games is go into the graphics settings and select the “Low” or “Very Low” preset.
Upscaling tools like FSR or Intel XeSS are a must for many games. I personally use Lossless Scaling to boost FPS. You can learn more about it here:
If good graphics are particularly important to you in blockbuster titles, it's no surprise that you'll be better off with a Playstation 5, Xbox Series X, or gaming PC.
Things to know if you want to buy Legion Go
You can allocate more video memory to the GPU: By default, only four gigabytes of VRAM is allocated to the GPU. That's not a lot, especially since the display has a high resolution.
You can increase the VRAM in the BIOS. I recommend 6GB. That leaves 12 for RAM.
The top USB4 port is causing problems for me: When I connect devices there, especially my USB dock, there is a constant disconnect while playing.
Others, but not all Legion Go owners I've spoken to, are experiencing this issue as well. It's possible that the top USB port is getting too hot and that's the cause of the problem.
When I plug the dock into the bottom USB port there are no issues.
Games can now be played from MicroSD card: Initially there was a big stuttering issue when playing games from SD card. This has been fixed.
Legion Space has received a major update: The user interface now looks better and clearer. However, there are still two annoying bugs:
- Legion Space and Quick Settings are not accessible in docked mode. They can only be accessed through the mobile device itself and not through external displays.
- For some users, the language is displayed in Chinese after the update. This was not the case for me.
The new Legion Space looks much better. However, I only use it when necessary. Windows 11 is easily run on the Legion Go via the touchscreen and trackpad.
You can read my opinion on the Legion Go, the Asus ROG Ally, and the MSI Claw competitor compared to the Steam Deck in the following article:
I Tested The Top 3 Steam Deck Alternatives And This Is The Winner
My conclusion after half a year
for every
- Large 2K 144Hz screen
- The buttons and joystick are very good.
- table game stand
- Detachable controllers
- Built-in trackpad
- 2 USB4 ports
cons
- too heavy and big
- loud fan
- The speakers are very bad.
- Low graphics settings in many games
Even in mid-2024, the Lenovo Legion Go is still a recommended purchase for anyone looking for a laptop with a large screen and Windows.
However, its strength is also its biggest weakness: for many people, the device is simply too bulky and heavy.
For me personally, the pros outweigh the cons – no pun intended.
Mobile devices have improved over time, and while there are new mobile devices on the horizon, the Legion Go can still score points today with arguments that still make it unique.
“Unapologetic analyst. Infuriatingly humble coffee evangelist. Gamer. Unable to type with boxing gloves on. Student. Entrepreneur.”
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