Review: Lenovo Legion Go Gen 2 Gaming Handheld

Many companies have tried and failed to produce gaming handhelds that run Windows, and it’s not hard to see the appeal. You could take all of your games with you, install mods and custom software, or even plug into a hub and get some work done. Lenovo is taking another swing at the Windows handheld game with the Legion Go 2, undeterred by mixed reviews on the original Legion Go and streamlined Legion Go S.

But even a snappier interface and versatile input methods can’t overcome a lot of the barriers inherent to running Windows on a device with no keyboard. If you’re willing to put in the work, or you already love your original Legion Go, the performance, screen, and software support have all improved. If you’re easily frustrated or don’t want to spend the time troubleshooting to dial in your experience, I’d recommend picking something a little lower maintenance.

Too Many Buttons

I was initially confused by the controllers, which are absolutely covered in buttons. Having a mouse is super helpful during Windows setup, and I repeatedly tried to figure out how I was intended to click the marked mouse buttons on the side of the controller while using the trackpad, only to later discover those aren't used in handheld mode. It turns out the touchpad is tap-to-click only, which is a little awkward. The left joystick already controls the cursor, and there's no obvious button for left click on your right hand.

Photograph: Brad Bourque

Speaking of cursors, the right controller has an optical sensor on the bottom so you can use it as a mouse, which Lenovo calls FPS mode in the settings. It’s unique, and the easy access to a mouse and right-click without using the touchpad is a nice bonus, but the way you grip the controller means you're always kind of palming the joystick on the side. I play a lot of mouse-dependent games like World of Warcraft, and I find it more useful for patching holes where controller buttons don't cover niche situations, or briefly switching to do inventory management. As an actual controller for shooters, it's less comfortable, and I can connect my own mouse if I really want to—one of the perks of running Windows.

It doesn’t help that the Legion Go 2 is a particularly chunky device. Not only is it heavier than other handhelds I’ve tested recently, it’s also fairly thick and wide, so it isn’t very comfortable to hold for long gaming sessions.

Photograph: Brad Bourque

The detachable controllers go a long way towards making the device more portable and usable. The screen has a hefty flip-out kickstand on the back, so I’ve found it more comfortable to park the console on the table or bar in front of me, and hold the controllers at lap level. The upside to the substantial build is that the controllers have comfortable built-in grips, with smooth magnetic Hall effect sticks, and buttons that have a soft, yet distinct touch.

There are also two minor inclusions here that I think do a lot for the user experience. The first is the included case, which might not sound important, but often these handheld gaming consoles don’t include one. Because they aren’t standard-sized, it’s often hard to find a third-party case, particularly at release. While I wouldn’t necessarily trust the semi-soft pouch to protect my new device in a checked bag, I’m totally comfortable tossing it in my backpack and going for a bike ride, and I appreciate that there’s a little spot for the FPS mode accessories inside. The other feature is the fingerprint sensor, which works consistently and quickly, and is much easier than trying to type in a password on a touchscreen every time you wake the system up, although it is in a slightly awkward position.

Game On

The performance on the AMD Z2 is thankfully much better than the Z2 Go found in the Legion Go S. At native resolution, with settings maxed but ray tracing off, I was sitting at 20 frames per second in Cyberpunk 2077’s benchmark. That might sound rough coming from desktop numbers, but it's somewhat impressive for a gaming handheld. For reference, the Z2 Go only managed 20 fps with the graphics set to low at the same resolution. With a little tweaking or a resolution drop, you could easily break 60 fps in one of the more demanding modern games.

On indie titles like the recently released Ball x Pit, the meter stays glued to the screen’s 144-Hz limit, which is great news, since you’ll regularly be able to take advantage of the smooth refresh rate. The panel itself is OLED, and it’s one of the best gaming handheld screens I’ve tested yet, with full, vivid colors and deep, dark black levels. It measures a full 336 nits at max brightness, but more impressively, covers 100 percent of the sRGB and 94 percent of the AdobeRGB spectrums, with a .86 color accuracy delta. That color coverage and accuracy is up there with some of the best laptops and dedicated computer monitors. It’s a delight to play on, and despite its glossy finish, I didn’t have any game-breaking issues with heavy reflections or glare.

Photograph: Brad Bourque

The combination of the high-refresh panel and relatively powerful processor definitely affects the battery life. I was able to play CloverPit, which isn't terribly demanding, for just over two hours at 30 percent screen brightness before the low battery warning popped up. Thankfully, there are two USB ports for charging—one on the top and one on the bottom—because you'll need to get used to plugging in while you play.

The bigger problem here is that you'll have to mess with settings more than you would on a SteamOS device to smooth out performance. Most games don't really know what to make of Windows handhelds, so they just take a stab at default settings based on the information they do have about your hardware.

I ran into fewer issues with games coming out of the box unplayable on this system than I have with previous similar systems, thanks to better performance, as well as developers starting to plan more for these unique devices. You should plan on spending some time with the graphics menu after installing most games, more so than you would on a Steam Deck.

The Windows Paradox

Windows is still the worst part of this experience. Just getting to the Windows desktop the first time took me almost half an hour, and it involved declining a seemingly endless series of offers for Office360 and OneDrive, dealing with pages of privacy settings and cloud backup options, and manually typing in my password on the touchscreen. Even after all that, I still had to go install a browser, download Steam and other launchers, and configure the system to understand the input methods and power modes I needed.

I stuck with the built-in controls for the sake of the review, but I imagine most folks will get fed up and plug in a keyboard and mouse for the initial setup, if not on a regular basis.

Photograph: Brad Bourque

For some reason, I don’t feel like I’m always in control of this machine. Sometimes things just happen, like the Task Manager randomly opening, or dialog boxes prompting me to go to the Microsoft Store. I’ve spent time with multiple iterations of the more streamlined Legion Go S, and on the Windows side, the interface leaves a lot to be desired. It’s slow to appear when you press the dedicated button, and slower to react when you try to change core settings. On this version of the device, the button works nearly instantly, as you’d expect, and flipping through the overlay and settings feels responsive and unintrusive.

Unfortunately, there are just too many ways to interact layered over each other, and too many buttons with vague icons. To top it off, a desktop OS is designed to show a ton of information that can't fit on a compact, lower-resolution screen. The whole experience feels janky compared to the SteamOS setup process, which involves entering your Wi-Fi password and scanning a QR code with your phone. Everything past that point is designed for controllers, which means no weird confirmation screens or dead links or right-clicking required.

Roll Up Your Sleeves

Even with the improvements Lenovo has made over time, the lack of cohesion is felt across a variety of minor and major system functions, from power and sleep to screen and performance settings. As such, I don't think you should buy the Legion Go 2 if you're just looking for something to jam some Vampire Survivors on your holiday vacation. It's too big and heavy, with too much going on, and you’re likely to end up frustrated when a rogue Windows update kicks in right before a long flight.

We also have to talk about the cost: At $1,100 for the basic model, you could buy the most expensive OLED Steam Deck AND a Nintendo Switch 2. The upgraded model I tested with the Z2 Extreme will run you a full $1,350, enough to build your own midrange gaming desktop. While this is certainly the most performant and well-featured gaming handheld I’ve tested, you have to really be sure that you truly desire what the Legion Go 2 is offering. It isn't just a game console, it's a project, and an extra computer to manage. As a system builder and gaming nerd, I understand the appeal, but I imagine most people want a more plug-and-play experience from their handhelds.

The first Legion Go had a whole community of modders and optimizers making the most of the device, and I'm sure this one will too. If you're already imagining complex dock setups, novel uses for FPS mode, and don't mind putting in the work, you can achieve some really cool stuff. The Legion Go 2’s most appealing feature is definitely its adaptability, but it’s going to require a little bit of legwork, and a dash of patience, to achieve its full potential.