Designing a mobile gaming machine is ultimately an exercise in managing thermal budgets, memory bandwidth, and physical weight. Lenovo's latest handheld strategies illustrate two completely different solutions to this engineering challenge.
On one hand, we have the Lenovo Legion Go S, an all-in-one device designed for comfort and lighter workloads, featuring a scaled-back Ryzen Z2 Go processor. On the other hand, the flagship Lenovo Legion Go 2 targets maximum performance, packing AMD's high-end Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU and a stunning OLED display into a heavy, detachable modular frame.
For systems engineers and hardware enthusiasts looking at this hardware ecosystem, this Lenovo Legion Go S vs Legion Go 2 Review Perbandingan Handheld Gaming Terbaru explores how silicon choices, memory bus speeds, and BIOS-level optimizations translate into actual, real-world frame rates.
Under the Hood: Silicon and Memory Architecture
The defining difference between these two handheld systems lies in their core silicon design. Lenovo has chosen different processor families to target distinct performance tiers and price points.
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| SILICON TOPOLOGY |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| [Legion Go S] |
| AMD Ryzen Z2 Go (Zen 3+ | 4C/8T) |
| LPDDR5-6400 Unified Memory Bus |
| Radeon 680M Graphics (12 CUs, RDNA 2) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| [Legion Go 2] |
| AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme (Zen 5/5c | 8C/16T) |
| LPDDR5x-8000 Unified Memory Bus |
| Radeon RDNA 3.5 Graphics (16 CUs) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
The Legion Go S: Zen 3+ Legacy and Memory Bandwidth Constriction
The Legion Go S runs on the AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, a processor built on the 6nm Zen 3+ architecture. With 4 physical cores and 8 threads boosting up to 4.3 GHz, it is a significant step down from modern eight-core designs. Graphics duties are handled by an integrated Radeon 680M GPU based on the older RDNA 2 architecture, featuring 12 compute units (CUs).
System memory on the Go S is rated at LPDDR5-6400. In a unified memory architecture (UMA) where the CPU and GPU share the same memory pool, this speed is a major limiting factor. Because integrated graphics depend heavily on system memory bandwidth to act as VRAM, the slower 6,400 MT/s speed creates a data bottleneck. This restricts the RDNA 2 compute units from running at peak efficiency under heavy graphical loads.
The Legion Go 2: Hybrid Zen 5/5c Powerhouse
The Legion Go 2 introduces AMD's flagship Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor. This APU uses a hybrid design featuring 3 high-performance Zen 5 cores and 5 energy-efficient Zen 5c cores, totaling 8 cores and 16 threads. It boosts up to 5 GHz on the Zen 5 cores and features a configurable TDP ranging from 15W to 35W, a notable jump over the older Z1 Extreme's 9W to 30W range.
The graphics hardware gets a massive upgrade with 16 RDNA 3.5 compute units. To keep these compute units fed with data, Lenovo equipped the Legion Go 2 with 32GB of LPDDR5x-8000 memory. This faster 8,000 MT/s bandwidth helps ease the memory bottlenecks that typically limit integrated GPUs.
The UMA Frame Buffer and BIOS Tuning on the Legion Go S
One of the most interesting findings from deep-dive testing of the Legion Go S is how much performance is left on the table by default software configurations.
Out of the box, the Legion Go S sets its UMA Frame Buffer to "Auto." Under this setting, Windows 11 dynamically allocates system RAM to the GPU as needed. However, Windows' dynamic allocation is famously slow and conservative, often starving the Radeon 680M of the VRAM required to maintain stable frame rates in modern games.
By entering the device BIOS, users can manually set the UMA Frame Buffer to a fixed allocation of 4GB or 8GB. This permanently reserves a block of the fast LPDDR5-6400 memory for the GPU, preventing the CPU from reclaiming it.
BIOS Dynamic Allocation vs. Static Allocation:
[Auto Mode (Default)]
Total RAM (32GB) <---> Dynamic Windows Allocation <---> GPU (VRAM starves)
[Manual Mode (Set to 4GB/8GB)]
Total RAM (32GB) ---> [Reserved 8GB VRAM Block] ---> GPU (Stable Performance)
---> [Remaining 24GB CPU Block] ---> OS/App Logic
The performance impact of this single BIOS adjustment is remarkable. In demanding titles, changing the UMA buffer from "Auto" to 4GB or 8GB allows the Legion Go S to close the performance gap and run nearly on par with the original, more power-hungry Legion Go.
However, there is a catch. For users on the cheaper 16GB variant of the Legion Go S, locking 8GB for VRAM leaves only 8GB for the operating system and game engine. This can lead to system instability, page file swapping, and out-of-memory crashes in newer games.
Hardware Specifications Comparison
| Technical Specifications | Lenovo Legion Go S | Lenovo Legion Go 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor (APU) | AMD Ryzen Z2 Go (Zen 3+, 4 Cores / 8 Threads, up to 4.3 GHz, 6nm) | AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme (3x Zen 5 + 5x Zen 5c, 8 Cores / 16 Threads, up to 5.0 GHz) |
| Graphics (iGPU) | AMD Radeon 680M (RDNA 2, 12 CUs) | AMD Radeon RDNA 3.5 (16 CUs) |
| Memory (RAM) | 16GB / 32GB LPDDR5-6400 (Soldered, Unified) | 32GB LPDDR5x-8000 (Soldered, Unified) |
| Storage Options | 1TB M.2 2242 PCIe Gen 4 SSD (Supports 2280) | 1TB M.2 2242 PCIe Gen 4 SSD (Supports 2280) |
| Display Panel | 8-inch IPS Touchscreen, 120 Hz, VRR | 8.8-inch OLED Touchscreen, 30-144 Hz |
| Native Resolution | 1920 x 1200 (16:10) | 1920 x 1200 (16:10) |
| Battery Capacity | Unknown WHr (PCMark 10: 1h 42m Performance) | 74 WHr (Marvel's Midnight Suns: ~3 hours tweaked) |
| I/O Ports | 2x USB Type-C 4.0, MicroSD Card Reader, 3.5mm Jack | 2x USB Type-C 4.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm, Pogo Pin Connectors |
| Chassis Weight | 1.61 pounds (730 grams) | 2.03 pounds (920 grams) with controllers |
| MSRP (As Tested) | $729.99 (32GB / 1TB) | $1,349.99 (32GB / 1TB) |
Benchmark Analysis: Real-World Performance Metrics
To see how these architectural differences play out in real-world scenarios, we look at benchmarks run across both devices in plugged-in (maximum power) and unplugged (battery) states.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Medium Settings, DX12)
At 1280 x 800 resolution on battery power, the Legion Go S benefits from its low-overhead architecture, maintaining a steady 43 frames per second (FPS). This actually matches the original Legion Go and stays on par with the Steam Deck.
However, when plugged into the wall with a custom 40W TDP profile active, the Legion Go S struggles to scale, trailing the original Legion Go by 25 percent.
The Legion Go 2 shows the scaling power of its RDNA 3.5 architecture and Zen 5 CPU cores here. At 800p unplugged, it hits 66 FPS, rising to 75 FPS when plugged into a 35W TDP profile with 45W bursts. At its native 1200p resolution, the Legion Go 2 maintains a playable 42 FPS unplugged and 47 FPS when plugged in.
Cyberpunk 2077 (Steam Deck Preset)
Cyberpunk 2077 is highly demanding on CPU core counts and memory bus speeds. The Legion Go S struggles here. When plugged in, it delivers a playable 35 FPS at 800p, but drops to an unplayable 18 FPS when running at its native 1200p resolution.
The Legion Go 2 handles the game much better, hitting 47 FPS unplugged at 800p and climbing to 57 FPS when plugged in. While 1200p remains playable on the Go 2, the game still drops frames compared to competitors like the Asus ROG Ally X, which uses a 16:9 1080p screen.
CYBERPUNK 2077 BENCHMARK (800p, Steam Deck Preset, Plugged In)
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Legion Go S : [|||||||||||||||||||||] 35 FPS
Legion Go 2 : [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ] 57 FPS
=============================================================
Red Dead Redemption 2 (Lowest Settings, Slide Slider to Quality/Performance)
At 800p resolution while plugged in, the Legion Go S manages 52 FPS. However, the original Legion Go with the Z1 Extreme chip beats it at 67 FPS.
The Legion Go 2 runs away with this benchmark, hitting a smooth 65 FPS unplugged and a high 80 FPS when plugged into AC power at 800p. At native 1200p, the Legion Go 2 remains very smooth, averaging 46 FPS on battery and 50 FPS when plugged in.
F1 24 (Medium Graphics Settings, DX11)
In F1 24, the performance gap between the two devices narrows but remains clear.
The Legion Go S delivers 50 FPS at 800p and 33 FPS at 1200p when plugged in.
The Legion Go 2 jumps up to 67 FPS unplugged and 76 FPS plugged in at 800p. When set to native 1200p, the Go 2 stays highly responsive, hitting 50 FPS on battery power and 56 FPS when connected to the wall.
Display Performance: IPS vs. Premium OLED
Beyond processing power, the visual experiences of these two handhelds are completely different.
+--------------------------------------------------------+
| DISPLAY ARCHITECTURE |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
| Legion Go S: |
| [8.0" IPS Panel] ---> 1920x1200 | 120 Hz | 455.5 Nits |
| 84.8% DCI-P3 Color Space Coverage |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
| Legion Go 2: |
| [8.8" OLED Panel] ---> 1920x1200 | 144 Hz | 445 Nits |
| 135.8% DCI-P3 Color Space Coverage (Glossy Finish) |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
The Legion Go S IPS Panel
The Legion Go S steps down from its predecessor's massive 8.8-inch screen to a more compact 8-inch IPS display, while also dropping the maximum resolution from 2560 x 1600 to 1920 x 1200.
While some might see this as a downgrade, it is a practical engineering choice. Running games at 1600p on a Z2 Go or Z1 Extreme often results in poor frame rates. Moving to a native 1200p panel makes 800p integer scaling look much sharper.
The IPS panel covers 84.8 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 119.7 percent of sRGB. At a measured peak brightness of 455.5 nits, it is bright, colorful, and highly usable in well-lit rooms.
The Legion Go 2 OLED Panel
The Legion Go 2 keeps the large 8.8-inch form factor but upgrades the display to a premium OLED panel. It also drops the resolution to a more practical 1920 x 1200 with a 144 Hz refresh rate.
Color reproduction is incredible, covering a massive 135.8 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 191.7 percent of sRGB, easily outclassing the IPS display on the Go S. High-contrast scenes look striking, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors.
However, the screen has one major drawback: its glossy finish is highly reflective. In environments with direct light sources, such as near windows or outdoors, the reflections can make the screen difficult to see unless the brightness is cranked to its measured peak of 445 nits. This, of course, comes at the cost of battery life.
Chassis Design, Inputs, and Daily Ergonomics
The physical designs of these consoles show how different their intended use cases are.
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| INPUT & CHASSIS LAYOUT |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| [Legion Go S] |
| - All-in-One Molded Plastic Shell (No Detachable Joints) |
| - Weight: 1.61 lbs (730g) |
| - Controls: Non-detachable, Curvier Grips, Clicky D-Pad |
| - Navigation: Tiny Haptic Trackpad Nub |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| [Legion Go 2] |
| - Detachable TrueStrike Controllers (Modular Rails) |
| - Weight: 2.03 lbs (920g) |
| - Controls: Detachable, Hall-Effect Drift-Proof Joysticks |
| - Navigation: Medium Trackpad, FPS Mode Mouse Base, Kickstand |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
Legion Go S: Comfortable, Integrated Portability
The Legion Go S drops the Nintendo Switch-style detachable controllers of the original design in favor of a solid, all-in-one plastic chassis. While the heavy use of white molded plastic makes it feel slightly less premium than its aluminum predecessor, the structural rigidity is excellent.
Removing the heavy locking mechanisms required for detachable controllers allows the Go S to weigh in at a much lighter 1.61 pounds. This, combined with curvier, more rounded handgrips, makes the Go S highly ergonomic. It causes noticeably less wrist fatigue during long gaming sessions.
For inputs, the D-pad is outstanding, offering a tactile and deep clack that feels far better than the pingy D-pad of the original Go. For mouse navigation, the Go S features a tiny, haptic-enabled touchpad below the right analog stick. By default, this touchpad has a loud, buzzing vibration motor enabled in Legion Space. Thankfully, users can turn this setting down or off entirely to save their sanity.
One notable omission is the kickstand. Because the controllers are integrated into the body, Lenovo decided a kickstand was no longer necessary, meaning you cannot easily prop the device up on a desk.
Legion Go 2: A Bulkier, Feature-Rich Hybrid
The Legion Go 2 is a thick, heavy handheld, weighing 2.03 pounds with its controllers attached. This extra mass is the direct result of its detachable TrueStrike controllers and the large, heavy-duty kickstand on the back of the device.
The TrueStrike controllers feature Hall-effect joysticks to prevent stick drift, alongside a redesigned D-pad mounted on a pivot disk. They also keep the unique "FPS mode" from the first generation. This allows you to detach the right controller, slot it vertically into an included plastic base, and slide it across a desk like a mouse.
While the system is highly versatile, the 2.03-pound weight is felt immediately. For many players, this weight can lead to tired hands and sore wrists during extended handheld play.
The controllers connect via a rail system and Pogo pins. While removing them is easy, sliding them back on can be tricky, and users have reported scratching the paint along the mounting rails.
The top of the device houses a USB4 port and a power button with an integrated fingerprint reader. Unfortunately, reaching the fingerprint sensor while holding the device in handheld mode can feel like a bit of a stretch.
Thermal Performance and Internal Upgradeability
Both devices feature cooling systems designed to pull fresh air through the back vents and exhaust hot air out the top of the chassis.
During an extended Metro Exodus looping stress test, the Legion Go 2's cooling system kept the processor running at reasonable temperatures, with the CPU averaging 65.5°C and the GPU cores averaging 62.9°C.
The controllers remained cool at 84°F, while the hottest point on the chassis was the top exhaust vent at 106.3°F. This is safely out of reach of your hands.
COOLING AIRFLOW TOPOLOGY (TOP VIEW EXHAUST)
[Top Exhaust Vent]
^
|
[Internal Heatsink]
^
|
[Cooling Fans]
^
|
[Rear Intake Grille]
When it comes to upgrading internal storage, both systems are surprisingly flexible:
- M.2 Slot Support: Both the Legion Go S and Legion Go 2 ship with compact M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 SSDs. Crucially, however, both motherboards are designed with mounting layouts that can accommodate standard, full-length M.2 2280 SSDs. This is a major win for enthusiasts, as 2280 drives are far more common, cheaper, and available in larger capacities than 2242 drives.
- Ease of Access: Opening the Legion Go S requires removing screws, popping off a top plastic cover plate with a spudger, and carefully sliding off the rear shell without breaking the plastic trigger clips. The Legion Go 2 requires removing eight screws, two of which are deeply recessed under the rear kickstand, meaning you will need a thin, long screwdriver to reach them. Furthermore, swapping the SSD on the Legion Go 2 is slightly more difficult, as the drive is located beneath the battery and cooling fan assembly.
Power, Battery Life, and Charging Curves
The battery performance of a handheld gaming PC depends entirely on its display settings, TDP limits, and processor efficiency.
PCMARK 10 GAMING BATTERY LIFE COMPARISON
=========================================================
Legion Go S (Performance Mode) : [|||||||||] 1h 42m
Legion Go S (Quiet Mode) : [||||||||||||||||||] 3h 34m
Legion Go 2 (Balanced Mode)* : [||||||||||] 2h 00m
=========================================================
*Estimated based on Marvel's Midnight Suns battery drain.
The Legion Go S performs well in terms of battery efficiency, thanks to its lower-power, four-core Ryzen Z2 Go processor. In the PCMark 10 Gaming battery test, the Go S lasted 1 hour and 42 minutes under its default Performance profile.
Switching the device to Quiet mode, which limits CPU power draw and slows down the fans, extended the PCMark 10 battery run to an impressive 3 hours and 34 minutes. For lighter 2D games, users can easily expect five to six hours of playtime.
When you do run out of power, the Go S supports fast charging, climbing from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes, and reaching a full charge in about 1.5 hours.
Despite carrying a large 74 WHr battery, the Legion Go 2 struggles to deliver long battery life due to its power-hungry Zen 5 cores and large OLED display.
While playing Marvel's Midnight Suns at 800p with medium settings, a 60 FPS cap, and 30% screen brightness under the Balanced power profile, the battery drained to 66% after one hour, and hit 50% by the 1.5-hour mark.
When playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 at a high 144 Hz refresh rate and 50% brightness, the battery fell to 54% after just one hour of play. Under heavy gaming loads, the high-end hardware will drain even this large battery quickly.
The Verdict: Silicon Tuning vs. Premium Pricing
Both the Lenovo Legion Go S and the Lenovo Legion Go 2 are highly capable handhelds, but they target very different audiences and suffer from tricky market pricing.
The Legion Go S: A Great Design Held Back by Its Launch Price
The Legion Go S is incredibly comfortable to hold, features a bright, beautiful screen, and offers excellent battery life in lighter games. It feels like a premium, thoughtfully designed handheld.
However, at its $729 launch price for the 32GB RAM/1TB SSD model, it is very difficult to recommend. It uses an older, slower processor, yet costs nearly the same as the original, more powerful Legion Go.
For most buyers, the upcoming $499 version running SteamOS with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is the model to wait for. At that price point, its excellent ergonomics and efficient performance will make it a highly competitive alternative to the Steam Deck.
The Legion Go 2: The Enthusiast's Dream at a Massive Premium
The Legion Go 2 is an absolute powerhouse. It offers a gorgeous, high-contrast OLED display, drift-proof Hall-effect joysticks, and the cutting-edge performance of AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor.
But at a staggering $1,349.99 for the 32GB RAM/1TB SSD model, it enters the price territory of high-end gaming laptops. At this price, it is a niche luxury product designed strictly for enthusiasts who demand detachable controllers, a premium OLED panel, and top-tier mobile performance, and are willing to pay a massive price premium to get them.
References
- https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/console-gaming/lenovo-legion-go-s-review
- https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/handheld-gaming/lenovo-legion-go-2-review
- https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/handheld-gaming-pcs/better-grips-oled-screen-and-more-memory-our-first-actual-look-at-the-lenovo-legion-go-2-is-everything-i-wanted-in-the-original/
- https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/handheld-gaming-pcs/lenovo-legion-go-s-windows-review/