Handheld gaming has been here since the late 1970s, hitting commercial success by the late 1980s with the Game Boy. This led to the era of modern handheld gaming. Others like Sony with its PSP have tried, but Nintendo who has basically held a monopoly on the handheld gaming scene for years was unchallenged. That’s until alternatives became available to PC gamers who wanted to play on the go, such as Valve’s Steam Deck. Startup companies like AOKZOE followed suit providing alternatives to gamers and now we see the trend of major brands throwing their hat into the space. One of them is Lenovo, and early this September, they announced its entry into the market – the Lenovo Legion Go.
Entering the handheld gaming market
The Lenovo Legion Go runs on Windows 11. It is also powered by the potent AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor with AMD RNDA Graphics. Coupled with a massive 8.8″ touch display, the device promises to “deliver[s] a potent combo of console-rivalling graphics performance that bring games to life.”
Like most of its handheld PC gaming competitors, the Lenovo Legion Go seems to be quite a hefty device to bring around. The whole device has a size of 11.8″ x 5.15″ x 1.61″ and weighs at 1.88lbs. What’s immediately noticeable is that the controllers are detachable, similar to a Nintendo Switch’s joycons. The main device also has a built-in kickstand, giving it more versatility compared to other PC handhelds. Additionally, there’s an option for the user to attach the right controller to a magnetic base. This is so they can use it as a mouse in-game. The option is especially useful for FPS games that require players to have a more precise aim when taking a shot at an enemy.
Apart from that, Lenovo also introduced other accessories to accompany the Legion Go. Most notable is the Legion Glasses which act as a portable virtual monitor for gamers who want a more private big-screen gaming experience on the go. Users can plug the AR glasses into any device with a USB-C port, not just the portable console. It also has built-in speakers, making the gaming experience as immersive as possible wherever you are. If speakers aren’t enough, there’s also the Lenovo Legion E510 earphones to plug into.
Lenovo’s Legion Go is the company’s first entry into the handheld market and is part of its gaming lineup of products. The device is scheduled to be released in November 2023 for €799. Meanwhile, the two accessories are slated for an October 2023 release. The Legion Glasses are priced at €499 while the Legion E510 are priced at €49.99.
YouTube: Lenovo Legion Go – Official Launch Trailer
Photo credits: The images used are owned by Lenovo and have been provided for press usage.
