Regrettably, my initial apprehension has proven correct: this handheld is not going to be affordable.
I am currently at IFA 2025, and naturally, I am searching for the newest handheld consoles. Fortunately, I’m able to get my early impressions of the Lenovo Legion Go 2, which is one of the handhelds I’m most excited about for 2025.
The unit I used for this article is still an early-model prototype with incomplete software, which is why I can’t yet provide insights into the gaming experience we can anticipate later this month upon its launch.
Instead, I will share my initial thoughts on the handheld itself along with the key new features as compared to its prior version.
To start with: this is among the finest displays I’ve encountered on a handheld device – possibly the finest.
The display steals the show
The previous model, the Lenovo Legion Go 1, is already one of my top favorite handheld devices, primarily due to its remarkable screen.
With the second iteration, the manufacturer has outdone itself by incorporating an even superior screen – though it does involve some trade-offs in one aspect. But there’s good reasoning behind it.
8.8-inch OLED: Similar to its predecessor, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 features a display close to 9 inches in size. This time around, Lenovo has chosen an OLED panel that delivers vibrant colors and outstanding contrast, rather than an IPS LCD.
- In my view, the screen size is ideal. I find 8.8 inches convenient for portable gaming, yet large enough to fully appreciate even PC games with smaller text.
- The IPS LCD on the original Legion Go was already quite impressive, and honestly, I didn’t miss the benefits of an OLED display. However, in a direct comparison, there’s a marked difference – particularly regarding black levels and contrast.
VRR: The Lenovo Legion Go 2 features a variable refresh rate ranging from 30 to 144 Hz. This provides a smooth visual experience and mitigates screen tearing. Its predecessor did not possess this capability.
Reduced resolution: This is where we encounter the downgrade previously mentioned. The original Lenovo Legion Go had a display with a notably high resolution of 2,560 × 1,600 pixels. The Lenovo Legion Go 2 features a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels – but this is a positive development:
- It was seldom feasible to run contemporary games at such a high resolution without relying on upscaling.
- The 1,200p resolution of the Legion Go 2 is still sufficiently high for crisp content display at this screen size, and significantly more games should be playable at native resolution.
500 nits: The maximum brightness level of the handheld remains unchanged, but it’s adequate for outdoor gaming as long as you’re in the shade.
Comfort and build quality: Two significant issues have been resolved
The Lenovo Legion Go 2 features a matte plastic casing, enhancing its premium feel compared to the original Lenovo Legion Go.
The updated detachable controllers are no longer sharply angular, but rather rounded all around. This makes the Legion Go 2 considerably more comfortable to hold than its predecessor. Despite it weighing nearly a kilogram, the handheld is very user-friendly.
Moreover, the two controllers are now much more securely attached to the body. On the original Lenovo Legion Go, they had a slight looseness and occasionally felt wobbly. In the successor, they are firmly in place – at least at first glance.
Controllers, FPS mode, and tabletop gaming
In a similar fashion to the Nintendo Switch 2, the controllers of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 can be detached and utilized wirelessly with the handheld. A robust kickstand located on the back allows the tablet to be positioned at various angles.
The right controller can be transformed into a vertical mouse using a small plate where the controller fits – just like in the previous model.
The mouse sensor appears to be more accurate than that of the Legion Go 1, but I still need to perform thorough testing.
Two new buttons have been added to the left controller, streamlining the operation of Windows 11 on handhelds: one button quickly accesses the desktop interface while the other