Lenovo Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go — How Do These Gaming Handhelds Compare Based on Rumored Specs?

I had the pleasure of conducting the Lenovo Legion Go review here at Windows Central, and since then, I've put dozens, if not hundreds, of hours into playing this handheld gaming PC. I've even upgraded the SSD and made other modifications to it.

At CES 2025, I spent time using the Legion Go 2 prototype and was able to ask Lenovo questions about its design. With this information and all of the latest Legion Go 2 rumors and leaks, I've decided to write this page comparing the original LeGO against the LeGO 2.

Now, the finalized Lenovo Legion Go 2 specs haven't been revealed yet, so this page is based on the prototype, leaks, and some speculation. I'll update this page when more info gets revealed, but for now, here's how these two devices compare against each other and the best gaming handhelds.

Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go: Specs

Now that you've had a chance to look at the Legion Go 2's rumored specs and the specs of the original Legion Go, let's discuss what these differences could mean for you.

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Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go: Price & value speculation

The cost of the Legion Go 2 hasn't been revealed yet, and it's hard to speculate on a price range when the final specs haven't been fully announced. That said, at least one leak suggests it will cost $1,000 when it allegedly launches in September (thanks, Tom's Guide).

I'm guessing there will at least be two LeGo 2 configurations, since this has been the case with the original Legion Go as well as both the Windows and SteamOS versions of the Legion Go S.

That all said, I'm willing to bet that the starting price of the Legion Go 2 will cost more than the $699.99 starting price of the OG Legion Go since it does have a superior OLED display, an added fingerprint reader, and a next-gen processor.

Although costly, the original Legion Go was priced well for what it offered, especially given the added functionality that the kickstand and removable controllers give it compared to handheld gaming PC rivals.

Now, it's worth noting that the trade war between the US and China could still impact the cost of the Legion Go 2 handheld. Many companies are keeping prices for upcoming tech close to the chest because of this, and it's likely the same with Lenovo.

As of right now, the Legion Go 2 doesn't have a release date, but Lenovo previously stated that it intends to release the handheld in 2025. If I were to guess, I'd say the LeGo 2 will go up this holiday season.

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Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go: Performance speculation

There is no doubt in my mind that the Legion Go 2, with its AMD Ryzen Z2 Series APU, will outperform the original Z1 Extreme handheld based on two things: Firstly, the fact that Legion Go 2 has a next-gen chip, and secondly, that it supports VRR (variable refresh rate).

Now, it seems that early Z2 Extreme performance benchmarks comparing it against the Z1 Extreme have failed to impress, with the older APU sometimes outperforming the newer one. Just note that this Z2E performance could change with the release of the right drivers.

After all, the ROG Ally didn't offer nearly as smooth a performance when it first released as it did after a few updates had gone out. So, the same could be true with this handheld.

Now, let's talk about VRR. The original Legion Go doesn't support this dynamic refresh rate adjustment, and this makes it so more graphically intensive games often look a lot choppier on Legion Go than they do on other Z1 Extreme Windows handhelds.

As such, I fully expect the playing experience on the Legion Go 2 to look significantly smoother than the original Legion Go, regardless of how much better the Z2 Extreme APU actually is.

The Legion Go 2 is also rumored to offer up to 32GB LPDDR5X-7500MHZ RAM and up to 2TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 SSD

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Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go: Display speculation

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While some aspects of the Legion Go 2 are unknown, Lenovo has been very open about its 8.8-inch OLED touchscreen. This panel type is a big step up from the 8.8-inch IPS touchscreen on the older handheld, and should produce notably more vibrant coloring and better contrast.

RELATED: IPS vs OLED vs QD-OLED vs mini LED: Which display is best?

To help improve performance and battery life, the Legion Go 2 screen resolution has been downgraded to WUXGA (1920x1200), compared to the original handheld's higher QHD (2560 x 1600).

Theoretically, this shouldn't cause a huge visual difference when it comes to details and crispness, but it should allow the handheld to run better overall.

Both devices reach a 144Hz refresh rate, but as explained in the performance section, the fact that the Legion Go 2 supports VRR should allow it to offer better motion clarity than the original handheld.

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Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go: Controls and play modes

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Both the Legion Go and Legion Go 2 feature built-in kickstands and detachable controllers. Additionally, both handhelds feature a mouse wheel on the right controller as well as the ability to switch the controller into FPS mode so you can use it like a mouse on a surface when playing your games.

When it comes to buttons and controls, there are two major differences between the first and second Legion Go iteration — The newer one now has a fingerprint reader on top, and the controllers have USB-C charging ports on them.

I didn't measure the size of the touchpad on the Legion Go 2 prototype when I was using it, but based on my images, it seems like it's a bit smaller than the Legion Go's touchpad.

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Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go: Software and games

Both the original Legion Go and the Legion Go 2 run Windows 11, which means users will be able to access any services, programs, or games that can run on a Windows gaming laptop.

Feel like playing Cyberpunk 2077 from your Steam library? Go for it. Itching to dive into Fortnite? Open Epic Games on either handheld. More interested in jumping into Diablo IV on Battle.net? Either Legion Go is ready and able.

As always, how well a game runs will depend on its hardware system requirements and how well your handheld matches up to those specs.

That said, there are ways to improve performance on the Legion Go, namely by adjusting game graphics settings, increasing Legion Go VRAM, lowering resolution to 1080p, and more.

Outside of gaming, I've used my Legion Go to write articles in Google Docs (using this keyboard accessory from Amazon), stream Netflix while in bed, and more. It's easy to forget that it isn't just a handheld, it's a full-blown PC that you can use for just about any normal computer need.

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Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go: Battery life

The Legion Go 2 is rumored to have a 74 Whr battery, which, if true, is a significant increase from the original Legion Go's 49.2 Whr battery.

Additionally, AMD has stated that its new Z2 Extreme chip can boost handheld battery life by 300%. As such, it's possible that the Legion Go 2 will last quite a bit longer than the original handheld, at least percentage-wise.

All this said, it's important to remember that battery life on handheld gaming PCs still isn't great. So, it's very possible the Legion Go 2 could only last up to two hours or so when running more graphically intensive games.

Speaking of battery life, I spotted a change with the Legion Go 2 prototype's controllers earlier this year — they both featured a USB-C charging port on the inside.

If this design makes it to the final product, this could make it more convenient to keep the controllers juiced up as you use the Legion Go 2.

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Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go: Grip ergonomics and comfort

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If the Legion Go 2 prototype is anything to go by, then the finalized design of the Legion Go 2 will have some nice ergonomic improvements.

As shown in the embedded pictures above, the Legion Go 2 basically has the same back buttons as the original handheld, but they've each been changed slightly with either a different shape, placement, or slightly different orientation.

When I held the Legion Go 2 at CES 2025, it felt comfortable in my hands thanks to the more rounded shape of the controllers and the improved texture.

I didn't weigh the Legion Go 2, but rumors suggest that it will be a whopping 2.38 pounds, which is significantly heavier than the 1.88 pounds of the OG device. As long as the internals are balanced well and the grips fit well in your hand, this increased weight might not be all that notable.

I'll be sure to check into this when I get my hands on the official Legion Go 2.

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Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go: Which is better?

As of right now, it's hard to say for sure whether the Legion Go 2 is a better buy than the Legion Go. Assuming the rumored specs and design details are accurate, the Legion Go 2 should easily outperform the OG handheld and could be more comfortable to hold.

However, I'll have to wait to pass final judgment until I am able to get my hands on the Legion Go 2 and perform my own benchmark testing. When that happens, I'll come back and update this page.

My guess is that the price of the next-gen handheld will be rather high and that it could keep several people from buying Lenovo's flagship handheld. As such, the older device might be a better pick for wallet-conscious folks.

Of course, if you're itching to get a handheld right now and don't want to wait for the Legion Go's release date and price to get revealed, you can always buy the original Legion Go, which is available at major retailers.

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