Lenovo Legion Go 2 Hands On A Look at the Upgraded Gaming Handheld
At the start of the year, Lenovo offered a glimpse of its next flagship gaming handheld, the Legion Go 2. Now, at IFA 2025, the company has revealed the full details on its specs, pricing, and when it will be available.
Visually, the Legion Go 2 looks very similar to the early preview model. It retains the same overall shape with its signature detachable controllers. The centerpiece is the same 8.8-inch OLED screen featuring a variable 144Hz refresh rate and VESA HDR TrueBlack 1000 certification. Key features from the first model also return, including the ability to use the right controller as a vertical mouse in FPS mode when attached to its included stand. It also keeps the Hall Effect joysticks, built-in touchpad, kickstand, and dual USB 4 ports.
The most noticeable external change is a slightly different paint color on some elements like the shoulder buttons. A welcome carryover from the original is that it still comes bundled with a case, which many rivals do not include. However, one area that feels dated is the controller detachment mechanism. It uses the same button-and-rail system as before, which works but feels clunky compared to the new magnetic attachment found on the Nintendo Switch 2s Joy-Con.
The real upgrades for the Legion Go 2 are all under the hood. It can now be configured with up to an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, a substantial 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage, with further expansion possible via a microSD card reader. Perhaps the most significant improvement is the battery. The new model packs a 74Whr cell, which is a 50 percent increase over the 49.2 Whr battery in the original Legion Go, promising much better battery life.
Hands-on time with a demo unit was limited, and without many demanding games installed, a full performance comparison wasnt possible. However, the Legion Space app software felt noticeably snappier and more polished than before, though it may not be as seamless as the UI expected on the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally.
Overall, the Legion Go 2 shapes up to be a more powerful and refined successor. It keeps all the best features of the original, like the large OLED display, detachable controllers, and good connectivity. It remains a chunky device due to its large screen, but that is part of its identity. For those who prefer Windows on their handheld and dont mind the heft, it is a compelling device.
The potential drawback is the price. The Legion Go 2 is expected to start at 1,049 dollars when it goes on sale in October. This is a major increase over the original model, which launched at 700 dollars and can now often be found on sale for around 550 dollars. That starting price is likely for a model with a standard Ryzen Z2 chip, meaning the top-tier model with the Z2 Extreme processor will cost even more.
Update. US retailer Best Buy has now listed the Legion Go 2, confirming its high price point. The base model is listed at 1,100 dollars. A fully upgraded version featuring the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage is priced at 1,350 dollars. While the hardware upgrades are impressive, this new pricing makes more affordable alternatives like the Steam Deck appear even more attractive to budget-conscious gamers.
