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Lenovo Legion Go
Most versatile
The Legion Go is a newly launched competitor to the ROG Ally. It has a high-spec display, removable controllers, and an FPS mode.
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ASUS ROG Ally
Finest for gaming
The ROG Ally is a mainstay within the handheld gaming PC market as a result of it affords nice efficiency for the worth, particularly when it is on supply.
There are many handheld gaming PCs for us to mull over in 2024, with the Steam Deck OLED and Lenovo Legion Go launching towards the tip of 2023 and the MSI Claw being introduced and teased early this yr. And though it has been in the marketplace for longer than these, the Asus ROG Ally remains to be a robust competitor.
The truth is, the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally are the 2 strongest mainstream handheld gaming PCs at present in the marketplace.
Again in September 2023, we received our hands on the Legion Go, and in the course of the brief time we spent with it, we preferred what we noticed. We additionally preferred the Asus ROG Ally once we tried that handheld console in June, and though we had considerations in regards to the Home windows 11 expertise with the Ally, these considerations apply equally to the Legion Go.
In different phrases, then, the Legion Go and ROG Ally really are peas of a pod, making it very important that you just examine them for those who’re available in the market for a handheld gaming PC. Let’s get into it.
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Worth, specs, and availability
The Asus ROG Ally has been round since June 2023, when it launched for $699 MSRP. The Lenovo Legion Go, however, launched on the finish of October 2023, additionally for an MSRP of $699. Each will be picked up from the producers’ web sites or Finest Purchase.
Whereas each handhelds run an AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive processor, with the Ally, you possibly can go for the much less highly effective common Z1 (non-Excessive) APU for $100 much less. The common Z1, nonetheless, performs a lot worse than the Z1 Excessive and makes different choices just like the Steam Deck a more sensible choice.
Steam Deck vs Asus ROG Ally: What’s the difference between the gaming handhelds?
Here is how the 2 PC gaming handhelds maintain up towards one another.
We also needs to notice that it is likely to be tougher to seek out SSD upgrades for the Legion Go than the ROG Ally as a result of the previous solely helps new M.2 2242 SSDs whereas the latter helps commonplace M.2 2230 SSDs. This should not be a difficulty for many avid gamers, although, as a result of you will get a 1TB model of the Legion Go for simply $50 further, making it much less more likely to want a storage improve.
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Lenovo Legion Go ASUS ROG Ally Dimensions 299x131x41 mm 279×111.8×12.7 mm Model Lenovo Asus Weight 854g 1.34 lbs (608 grams) Chipset AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive RAM 16GB 7500Mhz LPDDR5X 16GB of LPDDR5 reminiscence Storage As much as 1TB PCIe 4.0 512GB PCle 4.0 SSD, microSD card slot Show 8.8-inch IPS 7-inch IPS Output decision 2560×1600 16:10 144Hz Full HD (1080p 16:9) touchscreen with 120Hz refresh fee
Design and show
The Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go are fairly totally different when it comes to design and show. The lengthy story brief is that the Legion Go is a chunky, heavy, however extra versatile machine, whereas the ROG Ally is a smaller, lighter, much less versatile one.
Whereas the Legion Go is larger, it is not uncomfortably so. The truth is, it is about the identical measurement because the Steam Deck however has a much bigger display (the Steam Deck’s actual property is taken up by wider left- and right-side management panels).
The display actually is a promoting level for the Legion Go in comparison with the ROG Ally — it is greater, greater res, and has a better refresh fee. Each are IPS panels, however 1600p is noticeably higher than 1080p, and an additional 1.8 inches on the diagonal is incredible for a handheld console. This being mentioned, the ROG Ally’s show is not any joke.
Potential patrons also needs to notice that the Ally’s display helps variable refresh fee (VRR) tech whereas the Legion Go’s doesn’t. This may end in display tearing and a extra uneven gameplay expertise in some video games and on some settings for the Legion Go.
One other approach during which the Legion Go shines is in its skill to detach its controllers, identical to the Nintendo Switch. It additionally has a kickstand on the again, so you possibly can prop the display up after detaching the controllers. That is what makes the Legion Go so versatile.
There’s a downside to the Legion, although: it weighs considerably greater than the ROG Ally — greater than most handhelds, in truth. And whereas it is not huge, the additional couple of centimeters in width and top are noticeable when utilizing the gadget. As all the time with handhelds, it is a query of display measurement and efficiency vs gadget measurement and weight. The Legion Go wins within the former respect, the ROG Ally within the latter.
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Controls
On the floor, the controls of each the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally are related. Each characteristic an Xbox-style format with A, B, X and Y buttons, left-side DPAD, bumper buttons and triggers and offset left and right-side analogue sticks. In different phrases, these handhelds are nice for those who’re used to Xbox controllers, whereas one thing like a Steam Deck is nice for those who’re used to PlayStation controllers.
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That is the place the similarities finish, although. Past this, the Legion Go has far more to supply within the controller division.
First, its controllers are removable. This implies for those who fancy resting your arms in your lap when you recreation, you possibly can nonetheless relaxation your console display on one thing nearer to eye stage after flipping out its kickstand. (Sadly, although, the left and proper sides do not be a part of collectively like they do with the Change.)
Other than this, most likely the largest benefit of the Legion Go over the ROG Ally is its “FPS mode”. This primarily enables you to flip the right-hand controller right into a bona fide mouse, which is very helpful for aiming in first-person shooters (thus the title). Merely slide it into the puck that comes with the gadget, flip the underside swap over to FPS mode, and the optical sensor activates. Now, you should use it like a vertical mouse and begin cracking these headshots.
FPS mode is, in my view, probably the most interesting characteristic of the Legion Go. Observe that it is not solely nice for aiming in FPS games, however permits for simpler searching on the desktop, too. It even has a scroll wheel on the again. Positive, each the ROG Ally and Legion Go have touchscreen panels, however throwing a mouse into the combination by no means damage anyone. Mix this with a keyboard linked to considered one of its two USB-C ports or through Bluetooth, and you’ve got a fairly succesful little desktop PC.
Lastly, having seemingly discovered from the Steam Deck in a approach the ROG Ally has not, the Legion Go has a touchpad below the correct analogue stick, permitting for simpler in-game or desktop mouse cursor motion. So, even when you do not have a floor to relaxation it on for FPS mode, common desktop use ought to be lots smoother with the Lenovo Legion Go.
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Working system
Each the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go run Microsoft Home windows 11. Additionally they use the identical processor, so the desktop expertise is nearly similar on each units.
The selection to go for Home windows somewhat than one thing bespoke like Valve did with its SteamOS has professionals and cons.
In case you’re a fan of simplicity and ease straight out of the field, Home windows 11 on a handheld gaming PC is likely to be somewhat too fiddly.
However, with a Home windows gadget, you get entry to video games with out having to attend for devs to push out OS help. And, after all, you are not restricted to any explicit recreation consumer or platform, and this might prevent cash in the long term, permitting you to take your choose of all the most recent game deals.
As a aspect notice, one factor to think about is that it ought to be somewhat simpler to navigate the OS with the Legion Go due to its greater display and the choice to show the controller right into a mouse.
{Hardware} and efficiency
Offering we’re speaking in regards to the Z1 Excessive model of the Asus ROG Ally somewhat than the cheaper, common Z1 model, each the Ally and the Go carry out equally, however there are some studies of the Ally performing somewhat extra constantly than the Legion Go, presumably due to its lack of VRR help.
After we examined the ROG Ally, we discovered that the Z1 Excessive might outperform the Steam Deck fairly simply, offering we ran it at a excessive sufficient TDP and cranked its energy draw. However, after all, it will drained the battery faster, and whereas the Legion Go’s battery has about 23% extra capability at 49.2Wh, at such a excessive TDP, this further capability does not make an enormous distinction.
The Legion Go does have quicker charging than the ROG Ally, although, however each supply quick charging — it is the distinction between 70% in half-hour for the Legion Go or 50% in half-hour for the ROG Ally.
The Legion Go has quicker reminiscence than the ROG Ally, however the RAM capability is similar for each consoles. In most video games, the elevated reminiscence pace will not generate a lot further efficiency — perhaps a body or two right here or there.
We also needs to notice that whereas the display is healthier on the Legion Go, its {hardware} won’t permit it to make full use of it in each recreation. The Ryzen Z1 Excessive is a cell chip, and its GPU ought to give comparable efficiency to a midrange gaming laptop computer from circa 2019, such because the GTX 1650.
In different phrases, with each units, you will most likely find yourself decreasing your decision and in-game settings anyway to take care of a playable framerate in fashionable video games, making the Legion Go’s greater decision and refresh fee considerably redundant for at the least some fashionable titles. Mix this with studies of the Legion Go performing somewhat worse than the ROG Ally on all however the highest energy setting, regardless of utilizing the identical processor, and we predict the Ally might be a more sensible choice for straight-up gaming.
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Which is healthier: Lenovo Legion Go or Asus ROG Ally?
There are professionals and cons to the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally. From our testing, we predict the Legion Go is healthier for these on the lookout for a house gaming handheld PC and media gadget, and the ROG Ally is healthier for these on the lookout for a conveyable gaming-only gadget.
A lot of the drawbacks of the Legion Go — potential issues with Home windows 11 on a touchscreen handheld, battery life when TDP is cranked, and many others. — are additionally issues with the ROG Ally. Its giant measurement, heavy weight, and lack of VRR help, nonetheless, aren’t shared by the Ally.
However, for this elevated measurement and weight, with the Legion Go, you are getting barely higher {hardware} (because of the quicker reminiscence) and a better-looking display. And whereas not each recreation will be capable of make good use of this high-res, excessive refresh fee panel, it is good to have even for simply searching the web or watching motion pictures. It makes for an excellent “gaming on the couch” gadget, particularly as a result of you possibly can detach its controllers and stand the display up in your desk.
Lenovo Legion Go
Editor’s Selection
The Legion Go is probably the most versatile handheld gaming PC in its worth bracket, because of its stellar {hardware}, high-spec kick-standable display, and removable controllers.
Other than gaming on the couch, common desktop utilization is the place I feel the actual worth of the Legion Go lies. The additions of removable controllers, a touchpad, two USB-C ports (for simpler peripheral connectivity), and the flexibility to show the right-side controller right into a mouse by enabling FPS mode make for a way more versatile and succesful desktop expertise.
That is no small factor, both. For $699, many customers may need not only a nice handheld gaming PC however one thing that may additionally sometimes be used when sitting down at residence away from the PC. The Legion Go is significantly better outfitted to deal with such use circumstances, and for that cause, it comes out on high for residence use once we’re not jus contemplating gaming.
If we’re simply contemplating gaming, although, and particularly a main use case of transportable gaming, then the ROG Ally comes out on high. Not solely does it appear to be often on sale for cheaper (at the least till now), but it surely’s lighter and appears to carry out extra constantly because of VRR. It affords a greater conventional handheld gaming expertise, with out a number of the Legion Go’s versatility. If that “gaming on the go” use case fits you, the ROG Ally is a more sensible choice.
ASUS ROG Ally
Good different
The ROG Ally remains to be an excellent handheld gaming PC in its worth bracket. It performs higher than different choices just like the Steam Deck and is lighter and smaller than the Legion Go.
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