I went hands-on with the Lenovo Legion Go 2 — I love the OLED panel, but I’m worried about the price

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 could be the ultimate Windows 11 gaming handheld. First revealed during CES, this machine adds meaningful upgrades, including an OLED panel, the new AMD Ryzen Z2 chip and a more ergonomic design. It also keeps what made the original Lenovo Legion Go so great, such as the detachable controllers and large 8.8-inch display.

I got to check out the Legion Go 2 both at CES and a recent IFA event in New York City. I’ve reviewed many of the best handheld gaming consoles, including the Legion Go, so you shouldn’t be surprised that I’ve been eagerly anticipating its successor. Based on what I’ve seen and what Lenovo has said, this device could potentially set the standard for Ryzen Z2-powered handhelds. That said, Windows 11 and a steep asking price could hamper an otherwise great machine.

I’ll have a full review of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 around October when it’s expected to be released. For now, here are my initial thoughts on the upcoming handheld.

Lenovo Legion Go 2 hands-on preview: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is an updated version of the original, now featuring an OLED display, more ergonomic detachable controllers, and the latest AMD Ryzen Z2 processor.
• Who is it for? This gaming handheld is for those who want a machine with an OLED panel and the latest components.
• What does it cost? When it launches in October, the Legion Go 2 will cost $1,049.
• What do we like? We like the vivid 8.8-inch OLED panel, the streamlined controllers and that it packs a Ryzen Z2 chip.
• What don’t we like? We don’t like that it runs on Windows and its initial price point.

Lenovo Legion Go 2 hands-on preview: Specs

Lenovo Legion Go 2 hands-on preview: Price & availability

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is expected to launch sometime in October of 2025 with an initial price of $1,049.

We don’t yet know the specific configuration for this model, but I was told there will eventually be several to choose from—with some configurations costing less or more, depending on their specs. So while $1,049 will be the asking price at launch, we’ll eventually see different options.

The release timing for the Legion Go 2 is interesting, considering how the Asus ROG Xbox Ally launches on October 16. Lenovo’s handheld could have a hard time getting attention. And if rumors are true, the entry-level ROG Xbox Ally will cost half as much as the Legion Go 2.

Lenovo Legion Go 2 hands-on preview: Design & display

Design-wise, the Legion Go 2 is largely similar to its predecessor. With the controllers attached, the handheld measures 11.64 x 5.38 x 1.66 inches and weighs 2.03 pounds. That’s slightly bigger and heavier than the original, at least on paper, though I’d have to use each side by side to see if there’s a major difference.

We get the same number of ports as before. This includes two USB-C/USB 4 ports, one located on the top and the other on the bottom. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot. And like before, the power button has a fingerprint reader.

The Legion Go 2’s OLED panel is one of the system’s main selling points. This is especially true considering how the lower-specced Nintendo Switch OLED and Steam Deck OLED are currently the only two major handhelds with OLED panels.

One interesting thing is that the display will have a 1200p resolution, instead of the 1600p resolution it had before. However, considering we’re now getting an OLED panel, I think it’s a fair trade-off. I didn’t get to see games running on the system, but the display looked bright and colorful. The refresh rate remains the same at 144Hz.

Lenovo Legion Go 2 hands-on preview: TrueStrike controllers

Like the Legion Go, the Legion Go 2’s most distinctive feature is its detachable Legion TrueStrike controllers. They’re not radically different from before, but they have been redesigned with more ergonomic lines, a smoother feel and a more intuitive button layout. As before, you can use the right controller as a vertical mouse for more natural control in FPS games.

While the Legion Go 2 works perfectly well in handheld mode, it might become heavy to hold for long periods. Thankfully, you can use the kickstand on the back and set the handheld on a flat surface and play that way. Lenovo will offer a TrueStrike controller grip that you can place said controllers into. This way, you can play the Legion Go 2 in “console mode,” as Lenovo calls it. Or, you can do what I did with the original Legion Go and keep it on a table with the controllers attached.

The Legion Go 2 features Hall effect joysticks and a redesigned D-Pad. The joysticks are fluid and responsive, with just the right amount of tension when you move them. I also love the larger and rounded D-pad, which is better suited for playing fighting games like Street Fighter 6. And in case you were wondering, the new controllers are backward compatible with the original Legion Go.

Lenovo Legion Go 2 hands-on preview: Specs & performance

One of the things I’m most excited about with the Legion Go 2 is that it will pack either an AMD Ryzen Z2 or Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor. For those keeping count, that’s the same chip powering the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally and MSI Claw A8. We’ve to fully test this chip ourselves, but if reported leaks are true, it could deliver substantial performance gains over its predecessor.

We expect a major boost in performance, with AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme coming with 8 cores and 16 threads based on Zen 5 architecture for faster multitasking, 15W to 35W power output and 16 GPU cores from its Radeon 890M iGPU with AMD's RDNA 3.5 to deliver FSR and frame-gen tech to boost frame rates.

As we previously reported, the first AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme benchmarks on Geekbench showcase the performance we can expect in the MSI Claw A8 — both in CPU and GPU performance. In the Geekbench 6 CPU results, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme-equipped MSI Claw A8 delivered a 2,748 single-core score, along with a 12,182 multi-core score. This is a strong improvement over its predecessor, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, with around a 27% boost overall compared to other Geekbench benchmarks (via Wccftech).

If those leaks are accurate, then the Lenovo Legion Go 2 should deliver some astonishing handheld performance. Again, my team and I will have to test Lenovo’s handheld for ourselves to see what it can do, but right now, things seem very promising.

In addition to the AMD Ryzen Z2 chip, the Legion Go 2 will have up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage. If you need more storage, the aforementioned microSD card reader can support up to a 2TB SD card.

Lenovo Legion Go 2 hands-on preview: Outlook

Right now, my main concern with the Legion Go 2 is that it runs on Windows 11, which I’ve complained enough about in my handheld coverage. This is especially true considering how the ROG Xbox Ally will reportedly have a stripped-down version of Windows that’s better suited for handhelds. That said, Lenovo currently has a Windows and SteamOS version of the Legion Go S, so I hope we’ll see the same options for the Legion Go 2 at some point.

While the Lenovo Legion 2 might not be a revolutionary update, the OLED panel and AMD Ryzen Z2 chip are enough to make me excited about this machine. Again, I’ll have a full review for you in the coming weeks, so make sure you don’t miss out!