The battle for supremacy in the handheld gaming market is getting intense with whispers of Lenovo introducing a cost-effective option, the Legion Go S, in the near future. Fresh insights from WinFuture suggest this new contender will break new ground by being the first to use AMD’s upcoming Z2G APUs, set to roll out in 2025. Promising a 120 Hz 1080p screen, 512GB SSD, and a healthy 16GB of RAM, this handheld could really shake things up.
The buzz around the Ryzen Z2G—proudly dubbed the Z2 Go—centers on its foundation on AMD’s Rembrandt architecture, touting eight Zen 3+ CPU cores paired with a 12-compute-unit RDNA 2 integrated GPU. While it won’t boast the flashy features seen in AMD’s newest Ryzen AI 300 (Strix Point) APUs or even those in the Phoenix range, it’s kinder on the production cost, meaning more savings passed to customers. Delving deeper into specs, the Z2G mirrors the architecture of the Ryzen 7 6800U, including the expected 16MB L3 cache and 4MB L2 cache typical of AMD’s octa-core offerings. And though the clock speeds may get a modest bump from the current 4.7 GHz, don’t expect a monumental performance leap.
Diving into the other specs, the Legion Go S comes packed with 16GB of soldered LPDDR5 RAM and a PCIe 4.0 512GB SSD, snugly fitted into a shorter M.2 2242 form factor. Connectivity is future-proof with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The device boasts an 8-inch, 1080p IPS panel clocking in at 120 Hz. While this style means missing out on the inky blacks and vivid colors of an OLED display, it’s a solid trade-off considering that a Steam Deck OLED kicks off at $549 but isn’t as quick under the hood.
Continuing with the in-depth look, a 55.5Wh battery promises to outperform the original Legion Go, though it might feel the weight of the aging internal architecture. However, Lenovo offers flexibility with the Vantage app, allowing users to set a custom charging threshold, effectively running the device on AC power to extend battery life when desired.
A small hiccup, though: the Legion Go S appears to have built-in controllers, which could deter fans keen on swapping them for third-party options. The tech behind the joysticks and triggers is unclear—specifically if Hall Effect technology is in play—which could turn off enthusiasts big on customization. European retailers have pegged the initial price tag at $650, but without VAT, that’s about $500—just a hair below the Legion Go, which comes with a faster APU and superior display.
The anticipation builds as we set our sights on CES next month, where the Legion Go S is rumored to make its debut. Alongside it, AMD is expected to reveal its Z2 lineup of APUs among other exciting innovations. Retail prices could still shift and may even drop once the handheld officially hits the shelves.
