When the primary giant wave of hand-held PCs hit the marketplace two to 3 years in the past, they had been designed as extra travel-friendly and handy choices to conventional gaming rigs. That supposed decreased efficiency in trade for greater portability. Alternatively, there’ll at all times be lovers who need extra: greater horsepower, higher battery existence and all varieties of additional options. Out of all of the handhelds available on the market nowadays, there is nearly no instrument with extra equipment and particular apparatus than the Lenovo Legion Move 2. Alternatively, identical to a luxurious SUV, this bucket of elements instructions a hefty top rate and has functions that you could now not use each day. However if you’re the kind of one that’s searching for a flagship moveable PC with all of the bells and whistles, the Legion Move 2 is a real software gaming hand-held.
Lenovo / Engadget
Whilst it is not tremendous reasonably priced beginning at $1,100, the Lenovo Legion Move 2 is just like the SUV of gaming handhelds due to its mixture of robust efficiency and unequalled adaptability.
- Just right efficiency
- large 8.8-inch OLED show
- Removable controllers and integrated touchpad
- Comes with a case
- Dear, particularly the Z2 Excessive type
- Giant and hulking
- Finicky fingerprint sensor
Design
The Legion Move 2 looks as if a Transfer 2 that is fattened up ahead of hibernating for the wintry weather. It has the similar fundamental design with removable controllers on all sides and a display screen within the heart; it is simply method larger and bulkier. The Legion Move 2 weighs two kilos and measures 11.6 inches extensive (with its controllers connected) in comparison to 1.6 kilos and 11.4 inches for the ROG Xbox Best friend X (and that’s the reason together with its giant, pronounced grips). Each gadgets make the Transfer 2 glance downright petite with its 1.2 kilos and 10.7-inch-wide body.
Each the Legion Move 2’s left and proper controllers may also be indifferent. Alternatively, Lenovo used common outdated latches as a substitute of magnets, so doing away with them is clunkier in comparison to the Transfer 2. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
Sadly, with out the magnets that Nintendo makes use of at the Pleasure-Con, disconnecting the gamepads at the Legion Move 2 is not just about as easy or simple, however it is nonetheless reasonably manageable. At the flipside, Lenovo makes use of Corridor Impact sensors for its joysticks, which makes them tremendous responsive, even supposing they are lighter to push round. I admire that, in contrast to a lot of its competitors, Lenovo saved the kickstand from its predecessor, as it is tremendous to hand if you wish to prop the Legion Move 2 up and use it like a mini desktop.
In different places, there’s a acquainted format for the Legion Move 2’s D-pad, face buttons and shoulder triggers/bumpers, in conjunction with two pairs of paddles round again. Significantly, Lenovo retained the integrated touchpad at the proper controller, which is tremendous to hand for the ones instances when you want to mouse round within the Home windows 11 desktop. And prefer its predecessor, you’ll be able to detach the correct gamepad, flick the hidden transfer at the backside into FPS mode after which mix it with Lenovo’s incorporated base to create a vertical mouse of varieties.
This is how the dimensions of the Lenovo Legion Move 2 (best) compares to a big rival just like the ROG Xbox Best friend X (backside). (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
Ostensibly, this setup is supposed for individuals who need additional precision in shooters and there may be even an additional set of mouse buttons and an embedded scroll wheel at the controller for this reason. The only hiccup for me is that the puck is not that a lot smaller than a regular journey mouse. If I in point of fact need final regulate in FPS video games, I’ll use a type of as a substitute of Lenovo’s extra awkward selection.
As for connectivity, the Legion Move 2 options two USB-C ports (one on best and one on backside) which fortify information (as much as 40 Gbps), energy supply and show output. There is additionally a microSD card slot for expandable garage and a three.5mm audio jack.
Whilst numerous rival handhelds skip this selection, I admire that Lenovo nonetheless put a kickstand at the again of the Legion Move 2. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
I’ve two small nitpicks with the Legion Move 2’s design (except for its measurement). First, the headphone port is at the backside, which is not ultimate as I believe like the highest USB-C connector is more uncomplicated to make use of when gaming whilst plugged into the wall. Secondly, Lenovo’s fingerprint reader (which is constructed into the facility button) is quite finicky. I did not have problems unlocking the instrument, however the sensor is so delicate that ceaselessly once I pressed the facility button to place the Legion Move 2 into sleep mode, the display screen became off ahead of turning itself on once more. This led to a couple of events the place I assumed I put the hand held to sleep within the incorporated case (kudos to Lenovo for that freebie) best to come back again to a tool that used to be very a lot wakeful and felt find it irresistible used to be at the verge of cooking itself inside of its padded enclosure.
Show
Probably the most easiest options at the Legion Move 2 is its large 8.8-inch OLED show. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
If cash and measurement aren’t a subject matter, Lenovo’s large OLED show is the largest reason why to select the Legion Move 2 over competitors just like the ROG Xbox Best friend X. At 8.8 inches, it is considerably higher than the 7-inch panel at the ASUS or the 7.9-inch display screen on a Transfer 2. Now not best are its colours tremendous wealthy and saturated, it has a fairly upper 144Hz refresh charge and a taller 16:10 answer (1,920 x 1,200). And at 500 nits, it is simply as vibrant because the display screen at the ROG Xbox Best friend X. The disadvantage is that if you wish to sport on the Legion Move 2’s local res, it does take just a little bit of additional efficiency to succeed in strong, playable framerates.
Efficiency and device
The $1,100 base type of the Legion Move 2 comes with an AMD Ryzen Z2 chip with 16GB of reminiscence and 1TB of garage. Alternatively, if you need even higher efficiency, you can want to improve to the $1,350 model that includes a Z2 Excessive chip and 32GB of RAM, which is the configuration I examined for this evaluate. Frankly, this is some huge cash to drop on a gaming hand-held of any type, although the Legion Move 2 does make up for it with class-leading efficiency. Smartly, nearly.
If you need giant efficiency, the Z2 Excessive model of the Legion Move 2 is likely one of the easiest available on the market. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
Whilst the maxed SKUs of each the Legion Move 2 and ROG Xbox Best friend x are in keeping with the similar Z2 Excessive chip, Microsoft used to be in a position to tweak a few of Home windows 11’s duties and services and products that run within the background on Lenovo’s’ rival. And whilst there isn’t any large hole between the 2, that optimization does make a distinction.
Usually, the ROG Xbox Best friend produced framerates that had been round seven p.c upper than what I were given from the Legion Move 2 on the similar graphics settings and backbone. In Cyberpunk 2077Â at 35 watts on medium, 1080p answer and FSR set to efficiency, the Legion Move 2 hit 57.5 fps in comparison to 62.1 fps for the ROG Xbox Best friend X. In the meantime in Returnal at 17 watts on medium, the Lenovo reached 39 fps as opposed to 42 for ASUS. Relying at the sport and the precise answer you might be the usage of, that would imply the adaptation between one thing being a excellent enjoy or now not. For instance, in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at 1080p on medium, the ROG Xbox Best friend X hovered proper round 30 fps. Granted, that is not ultimate, however it is not dangerous for a hand-held operating a reasonably new identify. However at the Legion Move 2 at its local res, its reasonable framerate used to be nearer to twenty-five fps, which compelled me to drop all the way down to low settings to get a smoother enjoy.
That is what the Legion Move 2’s controller looks as if while you use it in FPS mode. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
Like numerous Home windows-based handhelds, you must needless to say you get extra pace when attached to an influence outlet. For instance, the Legion Move 2’s Efficiency mode tops out at 20 watts when now not plugged in, however will increase to 32 watts when it’s. And if you wish to cross all out, you might be easiest off the usage of the Customized environment, which will provide you with a sustained TDP of 35 watts and the power to spice up to 45 watts for as much as 10 seconds.
As for the device, Lenovo’s Legion House app has come far and it is changed into a cast one-stop store for launching video games, adjusting settings and tweaking efficiency. As at all times with Home windows-based handhelds, there is nonetheless a little bit of awkwardness throughout setup when you find yourself putting in titles and having to change between quite a lot of menus. Fortunately, Lenovo’s integrated touchpad is helping easy that out somewhat a little bit. I might additionally argue that as a result of that trackpad and the hand held’s adaptable design, the Legion Move 2 is probably the most well-equipped moveable for any individual who desires to make use of it like a mini PC. You’ll prop the show up with its kickstand, attach a show by means of USB-C and pair a wi-fi keyboard and mouse (or use the correct controller in FPS mode) and abruptly you have got just a little desktop for purchasing some actual paintings executed. (Who’re we kidding, that is nonetheless going for use for gaming, simply on a larger show with higher controls.)
Battery Lifestyles
The highest fringe of the Legion Move 2 options one USB-C port and its energy button/fingerprint reader, whilst the opposite is at the backside in conjunction with a three.5mm audio jack and a microSD card reader. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
Due to a 74WHr mobile and a extra environment friendly chip, the Legion Move 2 has gotten a pleasing bump battery existence over its predecessor. Alternatively, because of its giant show, its longevity is not somewhat as excellent in comparison to the ROG Xbox Best friend X. I examined this by means of taking part in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at 1080p on medium graphics and max brightness. The Legion Move 2 did effectively, lasting nearly 3 hours, although that used to be half-hour shy of what I were given from the ROG Xbox Best friend X. Whilst you’ll be able to sport for a tight period of time untethered, for any more journeys or time clear of an outlet, you can indubitably wish to stay the incorporated 65-watt energy adapter shut to hand.
Wrap-up
The Lenovo Legion Move 2 is huge and in price — each in worth and measurement. The bottom type begins at $1,100, which is already $100 greater than an absolutely kitted-out ROG Xbox Best friend X with a Ryzen Z2 Excessive chip. In the meantime, to get the similar silicon on Lenovo’s hand-held, it’s important to shell out $1,350, or even then, its efficiency nonetheless lags only a tad in the back of Microsoft and ASUS’ collab. However what the Legion Move 2 lacks in worth, it makes up for in versatility.
The Legion Move 2 comes with an incorporated case and a puck that turns its proper controller right into a vertical mouse. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
Its 8.8-inch OLED show is a large improve in the case of each display screen house and symbol high quality, whilst options like its touchpad, removable controllers and kickstand make this factor really feel extra like a conveyable hybrid PC than a single-purpose gaming system. Identical to an SUV that would possibly cross off-road a couple of times a yr, you could now not use the Legion Move 2’s complete functions at all times, however while you do and the entirety comes in combination, you know all that software is not only for display. Whilst the ROG Xbox Best friend X is the simpler worth, I admire how Lenovo’s hand-held used to be made to maintain a number of struggle stipulations.
