Lenovo Legion Go S Sporting Ryzen Z2G CPU: $650 Gaming Handheld with 8-Inch Display, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD

The handheld gaming market is buzzing with excitement as Lenovo is said to be gearing up to launch its cost-effective Legion Go S. Fresh insights from WinFuture suggest that the Legion Go S could be the very first handheld device powered by AMD’s upcoming Z2G APUs, which are slated for release in 2025. This handheld promises a 120 Hz 1080p display, a 512GB SSD, and 16GB of RAM.

Dubbed the Ryzen Z2G—which stands for Z2 Go—this processor is supposedly rooted in AMD’s Rembrandt architecture, offering eight Zen 3+ CPU cores paired with an RDNA 2 integrated GPU featuring 12 Compute Units. While it might not boast the top-tier capabilities of the latest Ryzen AI 300 (Strix Point) APUs—or even the Phoenix line—it’s engineered to be more affordable, translating to a friendlier price tag for consumers. On the technical side, the Z2G resembles AMD’s Ryzen 7 6800U, which comes with 16MB of L3 cache standard in all AMD octa-core APUs, and 4MB of L2 cache. Although the clock speeds might receive a slight increase from the current 4.7 GHz, don’t anticipate a significant leap in performance.

Among its features, the Legion Go S includes 16GB of soldered LPDDR5 memory and a PCIe 4.0 512GB SSD, which uses the compact M.2 2242 form factor. In terms of connectivity, expect support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Its screen is an 8-inch 1080p IPS panel operating at 120 Hz, which means you won’t get the lush contrasts and vibrant colors typical of an OLED. For reference, the Steam Deck OLED starts at $549 but comes with a less powerful APU, highlighting the trade-offs involved.

Additional specs include a 55.5Wh battery, larger than that of the original Legion Go; however, due to the older architecture, battery life may not see an improvement. Thankfully, users can leverage the Vantage app to set custom charging limits, ensuring the device runs solely on AC power when plugged in, thus conserving battery longevity.

Unfortunately, the report indicates the Legion Go S will feature integrated controllers, meaning custom third-party options won’t work. It’s unclear whether the joysticks and triggers utilize Hall Effect sensors, so the lack of swap-out potential could put off some gaming enthusiasts. In Europe, early prices have been quoted at $650. Subtracting VAT usually brings the price to around $500, just a smidge less than the original Legion Go, but with a slower processor and a less advanced display.

We expect to see the Lenovo Legion Go S unveiled at CES next month, where AMD will likely showcase its Z2 APU lineup along with various other products. For now, the official retail price is tentative and might even drop when the handheld hits the market.