Summary
- Lenovo is rumored to be launching a new portable gaming PC, the Legion Go, which could potentially surpass the Steam Deck in graphical horsepower with its AMD Phoenix processors and large air vents.
- The Legion Go takes inspiration from the Nintendo Switch, featuring detachable sides that can be used as wireless controllers, additional back triggers, and possibly a touchscreen due to Windows 11's support for touch-based inputs.
- With the Legion Go, Lenovo is entering the handheld PC market and could pose a strong competition to the Steam Deck, especially with its unique features and potential edge in performance.
- A release date has not yet been confirmed for the Legion Go.
The Steam Deck is getting some new competition from gaming computer maker Lenovo, at least according to a leak of its new portable PC console. Valve announced the Steam Deck back in 2021, and after a lengthy delay brought on by processor chip shortages it was finally released last February to an overall warm reception from PC gamers looking to take their library of Steam titles with them on the go.
While Valve has gone on the record that the massively successful Nintendo Switch wasn’t on the development team’s mind while designing the Steam Deck, both systems are very similar in that they offer players the full performance of a standard console in a portable unit. The concept is appealing to gamers who travel a lot, and the Steam Deck has already inspired plenty of competitors in the year that it has been on the market. For example, the ASUS ROG Ally launched back in June, followed by the Ayaneo 2S earlier this month.
Now there is another portable gaming PC aiming to take the Steam Deck’s crown, as reported in a new leak from Windows Report. Longtime gaming PC company Lenovo has been working on this new system, dubbed the Lenovo Legion Go, which will allow players to run their favorite PC games and other applications using Windows 11 and the latest AMD Phoenix processors. This gives the Legion Go the potential to surpass the Steam Deck in graphical horsepower, as evidenced by the massive air vents on the back of the device.
The Lenovo Legion Go also borrows a few tricks from the Nintendo Switch that neither the Steam Deck nor its other competitors utilize. The sides of the device can be split from the screen to form a pair of wireless controllers similar to the Switch’s signature Joy-Cons, though these have a few extra features in the form of additional back triggers and a hidden mouse wheel on the right controller. It hasn’t been confirmed if the Legion Go features a touchscreen like the Switch, though it is likely due to Windows 11’s increased support for touch-based inputs.
So far, Valve has encouraged competition from portable PC-based gaming systems like the ASUS ROG Ally, and now Lenovo is throwing its hat into the ring with the newly leaked Legion Go console. By taking inspiration from the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con controllers, the Lenovo Legion Go could have a considerable edge in the growing handheld PC market when it eventually launches. No release date has been confirmed for the Lenovo Legion Go as of this writing, so customers should stay tuned for future developments regarding this potential competitor for the Steam Deck.