New $650 Gaming Handheld Powered by Ryzen Z2G CPU: Lenovo Legion Go S Features 8-Inch Display, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD

The handheld gaming arena is buzzing with excitement once more as whispers of Lenovo’s budget-friendly Legion Go S begin to circulate. Word on the street, courtesy of WinFuture, suggests that this affordable handheld will be the first to feature AMD’s upcoming Z2G APUs, slated for a 2025 debut. Fans can expect a 120 Hz 1080p display, a solid 512GB SSD, and a robust 16GB of RAM.

Now, let’s dive into the tech specs. The Ryzen Z2G—standing for Z2 Go—is speculated to ride on AMD’s Rembrandt architecture. This means gamers can look forward to eight Zen 3+ CPU cores paired with an RDNA 2 iGPU housing 12 Compute Units. While it may not boast the advanced features of the newer Ryzen AI 300 (Strix Point) APUs—or the Phoenix for that matter—its production costs are notably lower, promising more affordable retail prices. Ninjas in the tech world draw parallels to AMD’s Ryzen 7 6800U, equipped with 16MB of L3 cache typical of AMD’s octa-core APUs and 4MB of L2 cache. Clock speeds may get a minor tweak up from the existing 4.7 GHz, but bear in mind, we’re not predicting any earth-shattering performance leaps.

Turning our eyes to other features, the Legion Go S sports 16GB of LPDDR5 memory hardwired in, and it rocks a PCIe 4.0 512GB SSD in the compact M.2 2242 form factor. Connectivity? It’s ahead of the game with both Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. As for the visuals, you’re looking at an 8-inch 1080p IPS panel keeping things smooth at 120 Hz. Though it might lack the depth and vibrancy of an OLED screen, like the one found in the $549 Steam Deck OLED (albeit with a slower APU), it’s a balanced act of trade-offs.

Packed with a 55.5Wh battery, the Legion Go S offers more juice than its predecessor, but don’t expect marathon sessions given its older architecture. There’s a nifty option, though—you can use the Vantage app to set a custom charging limit, effectively allowing the device to run solely on AC power. This little trick could come in handy for those keen on maximizing battery longevity.

Alas, there’s a bit of a letdown mentioned in the report: the Legion Go S features integrated controllers, shutting the door on custom third-party swaps. The uncertainty looms over whether the joysticks and triggers utilize Hall Effect technology, a detail that may turn off controller enthusiasts. Some European retailers have thrown numbers around, quoting an initial price tag of $650. With VAT factored out, this pegs it at roughly $500—just a $50 gap from the Legion Go, which offers a zippier APU and superior display.

Get ready, as the Lenovo Legion S might have its grand reveal next month at CES, alongside AMD’s introduction of their Z2 lineup of APUs and perhaps other exciting announcements. Remember, the final retail price could still shift and might even dip lower once the handheld officially hits the market.