Legion Go 2 vs ROG Ally X Performance Review – Is the New Z2 Extreme Worth It
Legion Go 2 vs ROG Ally X Performance Review – Is the New Z2 Extreme Worth It
Introduction
The handheld gaming market has become a battleground for manufacturers vying to deliver PC‑level performance in a portable form factor. Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 and ASUS’s ROG Ally X sit at the forefront of this competition. While the Ally X has already proven itself with a solid AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, the Legion Go 2 arrives with the next‑generation AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU and an eye‑catching 8.8‑inch OLED display. This article examines whether the newer chip and premium screen translate into a meaningful performance advantage, using a mix of synthetic benchmarks and real‑world game tests.
Device Overview
| Feature | ROG Ally X | Legion Go 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 7‑inch LCD, up to 120 Hz, variable refresh rate | 8.8‑inch OLED, 144 Hz, variable refresh rate |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4) | AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme (Zen 5) |
| GPU | 12‑CU RDNA 3 iGPU, up to 2.9 GHz | 16‑CU RDNA 3.5 iGPU (890M), up to 2.9 GHz |
| Memory | 24 GB LPDDR5‑7500 (7.5 GT/s) | 32 GB LPDDR5‑8000 (8.0 GT/s) |
| Typical Price | Lower, especially on the used/open‑box market | Higher premium price |
| Battery | 40 Wh | 56 Wh |
Both devices support a 25 W TDP ceiling for maximum performance, with a lower 17 W mode for extended battery life.
APU Architecture Comparison
Ryzen Z1 Extreme (ROG Ally X)
- Core configuration: 8 cores / 16 threads, all Zen 4 cores.
- Clock speeds: 3.3 GHz base, up to 5.1 GHz boost.
- GPU: 12 compute units (CUs) RDNA 3, up to 2.9 GHz.
- Memory bandwidth: 7.5 GT/s.
Ryzen Z2 Extreme (Legion Go 2)
- Core configuration: 8 cores / 16 threads – 3 high‑performance Zen 5 cores and 5 efficiency‑focused Zen 5C cores.
- Clock speeds: 2 GHz base; Zen 5 cores boost to 5 GHz, Zen 5C cores to 3.3 GHz.
- GPU: 16 CUs RDNA 3.5 (890M), up to 2.9 GHz.
- Memory bandwidth: 8.0 GT/s.
The Z2 Extreme brings a newer microarchitecture (Zen 5) and a larger GPU, but the core count and overall power envelope remain comparable to the Z1 Extreme.
Synthetic Benchmark Results
Geekbench 6 – CPU
- 17 W TDP
- Z1 Extreme: 1,795 (single‑core), 7,922 (multi‑core)
- Z2 Extreme: 1,820 (single‑core), 7,800 (multi‑core)
- 25 W TDP
- Z1 Extreme: 2,400 (single‑core), 10,200 (multi‑core)
- Z2 Extreme: 2,775 (single‑core), 11,200 (multi‑core)
At the lower power setting, the Z1 Extreme slightly outperforms the Z2 on single‑core tasks, while the Z2 pulls ahead when the TDP is raised.
Geekbench 6 – OpenCL (GPU)
- Z1 Extreme (12 CU RDNA 3): 27,870
- Z2 Extreme (16 CU RDNA 3.5): 32,831
The additional GPU compute units give the Z2 a clear edge in compute‑focused workloads.
3DMark Benchmarks
- SteelSeries Nomad (25 W): Ally X – 485 score / 4.86 FPS; Go 2 – 571 score / 5.72 FPS.
- Time Spy (17 W): Ally X – 2,539 total; Go 2 – 2,917 total.
- Time Spy (25 W): Ally X – 3,037 total; Go 2 – 3,528 total.
Across the board, the Legion Go 2 scores higher, especially when allowed the full 25 W budget.
In‑Game Benchmark Comparison
All tests were run at 1080p with the devices set to the Steam Deck preset (balanced performance/power) and using the same resolution scaling where applicable.
| Game | TDP | Ally X Avg FPS | Go 2 Avg FPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall suite (average) | 25 W | 42.66 | 41.32 |
| 17 W | 32 | 36 | |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (low settings) | 25 W | 59 | 64 |
| 17 W | 44 | 44 | |
| Sports Horizon 5 (medium) | 25 W | 76 | 80 |
| 17 W | 62 | 73 | |
| Black Myth: Wukong (low, 60 % scale, FSR) | 25 W | 44 | 50 |
| 17 W | 33 | 42 | |
| Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (1080p) | 25 W | 30 | 31 |
Key observations
- At the maximum 25 W setting, the Ally X still edges out the Go 2 in the overall average, largely due to higher GPU boost frequencies in some titles.
- When throttled to 17 W, the Legion Go 2 consistently outperforms the Ally X, indicating better efficiency under tighter power constraints.
- Certain titles that favor CPU performance (e.g., Shadow of the Tomb Raider) show a modest gain on the Z2 Extreme.
Performance Summary
- CPU: The Z2 Extreme delivers a noticeable uplift only when the device can operate at its 25 W ceiling. Under 17 W, the advantage narrows, and the mature Z1 Extreme can even lead on single‑core scores.
- GPU: The 16‑CU RDNA 3.5 iGPU provides a ~15‑20 % advantage in synthetic tests, but real‑world gaming gains are generally in the 5‑10 % range.
- Power Efficiency: The Legion Go 2 handles lower power budgets more gracefully, often surpassing the Ally X when both are limited to 17 W.
- Driver Maturity: The Z1 Extreme benefits from a longer optimization cycle. The Z2 Extreme’s drivers are still evolving, meaning future updates could narrow or widen the performance gap.
Overall, the generational jump from Zen 4 to Zen 5 does not translate into a dramatic performance leap for handhelds. Users seeking the absolute best frame rates at full power may still favor the Ally X, while those prioritizing battery life or a premium OLED experience might lean toward the Legion Go 2.
Display and Design Considerations
Beyond raw performance, the Legion Go 2 distinguishes itself with:
- An 8.8‑inch OLED panel offering deeper blacks, higher contrast, and a smoother 144 Hz refresh rate.
- Detachable controllers that provide a more console‑like ergonomics compared with the integrated layout of the Ally X.
- A larger battery that helps offset the higher power draw of the Z2 Extreme.
These factors make the Go 2 a compelling choice for users who value visual fidelity and a more traditional handheld‑gaming form factor.
Conclusion
The Legion Go 2 showcases a refined hardware package anchored by the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme and a stunning OLED display. In synthetic benchmarks, it clearly outperforms the ROG Ally X thanks to a more powerful GPU and higher memory bandwidth. However, real‑world gaming results reveal a modest and often situational advantage, especially when both devices operate at their maximum 25 W power limit.
For owners of an existing Ally X or the original ROG Ally, upgrading solely for performance may not be justified. The Legion Go 2’s appeal lies more in its premium screen, detachable controller design, and slightly better efficiency at lower power settings. As driver support matures, the performance gap could shift, but for now, the two handhelds sit very close—each excelling in different aspects of the handheld gaming experience.