Legion Go 2 Z2 vs Z2 Extreme – Which Handheld Delivers Better Performance and Battery Life
Legion Go 2 Z2 vs Z2 Extreme – Which Handheld Delivers Better Performance and Battery Life
Introduction
Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 series arrives in two flavours – the standard Ryzen Z2 and the higher‑end Ryzen Z2 Extreme. Both models share an 8.8‑inch 144 Hz OLED display, detachable controllers, and a 74 Wh battery, but they differ under the hood. With a price gap of roughly $250, the key question is whether the Extreme’s upgraded APU justifies the extra cost. This article breaks down the hardware specs, benchmark results, real‑world gaming performance, and battery life to help you decide which version is the better buy.
Hardware Overview
Shared Features
- Display: 8.8‑inch OLED, 144 Hz, HDR, native landscape, variable refresh rate.
- Battery: 74 Wh lithium‑ion pack.
- Form factor: Detachable controllers, identical ergonomics and build quality.
Core Differences
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 (Non‑Extreme) | Ryzen Z2 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 5 (3 Zen 5 + 5 Zen 5C cores) |
| Core/Thread Count | 8 cores / 16 threads | 8 cores / 16 threads |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz (all cores) | 2.0 GHz (all cores) |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz (all cores) | 5.0 GHz (Zen 5 cores) / 3.3 GHz (Zen 5C cores) |
| Integrated GPU | Radeon 780M, 12 CU, up to 2.9 GHz | Radeon 780M (Extreme), 16 CU, up to 2.9 GHz |
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5‑7500 | 32 GB LPDDR5‑8000 (16 GB system, 16 GB VRAM) |
| TDP Options | 17 W / 25 W | 17 W / 25 W |
The Extreme’s Zen 5 cores are designed for better power efficiency at low loads, while its larger GPU and doubled memory bandwidth aim to boost graphics performance.
CPU and GPU Benchmarks
Geekbench 6
- At 17 W TDP, the standard Z2 surprisingly outperformed the Extreme in both single‑core and multi‑core scores.
- At 25 W TDP, the Extreme took the lead, especially in multi‑core performance (≈9,920 points).
OpenCL Compute
- Standard Z2: 28,493 points.
- Z2 Extreme: 32,831 points – a modest 15 % uplift thanks to the extra GPU compute units.
3DMark Scores
- Steel Nomad: Z2 – 507 (5.07 fps); Extreme – 571 (5.72 fps).
- Time Spy (17 W): Z2 – 2,840; Extreme – 2,917.
- Time Spy (25 W): Slightly larger gap favoring the Extreme.
Overall, the Extreme shows clear advantages at higher power envelopes, but the baseline performance gap is relatively narrow.
Real‑World Gaming Performance
All tests used the 1080p Steam Deck preset unless otherwise noted, with both 17 W and 25 W power profiles.
- Cyberpunk 2077 – 25 W: Z2 40 fps vs Extreme 41 fps. At 17 W the Extreme pulls ahead (36 fps vs 32 fps).
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider – 25 W: Z2 53 fps vs Extreme 64 fps. At 17 W both settle around 44 fps.
- Forza Horizon 5 – 25 W: Z2 71 fps vs Extreme 80 fps. At 17 W: Z2 63 fps vs Extreme 73 fps.
- Black Myth: Wukong – 25 W: Z2 47 fps vs Extreme 55 fps. At 17 W: Z2 38 fps vs Extreme 42 fps.
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – 25 W: Z2 average 48 fps (max 99 fps, min 9 fps) vs Extreme average 51 fps (max 76 fps, min 31 fps).
The Extreme generally delivers 5‑15 % higher frame rates, especially in GPU‑heavy titles, but the differences are often modest enough that the standard Z2 feels perfectly playable.
Battery Life
Both devices house the same 74 Wh battery. Tests were run with the screen at 50 % brightness, volume at 30 %, refresh rate capped at 60 Hz, and RGB lighting disabled.
- Indie gaming (Silk Song, 6 W TDP): ≈7 h 50 min on both models.
- Balanced AAA gaming (≈15 W): Z2 – ~2 h 40 min; Extreme – ~3 h.
- Performance mode (≈20 W): Z2 – ~2 h 20 min; Extreme – ~2 h 30 min.
The Extreme is marginally more efficient, especially under higher loads, but the OLED screen’s power draw limits any dramatic gains.
Verdict
- Performance: The Z2 Extreme offers a measurable edge in GPU‑intensive games and at higher TDP settings, but the gap is often under 15 %.
- Memory: With 32 GB of RAM (half allocated as VRAM), the Extreme handles larger textures and multitasking more comfortably than the 16 GB‑only Z2.
- Battery: Real‑world endurance is similar; the Extreme is slightly better under load, but not enough to offset the $250 price premium.
- Value: If you plan to run the most demanding AAA titles at higher settings or need the extra RAM for future‑proofing, the Z2 Extreme is a worthwhile upgrade. For casual gaming, indie titles, and a tighter budget, the standard Z2 delivers solid performance at a lower cost.
Bottom Line
Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 line demonstrates that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme refines the handheld experience without revolutionizing it. Buyers should weigh the modest performance gains against the price difference and decide whether the extra RAM and slight efficiency boost are essential for their gaming habits.