If you are a huge gaming enthusiast, you might have heard about the Lenovo Legion Go, TECNO Pocket Go, MSI Claw A1M and ASUS ROG Ally. However, you might wonder which one of these handheld consoles are worth spending your money on or saving up for. That said, we did a deep dive into these consoles, their specs, prices and their viability in the future.
Read on to find out which console we're looking forward to the most and why.
Lenovo Legion Go
To start, the Lenovo Legion Go is one huge device. This console easily dwarfed the Nintendo Switch in terms of size and length. It features an 8.8-inch screen with 60Hz refresh rate and 1080p resolution. Like the Switch, the device features detachable controllers to improve gaming immersion.
Specs-wise, the Legion Go runs Windows 11 and an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor with AMD RDNA Graphics. It also sports up to 16GB LPDDR5X (7500Mhz) RAM and up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD. That should give you plenty of hardware power and storage to run your favourite games.
But it does not end there. The device houses a dedicated micro-SD slot supporting up to 2TB of extra storage. Interestingly, this device can run an FPS mode too. So, you might want to keep that in mind if you plan to play games like COD, Counter-Strike and Valorant.
However, there is a clear con to the FPS Mode. While it has potential and is unique, the handheld renders many FPS games unplayable with its default controller setting. Also, Windows 11 still needs better optimisation for a better PC handheld gaming experience.
Battery-wise, the Legion Go features a 49.2Wh battery that supports Super Rapid Charge. On average, the device should offer you up to two hours of intense gaming. However, getting this device to a full charge could take over two hours.
The main gimmick for this device is the Legion Glass. Using it is fairly straightforward, simply plug the USB-C into the console and you're good to go. Notably, even people with glasses can use it comfortably. For more information on the console, read our review here.
In case you are interested, the Lenovo Legion Go is now available for RM3999 (including a headset) nationwide. Remember, the AR headset is sold separately and will cost you RM1819. So, you might want to keep that in mind if you plan to buy it.
Overall, we feel it's a neat idea and this console should be future-proof, given its connection to Microsoft and Steam so get it if you have the money and want for it.
ASUS ROG Ally
When ASUS released the ASUS ROG Ally last year, it was one of the most anticipated devices of 2023. And rightly so, this handheld console features the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor, AMD Radeon Graphics (TDP 9-30W), up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD.
Moreover, the ROG Ally runs a 7-inch IPS display, FHD, 16:9 aspect ratio, 100% sRBG, Gorilla Glass DXC and Victus Touch Screen support. The display also supports a 120Hz refresh rate with 7ms and 500nits peak brightness. So, you will be able to enjoy great video and audio quality while gaming.
Battery-wise? This device houses a 40WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion. That said, it can only offer you less than 2 hours of gaming time. Notably, you will also need a 65W adapter to charge the device.
Furthermore, the ASUS ROG Ally can play games from Steam, Nvidia GeForce Now, PC Game Pass and Epic Games Store. That makes it future-proof and gives you plenty of options for your game library. For your information, this device runs Windows 11.
When it comes to the cons of the device, you might face inconsistent software optimisation with every gaming platform (except Steam). It also has a poor battery life performance, and the inconvenience of needing to be online most of the time (as most modern games require live service) means that it is outshined by the Steam Deck and Switch OLED.
Even with the aforementioned cons, we still feel it's a solid choice for handheld consoles. At the end of the day, it does deliver a great gaming experience. For RM3299, we think the ASUS ROG Ally is worth the specs and spending if you don't mind the battery. For neutrals, it's a yes. For ASUS fans, go for it.
TECNO Pocket GO
Unlike the first two handheld consoles, we have yet to experience this device hands-on. However, we could expect what we will be getting thanks to these specs. So, let's dive into it.
Instead of a built-in screen for the console, you get a pair of AR glasses that can be easily plugged into the controller. This controller is the main console body that houses the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS chipset, 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. Pretty solid specs if you ask us.
Anyway, this handheld console comes with an AR Pocket Vision headset (AR glasses) with a micro-OLED display. TECNO claims it can simulate a 215-inch screen, so it will be interesting to see how gamers react to this game UI. Battery-wise, it houses a 50WH battery to ensure a longer playing time.
In case you didn't know, the 50WH battery should translate to around 3 to 4 hours of usage on average. It also features an adjustable diopter of up to 600°, a six-axis gyroscope, advanced AI head tracking, and vibration algorithms.
To recap, the response to the device has been encouraging. Controller-wise, TECNO says it has made the proper adjustments to ensure it is competitive. So you won't face any difficulties or disadvantages when playing online.
TECNO has yet to reveal its game compatibility and game library. So, it can be difficult to decide if it's future-proof or not. However, given its status as a "portable gaming PC", we can expect it to support Steam games. As of now, we should wait for further confirmation from TECNO.
TECNO have yet to reveal the price and availability of the TECNO Pocket GO let alone the Malaysia price or Malaysia release dates. But, thanks to the revealed specs, we can conclude that it would be quite pricey because of the micro-OLED headset. Personally, if the price is above RM3500, we might pass on the console. However, if the price range falls between RM3000 and RM3499, we feel the specs are worth the investment.
MSI Claw A1M
MSI products have been a staple in the gaming industry. So, it should be no surprise if gaming fans look forward to this company's products. The same can be said about the MSI Claw A1M too. Unfortunately, like the TECNO Pocket GO, we are unable to give our verdict for the user experience on this console yet.
Spec-wise, this console runs a CPU of up to Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 155H, the Intel Arc Graphics, 1TB PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 2230 and 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM (6400MHz). It also runs the latest Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750(x). So, that should give you an idea of what this console is capable of.
Furthermore, it sports a 7-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) with a 120 Hz Refresh Rate, supports a Touch Screen, and 100% sRGB (Typical). It also features up to 500nits peak brightness (Typical), IPS-Level panel. Plus, it houses a 53Wh battery and a 65W PD adapter for comfortable and long gaming hours.
When it comes to the device's ventilation, it runs the Cooler Boost HyperFlow technology, which helps redirect airflow to cool internal components. So, that's a good quality of life addition. According to MSI, this console is ergonomically designed for an optimal gaming experience. That should be fun to explore.
In addition, you are essentially guaranteed a vast gaming catalogue with this console. The MSI A1M 045 should be able to download and play games from Steam, Ubisoft, XBOX, EPIC, and more. So, that makes this device future-proof.
If this console caught your attention, its price starts from RM3499. The MSI Claw will be available in two configurations - Intel Core i5 (RM3499) and Intel Core i7 (RM3999). You can pre-order from the MSI website starting now until 21 March 2024. The best part? You can get free gifts and exclusive merchandise if you pre-order now.
Personally, this console gets a resounding yes from us. If you have the budget to spend, this console should be a no-brainer.
Conclusion - ASUS ROG Ally, TECNO Pocket Go, MSI Claw A1M, then Lenovo Legion Go
After a thorough consideration, based on specs and price review, we feel the ASUS ROG Ally is the best option compared to the other three. However, that could change in the future if TECNO makes some tweaks. That said, the Lenovo Legion Go is not the worst when it comes to specs. But, we feel other devices could provide a similar experience at a lesser price (i.e. Steam Deck).
If you are looking for the most optimal handheld console, we would suggest the ASUS ROG Ally. The Pocket Go should be second on your priority list. However, if you can afford to splurge, we highly recommend the MSI Claw A1M.
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