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The Evolution and Comparison of Handheld Gaming Consoles: Key Players and Features

GOOVER DAILY REPORT July 19, 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Summary
  2. Evolution of Handheld Gaming Consoles
  3. Feature and Pricing Comparison
  4. Highlighting Lenovo Legion Go
  5. Lenovo Legion Go vs. ASUS ROG Ally
  6. Conclusion

1. Summary

  • The report titled 'The Evolution and Comparison of Handheld Gaming Consoles: Key Players and Features' examines the development and market competition among leading brands such as Nintendo, ASUS, Lenovo, and PlayStation. Key handheld gaming consoles like the Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go are assessed based on their features, performance, and pricing. The report emphasizes the rivalry between Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally, detailing their specifications and market positioning. These insights aim to help readers understand each console's strengths and weaknesses, allowing for informed decisions based on personal needs and preferences.

2. Evolution of Handheld Gaming Consoles

  • 2-1. Historical progression and technological advancements

  • The concept of playing video games on the go is not a recent phenomenon. However, the past few years have seen significant technological advancements that have revolutionized this experience. The initiation of modern handheld gaming can be largely credited to the release of the Nintendo Switch, which set a new benchmark in portable gaming a few years ago. As technology progressed, other major players in the gaming industry, like PlayStation, ASUS, and Lenovo, have also entered the handheld gaming market to claim their share. The latest iterations of handheld gaming consoles feature cutting-edge processors, high-resolution displays, and enhanced connectivity options, making them far superior to their predecessors from the 90s.

  • 2-2. Key players in the market: Nintendo, ASUS, Lenovo, PlayStation

  • The handheld gaming console market is currently dominated by several key players. Nintendo continues to hold a strong position with its popular Switch series, which includes the Nintendo Switch OLED, known for its balance of pricing, features, and performance. ASUS entered the fray with the ROG Ally, a powerful handheld gaming PC equipped with a Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. Lenovo's contribution, the Legion Go, combines high performance with versatile gaming modes, featuring detachable controllers and a rear kickstand. PlayStation, on the other hand, introduced the PlayStation Portal, which streams games from the PlayStation 5, though it lacks local storage and Bluetooth connectivity. Each of these companies has pushed the boundaries of what handheld gaming devices can achieve.

  • 2-3. Impact of handheld gaming consoles on the gaming industry

  • The introduction and evolution of handheld gaming consoles have had a profound impact on the gaming industry. These devices bridge the gap between home consoles and portable gaming, providing gamers with the flexibility to play high-quality games anywhere. For example, the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally allow players to run AAA PC games on handheld devices, something that was once limited to powerful gaming PCs. The market for these devices has expanded, as evidenced by the diverse range of handheld consoles catering to different needs, from budget options like the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro to high-performance devices like the Lenovo Legion Go. This shift has also influenced game developers, pushing them to optimize games for portable platforms while maintaining the quality of console and PC versions.

3. Feature and Pricing Comparison

  • 3-1. Steam Deck: Features, performance, and price

  • The Steam Deck is recognized as the best overall handheld gaming PC, featuring a powerful 4-core Zen 2 processor, 16GB RAM, and 512GB built-in storage. It runs on a SteamOS (Linux-based) system and boasts a 7.4-inch, 800p OLED display with HDR, providing rich color details and deep blacks. Additional features include a built-in MicroSD slot for expanding storage, compatibility with WiFi 6E for faster downloads, Bluetooth v5.3 for wireless headsets, built-in trackpads to emulate a mouse, and video outputs up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz when docked. Its major drawbacks are the relatively high price, the need to buy the dock station separately, and the lack of built-in NFC for amiibos.

  • 3-2. Nintendo Switch: Features, performance, and price

  • The Nintendo Switch OLED, reputed as the best of budget, features a Tegra X1+ chip, removable controllers, and three different play modes: handheld, tabletop, and docked. It comes with a built-in NFC sensor for use with amiibos, an Ethernet port, and a MicroSD slot to expand storage. The console has an OLED display that offers vibrant graphics and is priced at around $350 USD, making it notably cheaper than the Steam Deck. While it can run various PC or cross-platform games, it struggles to handle most AAA PC games, has lower video output specs when docked (max 1080p@60Hz), and is incompatible with the latest WiFi 6E.

  • 3-3. ASUS ROG Ally: Features, performance, and price compared to others

  • The ASUS ROG Ally, deemed the best of deal, features an 8-core Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, a 7-inch 1080p@120Hz display, and compatibility with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth v5.2. It comes preinstalled with Windows 11 and supports a MicroSD card for storage expansion. The ROG Ally includes a built-in ROG XG Mobile interface for connecting external GPUs. It handles many AAA games smoothly but has a less desired battery life and no built-in trackpads. The current promotional price is $400 USD (down from $600 USD).

  • 3-4. Lenovo Legion Go: Features, performance, and price compared to others

  • The Lenovo Legion Go is the company's first handheld gaming PC, launched with an 8-core Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, an 8.8-inch QHD+ display, and a refresh rate of 144Hz. It features detachable controllers, a rear kickstand, and supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth v5.2. Other features include a built-in MicroSD slot and a trackpad to emulate a mouse. Despite its limited battery life and bulkiness, the Legion Go is seen as a hybrid of the ROG Ally and Nintendo Switch. Its regular price is around $1,200 USD, down from $1,500 USD.

  • 3-5. Retroid Pocket 4 Pro: Features, performance, and price

  • The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, known for its portability, features a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 750p HD@60Hz. It runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 chip with Android 11 and 8GB RAM. This device excels in handling games from retro consoles like PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube. Additional features include a great battery life of over 15 hours, MicroSD support, Bluetooth v5.2, WiFi 6E, and the ability to connect to external displays via micro-HDMI. Its price and compact design make it a valuable choice, although it may not be comfortable for larger hands and the display can have ghosting issues.

4. Highlighting Lenovo Legion Go

  • 4-1. Unique features of Lenovo Legion Go

  • The Lenovo Legion Go sports several unique features that distinguish it from its competitors, such as the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally. One standout feature is its large 8.8-inch display, which boasts a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 and a 144Hz refresh rate. Despite the absence of OLED, the screen offers excellent contrast, vibrant colors, and sharp resolution. Additionally, the Lenovo Legion Go features detachable controllers, although not perfect, offering versatility in play styles. The controllers can be used even when detached, providing flexibility for different gaming environments. Another notable aspect is its built-in kickstand, which is wide and covers the entire backside, ensuring stability when placed on a flat surface.

  • 4-2. Performance analysis

  • The performance of the Lenovo Legion Go was evaluated through hands-on testing and lab measurements. Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Doom Eternal, and Marvel’s Spider-Man run smoothly at 60 frames per second on this device. According to tests conducted with a Klein-10 colorimeter, the display achieved an average brightness of 476 nits, covering 151.8% of the sRGB color gamut and 107.5% of the DCI-P3 color space. The display's Delta-E color accuracy score was 0.21, indicating high color precision.

  • 4-3. Display quality and refresh rate

  • The 8.8-inch display of the Lenovo Legion Go is one of its most significant features. It offers a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 and a refresh rate of 144Hz. Although the refresh rate is higher than what most games currently utilize, the visual experience at 60 frames per second is commendable. The screen's brightness, color saturation, and accuracy contribute to an immersive gaming experience. During testing, the display maintained strong performance with 476 nits of brightness and excellent color saturation.

  • 4-4. Compatibility with different games

  • Being a Windows 11-driven device, the Lenovo Legion Go provides compatibility with a wide range of Windows-compatible games and programs. This includes access to gaming platforms such as Xbox, Epic Games, Ubisoft Connect, Steam, GoG, Rockstar Social Club, and Giants Software. Additionally, users can purchase games from Gamesplanet.com and play Android games available from the Microsoft Store.

  • 4-5. User interface and operating system

  • The Lenovo Legion Go runs on Windows 11, which has its advantages and disadvantages. The built-in launcher, Legion Space, is designed to enhance user experience by making it easier to access games and other gaming services. It offers a variety of customization options, including performance mode, display settings, controller mapping, and lighting effects. The quick settings button allows easy access to essential settings, contributing to a smooth and user-friendly interface.

  • 4-6. Market availability and future potential

  • Although the specific market availability data is not detailed in the document, the Lenovo Legion Go has been positioned as a competitive alternative to other popular handheld gaming consoles like the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally. The uniqueness of its features and its performance benchmark make it a strong contender in the handheld gaming market.

5. Lenovo Legion Go vs. ASUS ROG Ally

  • 5-1. Side-by-side feature comparison

  • The Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally both run on Windows 11 and come equipped with AMD Ryzen Z1 processors. The Legion Go features an 8.8-inch IPS touch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, a 2560x1600 resolution, and a 144Hz refresh rate, whereas the ROG Ally has a 7-inch IPS touch display with a 1920x1080 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Legion Go's display is more immersive and vivid, with 97% DCI-P3 color gamut and 500 nits brightness compared to the ROG Ally's 80% DCI-P3. Both devices incorporate AMD RDNA 3 graphics, with the Legion Go offering up to 12 CUs. The controllers on the Legion Go are detachable, providing unique functionality like mouse-like control and optical sensors for FPS mode, while the ROG Ally has integrated controllers.

  • 5-2. Pricing and availability

  • As of now, the ASUS ROG Ally is available for purchase in the U.S. at Best Buy, with prices starting at $600 for the base model with AMD Ryzen Z1 and 256GB of storage, and $700 for the high-end model with AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and 512GB of SSD storage. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Go is not yet available for sale. It is expected to start at $700, with configurations likely including Ryzen Z1 CPU, 16GB RAM, and 256GB storage, while higher-end models could cost more with Ryzen Z1 Extreme and up to 1TB of storage.

  • 5-3. Design and controller functionality

  • The Lenovo Legion Go features detachable controllers and a Shadow Black color scheme. This design allows for versatile usage, such as turning the controller into a mouse via a trackpad. The device also features customizable RGB lighting and uses Hall sensors to avoid stick drift. The ROG Ally, in white, comes as a single unit without detachable controllers, making it more compact and portable but less versatile. Both devices feature an Xbox-style ABXY layout and a dedicated D-pad, common preferences for PC gaming, while the Legion Go's controllers offer additional functionality not found on the ROG Ally.

  • 5-4. Performance and portability

  • Both devices use AMD Ryzen Z1 series processors and LPDDR5x RAM, providing similar performance levels ideal for medium to low settings in gaming. The ROG Ally, being smaller and lighter (weighing 1.34 pounds), is generally more portable than the Legion Go, which weighs 1.41 pounds without controllers and 1.88 pounds with them. The Legion Go's larger and higher resolution display may impact battery life, whereas the ROG Ally's smaller, lower resolution display is likely more manageable and energy-efficient.

  • 5-5. User preference and experience

  • The Lenovo Legion Go stands out for those who prioritize a larger, high-resolution display and versatile controller functionality. Its detachable controllers and additional features like optical sensors make it appealing for varied gaming styles. Conversely, the ASUS ROG Ally suits users who value portability and a compact design. It offers a balance of performance and ease of use, making it a strong contender for those seeking a straightforward, powerful handheld gaming experience.

6. Conclusion

  • The comprehensive analysis in this report highlights the distinct strengths and weaknesses of various handheld gaming consoles, with a focused comparison between the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally. The findings indicate that while the Lenovo Legion Go boasts a high-resolution display and flexible controller options, making it ideal for diverse gaming styles, the ASUS ROG Ally is celebrated for its portability and compelling performance. The report also points out the significant technological advancements that have allowed these consoles to bridge the gap between portable and high-quality gaming. Limitations such as battery life and market availability are acknowledged, suggesting that consumers should weigh these factors carefully. Looking ahead, the handheld gaming console market is poised for continued growth, driven by ongoing innovations and user demands. Practically, these devices are already shaping how games are developed and played, emphasizing the need for continual optimization for portable platforms.

7. Glossary

  • 7-1. Nintendo Switch [Product]

  • A popular handheld gaming console known for its portability and versatility, with a wide range of compatible games and various gameplay modes.

  • 7-2. ASUS ROG Ally [Product]

  • ASUS's handheld gaming PC with powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 CPUs, notable for its portability and performance, making it a major competitor in the market.

  • 7-3. Lenovo Legion Go [Product]

  • A new entrant in the handheld gaming market, noted for its detachable controllers, high-resolution display, and superior gaming performance.

  • 7-4. Steam Deck [Product]

  • A handheld gaming console developed by Valve Corporation, known for its impressive specs, performance, and compatibility with Steam games.

  • 7-5. Retroid Pocket 4 Pro [Product]

  • A handheld gaming console acclaimed for its retro design and extensive game compatibility, catering to enthusiasts of classic gaming.

8. Source Documents