AMD’s latest reveal, the Ryzen Z2 Go APU, has stirred quite the discussion, especially concerning how it stacks up against the Ryzen Z1 series. Thankfully, Fps VN came through with some insights, sharing FPS test results from a showdown between Lenovo’s Legion Go S and Asus’s ROG Ally X, both tested across three games with varying power settings.
Lenovo has put the spotlight on the Legion Go S by equipping it with the Ryzen Z2 Go APU. Notably, this APU features half the cores of its cousin, the Z1 Extreme, and is based on the Zen 3+ architecture rather than Zen 4. The clock speeds are also dialed back, with a base clock of 3.0 GHz and a boost clock of 4.3 GHz, compared to the Z1 Extreme’s 3.3 GHz and 5.1 GHz, respectively. Despite these differences, Lenovo’s choice for their latest gaming handheld prompts a closer look at its performance against the well-regarded Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor from the previous generation.
Let’s pause for a moment and compare the specs of both devices. Debuting at CES 2025, the Lenovo Legion Go S is driven by an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, bolstered by 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 memory. It includes a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD for storage and showcases games on an eight-inch, 120 Hz, 1920×1200 IPS display. Meanwhile, the Asus ROG Ally X, which hit the market in mid-2024, flexes its muscles with a Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip paired with 24GB of LPDDR5 memory. Its storage capacity leaps to a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and it features a seven-inch, 120 Hz, 1920×1080 IPS screen.
Moving on to some game testing, the FPS results are as follows:
| Game Title (Settings) | Lenovo Legion Go S (Average FPS) | Asus ROG Ally X (Average FPS) |
|———————–|———————————-|——————————|
| Black Myth Wukong (720p Medium 15W) | 36 | 40 |
| Black Myth Wukong (1080p Low FSR 20W) | 30 | 32 |
| Black Myth Wukong (1080p Low FSR 30W) | 60 | 64 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (720p Medium 15W) | 50 | 54 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p Low FSR 20W) | 45 | 47 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p Medium FSR 30W) | 61 | 66 |
| Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut (720p Medium 15W) | 62 | 66 |
| Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut (1080p Medium FSR 20W) | 48 | 52 |
| Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut (1080p Medium FSR 30W) | 62 | 66 |
The results reveal that the Asus ROG Ally X generally edges out the competition with its Z1 Extreme, which comes as no surprise due to its greater core count and enhanced clock speeds. The Z1 Extreme also enjoys double the L3 cache, and its integrated GPU, the 780M, is a step ahead of the Z2 Go’s 680M.
However, the FPS difference in these tests is relatively small, averaging only about 4 FPS higher for the ROG Ally X compared to the Legion Go S. The benchmarks indicate that the Ryzen Z2 Go’s performance trails the Ryzen Z1 Extreme by roughly 10%.
We anticipated a more significant performance gap, especially considering the Ally X’s advantage of 8GB more memory and a slightly reduced screen resolution for fewer pixels. Yet, it seems AMD and Lenovo have finely tuned the Z2 Go to perform admirably within the constraints typical of compact, power-sensitive handheld consoles.
Price-wise, the Asus ROG Ally X is set at $799, while the Lenovo Legion Go is priced closely at $729. If sheer performance is the criterion, the ROG Ally X offers a slight advantage over its newer rival. However, consumers might find the Legion Go’s larger display and more affordable price tag appealing, particularly since most won’t notice the 4 FPS difference in everyday gameplay.
