Ryzen Z2 Go Trails 10% Behind Ryzen Z1 Extreme — Legion Go S versus ROG Ally X Showdown

Recently, AMD made waves by unveiling their Ryzen Z2 Go APU, sparking a flurry of anticipation over how it stacks up against the Ryzen Z1 series. Luckily, Fps VN quenched our thirst for information with some head-to-head FPS test results, pitting the Lenovo Legion Go S against the Asus ROG Ally X, across three diverse games under varied power settings.

Lenovo has thrown its hat in the ring with the Legion Go S, powered by the Ryzen Z2 Go APU. This version features half the core count of the Z1 Extreme and is built on Zen 3+ architecture, unlike its predecessor’s Zen 4. It also operates at slightly lower base and boost clock speeds—3.0 GHz versus 3.3 GHz, and 4.3 GHz compared to 5.1 GHz, respectively. Despite these modest numbers, Lenovo has chosen this chip for its next-gen gaming handhelds, prompting us to see how well it holds against AMD’s previous champion, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.

Before we jump into the performance metrics, let’s examine the general hardware specs of these competitors. The Lenovo Legion Go S, making its debut at CES 2025, is kitted out with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 memory. It boasts a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD and an impressive eight-inch, 120 Hz, 1920×1200 IPS display. Meanwhile, the Asus ROG Ally X, which launched in mid-2024, uses an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip backed by 24GB of LPDDR5 memory. Its storage option is an ample 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD and it features a seven-inch, 120 Hz, 1920×1080 IPS screen.

As we delve into the FPS performances, the Z1 Extreme on the Asus ROG Ally X consistently leads, albeit by a slim margin. We see this as expected since the Z1 Extreme boasts double the cores and beefier clock speeds than the Z2 Go. Additionally, it offers twice the L3 cache and benefits from a more advanced 780M integrated GPU over the Z2 Go’s 680M.

However, when it comes to gameplay experience, the disparity isn’t as stark as one might assume. On average, the performance difference is just about 4 FPS in favor of the ROG Ally X, with the Ryzen Z2 Go approximately trailing by 10% in power relative to the Z1 Extreme.

What’s surprising is not finding a broader gap, particularly given the Ally X’s 8GB extra memory and smaller screen with fewer pixels. Yet, it seems AMD and Lenovo have squeezed impressive results out of the Z2 Go, despite the constraints of handheld devices in terms of size and power efficiency.

Price becomes another deciding factor. The Asus ROG Ally X is tagged at $799, while the Legion Go is priced slightly lower at $729. Despite the raw numbers favoring the Ally X, the Legion Go’s larger screen and reduced cost might sway potential buyers, especially considering many might not perceive the nominal 4 FPS difference during gaming.

In a market where slight variations can sway decisions, Lenovo’s offering seems appealing for those who value screen real estate and budget-friendly pricing, showing there’s plenty to like about both of these gaming powerhouses.