Ryzen Z2 Go Appears 10% Slower Than Ryzen Z1 Extreme: Legion Go S vs. ROG Ally X Showdown

AMD has recently unveiled the Ryzen Z2 Go APU, prompting numerous discussions about its performance relative to the Ryzen Z1 series. Thankfully, Fps VN came through with some answers, sharing FPS test results that pit the Lenovo Legion Go S against the Asus ROG Ally X across three games under varying power settings.

Lenovo’s new release, the Legion Go S, features the Ryzen Z2 Go APU. While it has half the cores of the Z1 Extreme and utilizes Zen 3+ architecture (as opposed to Zen 4), it also features lower base (3.0 GHz vs. 3.3 GHz) and boost (4.3 GHz vs. 5.1 GHz) clock speeds. Despite these specs, Lenovo opted for it in its latest gaming handheld, so naturally, we’re eager to see how it measures up to the previous gen’s top-tier AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip.

Before we delve into the numbers, let’s compare the general specs of both devices. The Lenovo Legion Go S, revealed at CES 2025, runs on an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor with 16GB LPDDR5X-6400 memory, a 512GB PCIe 4.0 storage SSD, and features an impressive eight-inch, 120 Hz, 1920×1200 IPS display. Meanwhile, the Asus ROG Ally X, launched in mid-2024, is equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip accompanied by 24GB of LPDDR5 memory. It boasts a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD for storage and sports a seven-inch, 120 Hz, 1920×1080 IPS screen.

The performance data showcased that the Z1 Extreme in the Asus ROG Ally X consistently outperformed the Z2 Go housed in the Lenovo Legion Go S. This outcome was anticipated since the Z1 Extreme possesses double the cores and higher clock speeds compared to the Z2 Go. It also features double the L3 cache and a newer 780M integrated GPU, in contrast to the 680M on the Z2 Go.

Nevertheless, the performance difference across the three titles was minor, with the ROG Ally X averaging about 4 FPS higher than the Legion Go S. As suggested by the benchmarks, the Ryzen Z2 Go fell short by roughly 10% in performance compared to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.

Given the ROG Ally X’s 8GB extra memory and its relatively smaller screen with fewer pixels, one might expect a larger performance gap. However, AMD and Lenovo have seemingly fine-tuned the Z2 Go to deliver impressive performance despite the power constraints typical of handheld consoles’ compact and portable design.

Retailing at $799, the Asus ROG Ally X holds a slight edge in performance over its newer rival, with the Lenovo Legion Go trailing closely at $729. From a pure performance standpoint, the Ally X appears to carry the day. However, the Legion Go’s larger display and lower price might appeal to gamers, especially since the 4FPS difference might not be readily noticeable in casual gaming scenarios.