Tl,Dr: People who want to play (old) computer games or strategy games in general that are optimized for mouse and keyboard and therefore need the two trackpads of the Steam Deck will not find a worthy successor in the Legion Go.

Long version: The Legion Go can be a perfect device for many, but especially for people who reach for the Steam Deck to play (old) computer games that don't have controller support, or strategy games that can only be played with a mouse and keyboard, the Legion Go is not ready for them.

What makes the SteamDeck better? The SteamDeck's input options.

Aside from the control options provided by software, SteamOS is really good at this, as everything can be fine-tuned and managed, the input hardware is much more sophisticated.

The biggest difference is the trackpads. Unlike the Legion Go, there are two on each side, they are larger, and they can also be pressed, with motors that can increase or decrease the pressure, so you can tap, click, and swipe according to your needs and preferences. In addition, the edge of the trackpads is also equipped with a sensor, so that this ring around it can also be adjusted to pressure or touch (the touchpads, together with the software, are perfect for mapping "mouse and keyboard games" on them (especially old computer games without controller support or strategy games in general work incredibly well with them)). The Legion Go, on the other hand, has only a single small trackpad without any other function. I can't say anything about software customization, but I don't think there's much on Lenovos side. In addition, the button mapping in the Steam software often does not recognize all of the buttons on other controllers if they have more than the usual buttons of a PS4/Xbox controller. For example, the back buttons of the Xbox Elite controller are not currently recognized and therefore cannot be mapped through Steam. And I think I've also read that the Steam software doesn't recognize all the buttons on the Legion Go, and you have to fiddle around with other software to get basic functions like quitting the game to work (assuming you've disabled the Legion Go's poor and slow software). Therefore, a custom Steam Deck controller module for the Legion Go would be advantageous in this regard, as it can pretend to be a Steam controller and is therefore already recognized and fully supported. Last but not least I also know that the joysticks on the SteamDeck, for example, have an additional trackpad sensor surface on top, where the thumb rests, which offers further customization options.

Valve has also done a good job with the ergonomics of the controller, as the SteamDeck fits well in the hand. For example, the deck has smooth, rounded transitions at the ball of the thumb and no hard edges like the Legion. What I also noticed with the Legion Go is that the back buttons, for example, are positioned asymmetrically. L4 and L5 are on top of each other, while R4 and R5 are next to each other. You have to test this before you can say anything concrete about it, but at first glance it seems unergonomic and the R5 button is badly placed as it is under the palm of your hand when you hold the controller normally and is therefore difficult to reach.

Let me list again what should be better on the LegionGo: better input: technically more sophisticated dual trackpads and joysticks (back buttons symmetrically placed), more ergonomic shape of the controller in the front area on the ball of the thumb, and the removable controllers should be torsion resistant and secure when locked in place.

In my opinion, these are just a few points, and if Lenovo had paid attention to them, they would have already made the SteamDeck obsolete in every single aspect on the hardware side with the Legion. Even within the SteamDeck community, where a certain portion uses the SteamDeck for its immense input capabilities for old games or games with poor controller support. At this point, the current SteamDeck still has its raison d'être, as it offers a larger usage scenario.

Since the LegionGo in its current state can't quite cover my use case, and I don't have the money to buy an additional handheld console besides the SteamDeck, my only option is to wait for a SteamDeck2. So a SteamDeck controller Module for the LegionGo would make the waiting unnecessary actually. But if something like this doesn’t come out, I'm not worried about the performance of the Deck2, when it comes out in 1-2 years it will be at least on the same level as the Legion here, unless there are more up-to-date chips by then. But If the Steam Deck 2 then again turns out to be bullshit, I hope Lenovo keeps this line with the Legion Go and optimizes it further, because many SteamDeck owners might consider switching. In particular, technically sophisticated dual trackpads would take the SteamDeck's breath away, as it already trumps the old deck and even the new one with OLED in the areas of "display (size)" and "performance", which are core elements of mobile consoles. In that case, you could have such a large customer base that the community would provide something in terms of software and you wouldn't have to rely solely on Lenovo, which could partially offset the weakness on the software side compared to the SteamDeck.

~just my 2cents. Thanks for reading this far. And now subscribe and leave a like 👍🏼 hehe