Ryzen Z1 Extreme Outperforms Ryzen Z2 Go by 10% — Legion Go S Competes with ROG Ally X

AMD’s reveal of the Ryzen Z2 Go APU has sparked a flurry of questions regarding how it stacks up against the Ryzen Z1 series in terms of performance. Thankfully, we can now gain some insights thanks to Fps VN, who released FPS test results pitting the Lenovo Legion Go S against the Asus ROG Ally X. The devices were tested across three different games with various power settings to give us a comprehensive look.

The Lenovo Legion Go S features the newly introduced Ryzen Z2 Go APU. Compared to the Z1 Extreme, it has half the cores and operates on a Zen 3+ architecture instead of Zen 4. It also features slightly lower base (3.0 GHz versus 3.3 GHz) and boost (4.3 GHz versus 5.1 GHz) clocks. Lenovo’s decision to utilize it in their latest gaming handhelds has raised curiosity about how it stands up against AMD’s previous flagship, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.

Before delving into performance, let’s compare the specifications of both devices. Debuting at CES 2025, the Lenovo Legion Go S is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor and comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 memory. Its storage includes a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and it’s equipped with an eight-inch, 120 Hz, 1920×1200 IPS display. In contrast, the Asus ROG Ally X from mid-2024 houses an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, boasting 24GB of LPDDR5 memory. It features a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD and a slightly smaller seven-inch, 120 Hz, 1920×1080 IPS screen.

When looking at the performance data, the Asus ROG Ally X consistently outshined the Legion Go S, driven by the Z2 Go. This isn’t surprising given that the Z1 Extreme has twice the cores, higher clock speeds, and benefits from a newer 780M integrated GPU over the Z2 Go’s 680M. However, the margin of difference was smaller than expected, with the ROG Ally X outperforming by just an average of 4 FPS across all tested titles.

The data shows that the Ryzen Z2 Go delivers around 10% less performance than the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. That said, the anticipated gap wasn’t as large as one might think, partly because the Ally X’s 8GB memory advantage and lower resolution screen translate to handling fewer pixels. It seems AMD and Lenovo have done well in optimizing the Z2 Go for portable gaming despite its power constraints.

Priced at $799, the Asus ROG Ally X does offer better performance, but the Lenovo Legion Go S at $729 isn’t far off. The Legion Go’s larger screen size and lower price might attract gamers who likely won’t notice the minimal 4FPS difference between these devices.