Lenovo has unveiled a concept gaming handheld, the Legion Go Fold, featuring a flexible POLED screen that unfolds from 7.7 to 11.6 inches. The device offers multiple modes, including a handheld, a dual-screen vertical setup, a full-screen gaming orientation, and a laptop-like mode when paired with a wireless keyboard.
The prototype is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and is notably lighter than existing Legion Go models, but the current hardware feels flimsy with a "floppy" open hinge and lightweight controllers. While innovative, the concept faces early challenges, including software compatibility for its various screen modes and concerns over durability for the externally-facing plastic screen.
The main topics covered are the device's design and flexible screen modes, its hardware specifications and performance, and the current prototype's limitations regarding build quality and software.
Lenovo's Legion Go Fold-able gaming handheld concept has four screen modes, also works as a small laptop — POLED display unfolds from 7.7 to 11.6 inches
But this early iteration sure is floppy.
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Lenovo has made laptops with rollable screens and folding screens, but now it's bringing flexible panels to gaming handhelds (at least, as a proof of concept). The Legion Go Fold Concept utilizes a POLED screen that flips out from 7.7 inches to 11.6 inches.
The prototype, which we went hands-on with before its MWC 2026 announcement, is significantly smaller and lighter than Lenovo's current Legion Go laptop lineup. The system defaults to a 7.7-inch handheld mode with the display folded in half. The screen can then be folded vertically so that you can have something else running on the other half. Lenovo representatives suggested you might put game guides, YouTube playthroughs, or chat there.
But unlike the existing Legion Gos, you can attach the controllers to all four sides. If you unfold the display and rotate it 90 degrees, you can get a "horizon" full screen that lets you play games on the entire 11.6-inch panel.
In addition, Lenovo showed off the concept with a wireless keyboard that can be used with the device to operate like a Microsoft Surface, allowing for full access to Windows 11 with a mouse and keyboard. You could also use this for gaming, as the right controller works as a vertical mouse, allowing for standard first-person shooter controls.
For the first time, Lenovo also has a piece of plastic to go between the two controllers, allowing them to act as one piece when disconnected from the PC (just like Switch Joy-Cons). The right controller also features a screen, though I can't say looking at the time or silly characters is terribly useful. I did, however, appreciate the introduction of trigger stops to the controllers.
For the concept, Lenovo is opting for Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V "Lunar Lake" chips with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The screen has a resolution of 2435 x 1712 when it's unfolded. My hope is that Lenovo finds a way to get Core Ultra Series 3 chips with Intel's B390 graphics in, though Lenovo claims that the 258V can run at low TDPs to get the most out of the 48 WHr battery.
The idea is interesting, but the current state of the hardware is still quite early. While the hinge mechanism felt solid enough when it was closed, there was noticeable floppiness while it was open. The controllers were impressively light at 230 grams, but they almost felt like toys. For a machine I'm going to be folding, unfolding, and rotating around, I hope Lenovo can make it feel more sturdy if it approaches a full release.
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I also worry that this only folds with the plastic OLED display facing the outside. That makes sense for the goal that Lenovo is trying to accomplish. But this is a plastic-covered screen, and if I'm using this as a portable laptop, then switching to gaming, I could be using this for the majority of my day. I hope a launch version, if it materializes, comes with a nice case to protect the screen.
There were some software hitches, too, in the early device. Lenovo didn't show us the system running a game, but I did open a copy of Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. The game would only run with the screen open full-screen, and vertically, as the software wasn't there for me to adjust it to Lenovo's various screen settings. While this is an early device, Lenovo's rollable that did hit the market, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, didn't allow you to change either resolution or screen orientation. So I would like to see Lenovo get this part of the feature set working.
I found the keyboard to be a bit difficult to set up, but others with me checking out the Legion Fold quite liked the idea, as it would let them use the system as a full Windows 11 laptop to do work when they're not gaming.
There is no potential price or release date for the Legion Fold just yet. Lenovo has been toying (and working) quite a lot with foldable screens recently. It had two generations of the ThinkPad X1 Fold, and brought a previous concept, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, to market. Since then, it's been showing off gaming concepts, with a Legion Pro rollable with a screen that extends sideways, before revealing this foldable handheld. Time will tell if either Legion product shows up on shelves.
Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and BlueSky @andrewfreedman.net. You can send him tips on Signal: andrewfreedman.01
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Notton IMO, the fold would be better if it opened and closed like window shutters.Reply
1/2 the screen in the middle, and 1/4 on both sides so the crease isn't directly in the center. -
kealii123 Reply
I just want a thinner, lighter, oled version of the X1.BloodLust2222 said:I'd buy this. Have a Onexplayer X1 and I love that thing.
What does the folding feature bring to the table, other than hype?
Meridiano
