This Simple Accessory Turns a Lenovo Legion Into a Laptop

The Steam Deck is a handheld computer designed specifically for PC gaming on the go, opening up a huge library of titles to portable gaming. It has been successful in its own right, but it also motivated the development and release of several similar devices from other manufacturers. The Asus ROG Ally is probably the most popular of those, but the Lenovo Legion Go is a strong option, too. To make it even more versatile, Redditor MysteriousAlarm897 designed this simple accessory that turns his Lenovo Legion Go into a laptop.

The entire point of the Lenovo Legion Go is that it, like the Steam Deck, is a “real” computer running a full desktop operating system: SteamOS. That is a Linux-based operating system that has two interface modes: gaming and desktop. In gaming mode, it resembles a conventional console experience. But in desktop mode, users get the complete computer experience. They can browse the web, run software applications, adjust settings, and do everything else that one would expect of a computer. The big challenge is typing, which requires either an on-screen keyboard or an external keyboard.

MysteriousAlarm897’s accessory is a bit like a dock for the Lenovo Legion Go. It contains additional batteries and a decent keyboard in a folding clamshell case, making the system much more like a traditional laptop. Because the Lenovo Legion Go has detachable controllers (similar to Nintendo’s Joy-Cons), gaming is still perfectly comfortable when this accessory is in use.

The clamshell is a custom design that MysteriousAlarm897 3D-printed. It isn’t overly stylized and instead has a minimalist appearance. The clamshell lid holds the main Lenovo Legion Go device securely in place, with a quick-release mechanism for removal. The base of the clamshell contains the additional batteries and the keyboard. It has a total of 190Wh capacity across 15 18650 lithium batteries cells, plus a BMS (Battery Management System) and charge controller. The keyboard is, appropriately, a Lenovo model.

Now MysteriousAlarm897 can get real work done on their Lenovo Legion Go between gaming sessions. It doesn’t appear that they’ve released the STL files and it isn’t clear if they will in the future, but it is safe to say that a lot of Lenovo Legion Go owners are salivating at the idea.