Lenovo has officially stated that a recent BIOS update for its Legion Go handheld gaming PC, version N3CN42WW, is responsible for bricking some devices, and confirmed the fault lies not with users. The company clarified on its forums that it was able to replicate the issue internally and concluded that it is "most likely related to [a] specific component used on mainboards in a certain batch or batches, or the issue needs to have specific circumstances to manifest." Therefore, "it is clear it is not user error."
Lenovo has committed to repairing affected Legion Go units free of charge, regardless of warranty status. This applies to devices that failed to boot past the BIOS or were rendered completely inoperable following the update. While users under warranty should receive standard repairs or replacements, those with out-of-warranty devices are also covered, with Lenovo advising users to "check local laws." A Lenovo employee specifically mentioned that users in the European Union will be covered even if their device is out of warranty, provided the BIOS update caused the problem.
The issue first gained traction on Reddit and Lenovo forums weeks ago, with users reporting their devices became unbootable after installing N3CN42WW, which was released in June and subsequently removed in early August. During this period, users were left without support or explanation, with one user reporting being quoted €237 (approximately $273) for a repair by Lenovo before this official statement. It remains unclear if customers who paid for repairs prior to this acknowledgment will be reimbursed.
While the problematic N3CN42WW BIOS version is no longer available for download, Lenovo has since released N3CN40WW on August 5. The specific changes between this version and a prior release with the same version number from January 6 have not been detailed. Despite Lenovo's assurances and the offer of free repairs, the uncertainty and inconvenience have likely soured the experience for some Legion Go owners.