The Great Gaming Handheld Price Shift: Lenovo Legion Go S Joins the Fray

In a shocking turn of events, Lenovo’s Legion Go S has seen its price nearly double overnight, making it the latest victim of the ongoing global RAM shortage. The best version of the 8-inch handheld, featuring the Z1 Extreme chip, is now listed at an eye-watering $1,579.99 at Best Buy, a staggering increase from its original launch price of $829.99 just last summer.

This sudden and drastic price hike mirrors that seen with Lenovo’s flagship Legion Go 2, which experienced a price jump of up to $650 in early this month. While not all models of the Legion Go S have seen such a massive price increase, none are now anywhere near their original prices. The Windows Z1 Extreme model, for instance, is listed at $1,679.99 with a “sale” price of $1,049.99, while the weaker Z2 Go model has seen its price jump from $599.99 to nearly $1,000 across various retailers.

The RAM shortage, aptly dubbed “RAMageddon,” has been wreaking havoc on the gaming hardware landscape, driving prices up and limiting availability. The Lenovo Legion Go S is just the latest casualty of this crisis, with many listings for various versions of the handheld disappearing from retailers’ websites and Lenovo’s own platform.

It’s unclear whether Lenovo will continue to produce and sell the Legion Go S in its current form or if a newer, improved model is on the horizon. The company has not commented on the price hike, but online listings have begun referring to the current iteration as the “Lenovo Legion Go S Gen 1.” This nomenclature could suggest that an updated version of the handheld is forthcoming.

The gaming industry has been particularly hard hit by the RAM shortage, with many hardware manufacturers experiencing significant price increases. From the Steam Deck to the PlayStation 5, and even Meta’s Quest 3, gamers are facing a daunting prospect: shelling out more cash for their favorite gadgets. The situation shows no signs of improving anytime soon, leaving enthusiasts to navigate a treacherous landscape of fluctuating prices and dwindling availability.

Source: https://www.theverge.com/games/915278/lenovo-legion-go-s-price-hike-discontinued-ramageddon