The most advanced version nearly doubled in price overnight.
The Asus Xbox Ally X and the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus are still available for $999 and $1,049 respectively, but Lenovo’s Legion Go S seems to have surrendered. The top model of Lenovo’s 8-inch handheld, initially priced at $829.99 last summer, now costs almost twice that with the SteamOS version featuring the Z1 Extreme chip going for $1,579.99 at Best Buy.
This increase exceeds even the price surge seen in Lenovo’s flagship Legion Go 2, which rose by up to $650 earlier this month.
Although not all Legion Go S models have doubled in price, none are close to their original costs. The Windows Z1 Extreme model is listed at $1,679.99 but is “on sale” for $1,049.99. (B&H lists it for $1,299.99.)
Even the Z2 Go model, which is considerably less powerful, has risen from its $599.99 launch price to nearly $1,000 at Best Buy, $1,049 at Lenovo, and $1,199 at Walmart (for the Windows model). Amazon seems to offer a SteamOS unit for $714, though that price still seems high for a Z2 Go.
Lenovo didn’t respond to a request for comment, but the company may be phasing out this version due to the RAMageddon crisis. Listings for various models have vanished from retailers and Lenovo’s website.
Perhaps Lenovo is planning a new version? Google suggests the company’s website now calls it the “Lenovo Legion Go S Gen 1.”
The global RAM shortage has severely affected many gadgets, especially gaming devices. Buying a Steam Deck is not straightforward anymore, Meta increased the Quest 3’s price by $100 last week, the PlayStation 5 experienced a price rise, and the list continues. Stay updated on this with our Verge StoryStream, and read our articles about why this issue is occurring and how long it might last.
Asus representative Anthony Spence stated there was no foreseeable price increase for the Xbox Ally X in the US, and this remains the case as of today.