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| The Lenovo Legion Go. |
If you’ve been waiting to grab a Lenovo Legion Go, you might want to check your wallet first. The original model—the one that launched to rave reviews as a Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally competitor—has just received a staggering price increase. And it’s not alone. Over the past few weeks, Lenovo has quietly raised prices across nearly its entire handheld lineup, turning what used to be affordable gaming on the go into a decidedly premium affair.
The latest victim? The Lenovo Legion Go with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and 512GB of storage. When it first hit shelves, it cost a reasonable 999**—a jaw-dropping $300 jump. That’s a 43% increase, and for a device that was already competing in a price-sensitive market, it’s a serious shift.
A Wave of Price Hikes Across the Legion Lineup
The original Legion Go isn’t the first Lenovo handheld to get more expensive. It’s just the latest.
Earlier this month, the company raised the price of the Legion Go 2, pushing the 1TB model to roughly 2,849. Those numbers put it squarely in laptop territory, which feels odd for a device that fits in your hands. Shortly after, the more budget-friendly Legion Go S crossed the $1,000 threshold, erasing much of its value appeal.
Now, with the original Legion Go climbing to $999, every active model in Lenovo’s handheld family has seen a significant price correction. What started as a diverse lineup—from entry-level to ultra-premium—now starts at nearly a thousand dollars for the “cheap” option.
| Model | Original Price (approx.) | New Price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legion Go (512GB, Z1 Extreme) | $699.99 | $999 | +$300 |
| Legion Go S (base) | Under $1,000 | >$1,000 | Variable |
| Legion Go 2 (1TB) | ~$1,500? | ~$2,000 | +$500+ |
| Legion Go 2 (2TB) | N/A | $2,849 | Massive |
Note: Some original launch prices for the Legion Go 2 are based on pre‑hike estimates, as Lenovo never formally committed to fixed MSRPs for unreleased models.
The Best Buy Listing That Confirms the Jump
If you want to see the new price for yourself, head over to Best Buy’s product page. As of this writing, the Legion Go with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD is listed at 699 just weeks ago.
You can check the current listing here:
Lenovo Legion Go – 8.8" 144Hz WQXGA Gaming Handheld – AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme – 16GB with 512GB SSD – Windows
The page doesn’t mention any sale or temporary markup. This appears to be the new normal.
Why Is Lenovo Raising Prices So Aggressively?
Lenovo hasn’t issued an official statement explaining the sudden increases. But industry watchers point to one obvious culprit: the ongoing memory crisis.
Over the past year, prices for DRAM and NAND flash storage have skyrocketed. A combination of post-pandemic supply chain adjustments, increased demand from AI servers, and production cuts from major memory manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have created a perfect storm. For handheld PCs—which rely on high-speed LPDDR5X memory and fast SSDs—component costs have become a major headache.
“Handheld manufacturers are squeezed from both sides,” says technology analyst Maria Chen of Digital Supply Chain Insights. “They need to keep performance high to compete with the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, but the memory they require has doubled in cost over the last 18 months. Passing that along to consumers is painful but necessary if they want to stay in business.”
There’s also a secondary factor: currency fluctuations and regional pricing adjustments. Lenovo sells globally, and the strong US dollar has made imports more expensive for many components. While that alone wouldn’t explain a 43% hike, combined with memory inflation, the math starts to add up—at least from Lenovo’s perspective.
What This Means for Handheld Gamers
If you already own a Legion Go, congratulations. Your device just appreciated in value like a used Toyota. But if you’re in the market for a new handheld gaming PC, the landscape has changed dramatically.
At 549) and the ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme ($649 on sale). It offered a larger 8.8-inch screen, a higher 144Hz refresh rate, and detachable controllers. Yes, the software wasn’t as polished as Valve’s SteamOS, but for Windows fans, it was a solid deal.
At $999? That’s a much harder sell. For the same money, you could buy a Steam Deck OLED and a Nintendo Switch Lite, or put that cash toward a proper gaming laptop with a dedicated RTX 4060. The Legion Go is no longer an impulse buy or a “second device.” It’s now a serious investment.
Is the Price Hike Permanent?
Lenovo hasn’t said whether these increases are temporary or here to stay. In the past, we’ve seen hardware prices fluctuate with component costs—RAM and SSD prices tend to be cyclical. If memory production ramps up later this year or early next, prices could fall again.
But there’s a catch. Lenovo is also reportedly working on next-generation handhelds with newer chips (likely AMD’s upcoming “Strix Point” APUs). Those will almost certainly launch at premium prices. If the company decides to keep the original Z1 Extreme model around as a budget option, it might eventually lower the price back down. But for now, $999 is the number.
Should You Still Buy the Legion Go?
That depends on your budget and your patience. If you absolutely want a Windows handheld with a big, beautiful screen and you can’t wait, the Legion Go is still a capable device. The Z1 Extreme chip handles most AAA games at 720p or 800p with decent frame rates, and the 144Hz display is overkill in the best way.
But if you can hold off, I’d recommend waiting. The handheld PC market is moving fast. Valve might announce a more powerful Steam Deck. Asus could refresh the ROG Ally. And if memory prices stabilize, Lenovo might be forced to reverse course—especially if sales slow down.
For now, the original Legion Go is no longer the bargain it once was. And with the rest of Lenovo’s lineup climbing even higher, affordable handheld gaming from this brand is, at least temporarily, a thing of the past.
Disclosure: Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of writing but may change. Always check the retailer’s page for the latest information.
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| Legion Go listed on Best Buy. |