1. Prices for Lenovo Legion Go S variants with AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and Z2 Go APUs have surged significantly, with increases of up to $680.
2. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme offers over twice the multi-core performance of the Ryzen Z2 Go but only about a 10% gaming performance improvement.
3. The higher-end variant also includes double the RAM and storage compared to the lower-end models.
Recent Price Surges in Gaming Handheld Devices
The ongoing shortages seem to be driving prices for popular gaming handhelds higher and higher. Only a week ago, Lenovo made headlines for hiking up the cost of its AMD Ryzen Z2 Go powered Legion Go S by an astonishing $450. Now, the same story appears to be unfolding with the Z1 Extreme model, which is now facing a similar jump in retail price. Customers who had been eyeing this device are now faced with a much steeper entry point.
Price Increase of Legion Go S Variants
Previously, the Legion Go S with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU, boasting 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1 TB SSD, was valued at just under $900 on Best Buy. But the latest revision with SteamOS now reaches a hefty $1,580, representing an approx. $680 surge. This drastic hike marks a significant strain for budget-conscious gamers looking to purchase the device. The Windows version with the same specifications is now priced just under $1,680, which is really stretching the limits of affordability for many consumers.
Differences Between Variants and Performance Expectations
- SteamOS model with AMD Z1 Extreme: now costs nearly $1,580
- Windows edition with AMD Z1 Extreme: borders on $1,680
- Lower-spec variant with Z2 Go, reduced RAM and storage, priced at ~$990
In terms of hardware performance, the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, which has 8 cores, outperforms the 4-core Ryzen Z2 Go by over two times in synthetic multi-core tests. When it comes to gaming performance, the GPU differences are less dramatic — the Radeon 780M (Z1 Extreme) roughly edges out the Radeon 680M (Z2 Go) by about 10%, depending on the game. Additionally, it’s critical to remember that the higher-tier model also offers doubled RAM and storage compared to its lower-end siblings.
Market Impact and Consumer Concerns
As these prices skyrocket, it’s clear that current supply chain issues are taking a toll on the gaming community. The steep premium for updated hardware may push many potential buyers away, especially those who had previously considered these devices affordable options. The rising costs also raise questions about the future accessibility of such portable gaming systems in an economy where prices are increasingly unpredictable.