Legion Go S SteamOS edition gets a price hike ahead of launch at popular retailer
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The Lenovo Legion Go is a versatile device that some would argue is hamstrung by its use of Windows 11 as an operating system. As such, many fans were interested to see how the new SteamOS edition of the handheld would turn out, and pre-orders for the SteamOS variants went live last month. Unfortunately, some customers may be put off by a sudden jump in price.
Reddit user u/CdubbsWorld noticed the surprise price increase and said: “I noticed the Leigon Go S went up from $549 to $599 for the Z2 Go model, and the Z1 Extreme model now costs $829. I was excited for $499. $549 was okay, but now $599, I think I will pass.” They are referencing the fact that Lenovo set an ‘expected’ price of $499 for the device back at CES 2025.
| Model | Previous price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Lenovo – Legion Go S 8″ SteamOS 120Hz Gaming Handheld – AMD Ryzen Z2 Go @ Best Buy | $549.99 | $599.99 |
| Lenovo – Legion Go S 8″ SteamOS 120Hz Gaming Handheld – AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme @ Best Buy | $749.99 | $829.99 |
Still worth buying?
Several commenters echoed the sentiment, saying that the marginal improvement of the specifications is not enough to make it worth buying the device at this more expensive price. The Z1 Extreme version was particularly singled out for criticism, saying that the price for the device could also buy a decent pre-built gaming rig. Both models are set to go on sale on May 25th, according to the Best Buy listings.
Users based in countries outside the USA said that their region had not seen a price hike, and in places such as Poland, the price of the Legion Go S had even dropped slightly. This prompted speculation that the price increase may be in response to the trade tariffs being implemented by President Trump.
Tariff troubles ahead
One user issued a stark warning for US customers: “Even American brands are going to go way up in price because they still use parts from overseas.”
Some users are concerned that this development will have the knock-on effect of pushing up the price of the Legion Go 2. As the original poster noted, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is already $999, which provides a precedent for future devices to go above the $1000 mark.
Portable devices such as the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally became popular partially because they were a portable and cheaper alternative to a gaming laptop or full desktop PC rig. This development could push devices like the Legion Go out of the reach of many customers.
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