Lenovo Legion Go S Price Nearly Doubles at Best Buy

The Lenovo Legion Go S, an 8-inch handheld gaming device running SteamOS, has seen its price nearly double since launch, reaching $1,579.99 at major retailers like Best Buy, according to recent reporting from The Verge.

Initially released last summer at $829.99, the Legion Go S with AMD’s Z1 Extreme processor and 32GB of RAM has become one of the most dramatic examples of what industry observers are calling “RAMageddon” — a term referring to sustained inflation in gaming hardware prices driven by persistently high memory costs.

This price surge places the Legion Go S well above competing handhelds such as the Asus Xbox Ally X and the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus, which remain available at $999 and $1,049 respectively. While those devices have also seen increases, none have matched the steep climb of the Legion Go S.

The Verge reported that not every configuration of the Legion Go S has experienced the same level of increase, but all variants are now significantly more expensive than their original launch prices. Even the Windows-based models with the same Z1 Extreme chip have seen notable jumps, though the SteamOS version has drawn particular attention due to its positioning as a premium, optimized handheld for Steam library access.

Industry analysts point to ongoing constraints in the global DRAM market as a primary factor behind the pricing pressure. Memory costs have remained elevated due to production limitations, strong demand from AI and data center sectors, and limited expansion in manufacturing capacity, particularly for high-speed LPDDR5 and DDR5 modules used in premium handhelds and laptops.

Lenovo has not issued a public statement explaining the specific price increase for the Legion Go S. However, the timing aligns with broader trends in the gaming hardware space, where several companies have adjusted prices upward without corresponding upgrades in specifications.

The situation echoes a similar move earlier this month involving the Legion Go 2, Lenovo’s flagship handheld, which saw its price increase by up to $650. That model, featuring a larger screen and higher performance tier, has also been affected by the same market pressures.

For consumers, the rising cost of handheld gaming devices raises questions about accessibility and value retention. While the Legion Go S offers a compact form factor, high refresh rate display, and integration with SteamOS, its current price places it in direct competition with entry-level gaming laptops and even some console bundles.

As of now, there is no indication that prices will decline in the near term. Unless memory supply chains see significant improvement or demand shifts, handhelds like the Legion Go S are likely to remain at premium price points, potentially limiting their appeal to mainstream buyers.