Lenovo announced its first gaming phones, the Legion Pro and Legion Duel, in 2020. The first device stood out for its high-end specs, gaming aesthetics, and dual USB-C charging ports. They’re unlike anything we’ve seen before and quickly caught the attention of gamers and enthusiasts alike. It wasn’t enough, and Lenovo eventually announced that it was discontinuing the gaming smartphone business altogether.
This news comes as no surprise, given that we’ve heard rumors that Lenovo will be shutting down its gaming smartphone business for a while. On March 29, 2023, the company announced that it was closing its gaming business, pledging to explore different form factors to support gamers.
A Lenovo spokesperson said, android authority The company discontinued its gaming smartphone business:
“Lenovo is retiring its Android-based Legion mobile gaming phone as part of a broader business transformation and consolidation of its gaming portfolio. As a leader in gaming devices and solutions, Lenovo is committed to advancing the gaming category across form factors. We are committed and focused on where we can bring the most value to the global gaming community.”
Here’s a look at three plausible explanations that may have led to the eventual closure of Lenovo’s gaming phone division. I’ll see what
Lenovo failed to build momentum outside of China
Lenovo Legion Duel from 2020
Lenovo entered the gaming smartphone market at a very difficult time, with most companies facing shortages or closures due to the raging pandemic. Despite the recession and difficulties, Lenovo seems to have had some success with his first Lenovo Legion Pro and Duel smartphones. The company announced his successor a year after him.
However, the gaming phone failed to gain traction in Europe and other major markets and never really took off. We don’t know Lenovo’s sales and shipment numbers, but the company appeared to be doing well in its home country of China.
Lenovo has failed to establish itself as a major gaming phone player in the industry, and it has often been difficult to find its devices on the shelves of the European and North American markets where they were supposed to go. Gamers often had to import their devices, incurring additional taxes and other legal fees, making mobile phones more expensive.
competition made things harder
The current gaming smartphone market is dominated by three big players. Asus and its ROG lineup, nubia’s REDMAGIC gaming phone, and Xiaomi-backed BlackShark. It’s very competitive and hard to get into, but Lenovo seemed to have it all figured out with the first few devices.
Initially, Legion phones had most of the features gamers wanted. The phone featured flashy RGB colors in the form of a rear display, two USB-C charging ports capable of extreme charging speeds, the latest high-end Snapdragon SoC, and software features to enhance the gaming experience. .
In the end, Lenovo removed most features in favor of a more classic design. The Lenovo Legion Y70 looked like a standard smartphone and didn’t stand out. The phone was also confined to the Chinese market and never made it out of the country.
It all comes down to ever-increasing costs
As restrictions began to ease, demand began to rise, making parts and other components harder and more expensive to manufacture. There are additional tariffs, which are ultimately passed on to the customer. This may have made it more difficult for Lenovo to sell the device at a fair price while maintaining healthy profit margins.
An unknown phone lineup and low demand may have contributed to Lenovo’s decision not to release its latest gaming phone to a wider audience. was not released on the market.
What’s next for Lenovo?
Source: Motorola
It’s hard to predict what a giant like Lenovo will come up with next, but we can assume it will likely focus on growing business products. The company recently unveiled its first ThinkPhone by Motorola. It offers seamless integration with ThinkPads and other his Lenovo products.
The company also acquired Motorola some time ago, and has been focusing on affordable, budget-conscious devices ever since. Motorola has tried to re-enter the market with some flagship devices. Still, it couldn’t compete with the likes of Google, Samsung, and Apple, which currently dominate the North American market. That said, Motorola still holds up and we expect to continue investing in developing more budget and affordable mid-rangers in the future.
Check out these powerful gaming phones
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Red Magic 8 Pro
The nubia REDMAGIC 8 Pro is one of the best and fastest gaming smartphones on the market in 2023. Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, up to 16GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. Responsive shoulder triggers, RGB lights, and even a 20,000 RPM fan keep you cool. If you’re looking for a top-performing device that makes it easy to play the games you love, REDMAGIC 8 Pro is for you.
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black shark 5 pro
The Black Shark 5 Pro is affordable and powerful, with physical shoulder trigger buttons for more comfortable and enjoyable gameplay. It supports 120W fast charging and has a decent camera on the back.
