With the Xbox Ally exactly one month away, Lenovo kills Legion Go 2 preorders over shipping date debacle — seemingly misjudging demand

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The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is here, and it’s not cheap.

I’ve gone through a lot of gaming handhelds lately, and honestly, the Lenovo Legion Go is my favorite. I’ve tested out the ASUS ROG Ally, I’ve got a Steam Deck, and I’ve even experimented with some of the more niche brands like GPD. But no matter what I try, I always find myself coming back to the Legion Go. It just feels right for me.

For me, the biggest advantage is the large screen. Most PC and console games are designed for bigger displays, so things like menus and text can be difficult to see on the smaller screens of devices like the ASUS ROG Ally, Xbox Ally/X, and Steam Deck. It’s especially true if you have trouble seeing, like I do.

I really missed having a variable refresh rate (VRR) display, and I’m glad the Lenovo Legion Go includes it – especially since the ASUS ROG Ally and the new Xbox handheld don’t. The Legion Go’s built-in kickstand is also incredibly useful, as I often use it for work and entertainment while traveling – it even works well as a lightweight laptop replacement.

The pre-order process for the Lenovo Legion Go 2 has been a complete mess, and there are several reasons why.

I was happy to see the Lenovo Legion Go 2 available for preorder, but the price gave me pause.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is a high-end device, costing up to $1350. It boasts impressive features like a VRR OLED screen, detachable controllers, and a trackpad. The high price is likely due to these premium components and import tariffs. I’m planning to buy one as a treat for myself – even if it’s not the most sensible financial choice – and I’ll be sharing comparison videos with the Xbox Ally and Series X in the future.

Or at least … I would try to treat myself (and make bad financial decisions).

The pre-order process for the Lenovo Legion Go 2 has been a complete mess, and there are several reasons why.

From sticker shock to shipping shock

Last week, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 became available for preorder in several countries, including the US, UK, and across the European Union. I purchased the 1TB Z2 Extreme version for £1099 (about $1500 USD), which is significantly more expensive than the price in the United States, even without considering import taxes.

But hey, the UK typically gets screwed on pricing, so I wasn’t entirely shocked.

I was surprised by how quickly the delivery date changed. When I first preordered, Lenovo said it would ship today, September 16, 2025. But the date unexpectedly moved to October 24, 2025 – over a month later. Interestingly, Lenovo initially held the payment for the order, but then released it.

It turns out I’m not alone.

People on the Legion Go subreddit and Facebook groups are frustrated by the limited updates and the fact that there haven’t been enough devices available to buy.

Canceled my Legion Go 2 preorder, disappointed by the communication from r/LegionGo

Many customers are upset with Lenovo, claiming the company advertised immediate shipping dates but then delayed orders. It appears Lenovo underestimated the demand and didn’t have enough products in stock.

It’s not surprising to hear about potential supply issues with the Lenovo Legion Go 2. Lenovo recently mentioned it was designed for a niche market, and they may have underestimated how popular it would be, particularly with the upcoming Xbox Ally X offering similar features at a lower price.

The lack of preorders for the Xbox Ally from Microsoft and ASUS likely contributed to Lenovo’s early success. Potential buyers who were waiting for the Xbox version may have chosen Lenovo instead. However, Lenovo seems to have rushed its launch, and hasn’t communicated much information about the device so far.

I contacted Lenovo support about getting a confirmed shipping date, and they said they would look into it for me. However, I haven’t received an update, and it seems like many other people on the Lenovo Legion Go subreddit and Facebook groups are experiencing the same issue.

As an analyst, I can’t help but feel Lenovo’s quick launch of preorders seems strategically timed. It feels like they’re trying to get ahead of the potential competition from the Xbox handheld – specifically the Ally and Ally X – before ASUS or Microsoft officially announce pricing, which is still up in the air.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is now listed as “coming soon”

My order still shows a shipping date of October 24, 2025, along with other dates, but Lenovo has removed the pre-order page, probably because of high demand. It’s obvious they weren’t ready for so much interest, and it’s frustrating not to have received any updates.

Microsoft and ASUS plan to release the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X on October 16th, but haven’t announced pricing or when pre-orders will begin. With strong interest in the expensive Lenovo Legion Go 2, it’s possible Microsoft and ASUS are underestimating how much demand there will be for their devices as well.

As a gamer, I’ve always known companies like Microsoft and PlayStation make most of their money from game sales and online services. But it’s different for companies that *just* make the consoles themselves, like ASUS or Lenovo. They depend entirely on actually *selling* the hardware. It’s a really tough spot for them because if they make too many and they don’t sell, those unsold consoles just sit there and eat into their already small profits. They really can’t afford to be stuck with a bunch of extra stock!

Comment from r/LegionGo

Lenovo and ASUS aren’t profiting much from the software and services that come with their devices. Because they don’t consistently sell these devices throughout their lifespan like Microsoft or Sony, carefully managing inventory is especially important for them.

The lack of updates about when things would ship, and the inaccurate prediction of how many people wanted the device, were unacceptable. It makes you question if Xbox and ASUS are making the same mistakes with the upcoming Xbox Ally, scheduled to launch around October 16, 2025. While these devices appeal to a specific audience, this is already the second version of the hardware. People who waited for an improved model are now eager to buy, and the popularity of devices like the Xbox Ally and Steam Deck has definitely increased interest in this type of product.

Let’s hope Microsoft and ASUS are learning from Lenovo’s current problems and taking steps to prevent the same issues from happening to them before next month.

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2025-09-16 22:10