Lenovo is going through a transformation and consolidating its gaming portfolio, as the Chinese tech giant announced that it will no longer invest in mobile gaming phones. Lenovo’s last gaming phone, Legion Y70, did not sell well, leading to this decision.
Gaming Smartphones Remain a Niche
Gaming smartphones have grown in popularity over the past few years, but they remain a niche segment in the larger smartphone market. Despite Lenovo’s exit from gaming phones, ASUS is still holding the segment alive with its ROG phones. The ASUS ROG 6 Pro, released in November 2021, received positive reviews.
Lenovo’s Legion Smartphone Business Shuts Down
Lenovo confirmed that it was pulling the plug on its Legion gaming smartphones as part of a wider business transformation and gaming portfolio consolidation. Lenovo has released two gaming-focused Legion devices to date, but rumors and leaks have been non-existent regarding a 2023 follow-up. None of Lenovo’s Legion-branded devices were sold in the United States, instead mostly focusing on markets in Asia.
Lenovo first introduced Legion smartphones in 2020 with the original Legion offering an impressive package for mobile gaming, including a 144Hz display, two haptic motors, and RGB lighting effects. The second Legion, the Duel 2, launched in the first half of 2021 with a new landscape-mounted pop-up camera and updated specs and a new design. However, neither model managed to make significant waves among gamers.
Unclear Support for Existing Models
It is unclear whether or not Lenovo’s “wider business transformation and gaming portfolio consolidation” affects the company’s Legion lineup of gaming laptops. However, it is unknown if continued support will be offered for existing models.
Samsung’s Potential Entry into Gaming Phone Market
Samsung has never created a dedicated gaming phone and does not seem interested in filling the gap left by Lenovo. Instead, Samsung seems to understand that the market potential for dedicated gaming phones is limited and has focused on improving performance on its flagship phones.
Samsung has partnered with Qualcomm to improve performance on its Galaxy S23 series and is working on a new version of its Game Launcher. Despite the potential for Samsung to create a true gaming phone with Qualcomm’s help, and recent efforts to bring ray tracing to mobile games, it is unlikely given the limited market potential.
Xiaomi’s Gaming Line Facing Difficulties
Xiaomi’s gaming line is also facing difficulties, while the ASUS ROG Phone series seems to be more popular. However, there is still a market for powerful gaming devices, as evidenced by the popularity of smartphones like the ASUS ROG Phone 6 Pro.
In conclusion, Lenovo’s exit from the gaming phone market shows how challenging it is for companies to succeed in this niche segment. Despite the potential for specialized features like higher refresh rates and better haptic feedback, most mobile gamers prefer buying a regular high-end smartphone they can also use for gaming. Therefore, Lenovo’s decision to discontinue its Android-based Legion mobile gaming phones could mark a larger shift in the mobile gaming market as other manufacturers may choose a similar path.
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