Lenovo Restructures Its Approach to Gaming Portfolio
Lenovo, the Chinese multinational technology company, has announced that it is discontinuing its Android-based Legion mobile gaming phones as part of a wider business transformation and gaming portfolio consolidation. This move comes after Lenovo confirmed that it will be stopping its current gaming phone efforts, restructuring its approach to its “gaming portfolio.”
Lenovo’s Commitment to Advancing Gaming Category across Form Factors
Lenovo has stated that it remains committed to advancing the gaming category across form factors while focusing on where it can bring the most value to the global gaming community. Although Lenovo has discontinued its Legion brand gaming phones, new gaming hardware from the company can be expected.
Lenovo’s Legion Phone Duel 2 and Focus on Cooling System
Among the Lenovo Legion phones, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 was the most extreme version of the gaming smartphone idea. It had a powerful cooling system, touch-sensitive buttons replicating console controllers, and two USB-C ports. Lenovo focused on cooling since there are no “better than flagship” parts for smartphones, and the Duel 2 had the same Snapdragon 888 SoC as every other flagship device but could run without throttling.
Uncertainty in Market for Gaming Smartphones
Android games are mostly casual pay-to-win tap fests, making the market for gaming smartphones unclear. With no game really pushing mobile hardware right now, there are no reasons why gamers should invest in a high-end phone designed for games only.
Other Solid Choices for Mobile Gamers
With Legion phones out of the picture, there are only three solid device lines for mobile gamers to choose from: Asus ROG Phone devices, the Nubia RedMagic lineup, and Xiaomi Black Shark series. Other gaming phone brands like Red Magic, ASUS ROG Phone, and Black Shark are expected to launch new gaming phones soon.
Lenovo’s Innovative Gaming Phones Will Be Missed
Lenovo’s Legion gaming phones were always on the more inventive side when it came to shaking up mobile gaming hardware, so their absence in the industry will certainly be felt. Despite not being as successful as some other brands like ROG and Red Magic, Lenovo has managed to create a dedicated fan base.
Gaming Phone Industry Still Has Room for Innovation
Even though gaming phones have become less relevant as their hardware is pretty much equal to regular smartphones and their extras like physical triggers, higher refresh rates, and cooling systems are the only real difference, the gaming phone industry still has room for innovation. Lenovo discontinuing its Legion brand gaming phones may just provide a gap that another company can fill with new ideas and technologies.
In conclusion, Lenovo’s discontinuation of its Legion brand gaming phones is a significant move in the gaming phone industry. While the market for gaming smartphones remains uncertain, there is still potential for innovation in this category. With Lenovo focusing on where it can bring the most value to the global gaming community, it will be exciting to see what new gaming hardware they will come up with next.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
