Ryan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Several models of Lenovo Android tablets in the US have quietly increased in price on the company’s official website.
- Price increases are mostly between $30 and $70, and Lenovo hasn’t provided an official explanation.
- Rising RAM costs affecting the whole tech industry may be a factor.
Lenovo has carved out a nice niche for itself over the years with Android tablets that punch above their price. If you’ve ever gone looking for a solid iPad alternative without spending big money, there’s a good chance you’ve come across one of its devices. But they may not look quite so appealing on your next search, as a number of Lenovo’s tablets have quietly gone up in price in the US.
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As spotted by PhoneArena, several models on Lenovo’s official US store now carry higher list prices than before, with no obvious explanation from the company. The increases affect a wide range of devices, from budget options to more premium picks.
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Some of the more noticeable changes include the Lenovo Idea Tab jumping from $229.99 to $289.99, the Idea Tab Plus going from $299.99 to $329.99, and the Yoga Tab climbing from $549.99 to $619.99. Even entry-level models like the Tab One have crept up, rising from $149.99 to $179.99. In most cases, that’s an increase of around $30 to $70.
Lenovo’s appeal has rarely been about its list prices alone — it’s the regular discounts that made these tablets feel like bargains. But if those discounts are applied to higher starting prices going forward, the overall value equation starts to look a bit different. Ironically, our best Android tablets rundown has the Lenovo Tab Plus as the best option under $300. Given that it’s just been hiked from $299.99 to $329.99, it won’t be able to retain that title if the price increase persists.
There’s no official word on what’s behind the increases, but PhoneArena suggests rising memory costs could be a factor. That’s not an unreasonable guess given broader industry trends, with RAM prices affecting everything from phones to Android handhelds. Still, it’s speculation at this point.
Whether these new prices stick is another question. If you’ve been eyeing one of these tablets, you might want to keep a closer eye on pricing before hitting the buy button, or hold out a few months for the Amazon Prime Day sales.
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