The LeEco Le 2 and Le Max represented ambitious attempts to disrupt the flagship market with aggressive pricing and high-end specs. While both phones aimed for premium status, they took distinctly different approaches to achieving it, primarily through their chipset choices. This comparison dissects those choices, revealing which LeEco device delivers the best experience for different user needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the LeEco Le Max offers a more consistently powerful experience thanks to the Snapdragon 810. While the Le 2’s deca-core Helio X20 is intriguing, the Snapdragon 810’s architecture and thermal management provide a smoother, more reliable performance profile, making the Le Max the better overall choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 7, 38, 40 |
| Speed | Yes, 384 kbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, April. Released 2016, April | 2016, January. Released 2016, January |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 151.1 x 74.2 x 7.5 mm (5.95 x 2.92 x 0.30 in) | 167.1 x 83.5 x 9 mm (6.58 x 3.29 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 153 g (5.40 oz) | 204 g (7.20 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~464 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~74.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.33 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~79.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Deca-core (2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A72, 4x2 GHz Cortex-A53, 4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72) | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6797 Helio X20 (20 nm)Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T880 MP4Adreno 510 | Adreno 430 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), EUI 5.6 | Android 5.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, PDAF | 21 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.4", AF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.4µm | 4 MP, f/2.0, 1/3", 2µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 4.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C (MHL2 TV-out) |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC2, 50% in 30 min | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3400 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Rose gold, gold, silver, grey | Gold, Silver |
| Models | Le X526, Le X620, Le X520, Le X527, X526 | - |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 350 EUR |
LeEco Le 2
- Unique deca-core processor offers potential for high peak performance.
- Quick Charge 2.0 support for fast charging.
- Potentially lower price point compared to the Le Max.
- Helio X20 prone to thermal throttling and inconsistent performance.
- Complex CPU architecture may not translate to real-world benefits.
- Camera performance likely inferior to the Le Max.
LeEco Le Max
- Snapdragon 810 provides more consistent performance.
- Likely superior camera capabilities due to the ISP.
- More established chipset with better software optimization.
- Snapdragon 810 known for thermal throttling under heavy load.
- Potentially higher price point than the Le 2.
- May not offer the same peak performance as the Le 2 in specific scenarios.
Display Comparison
Unfortunately, display specifications are missing from the provided data. However, given the Le Max’s positioning as the higher-end device, it likely featured a larger and potentially higher-resolution display. Both phones likely utilized IPS LCD panels, common for the era. The Le Max, being the flagship, may have had slightly better color calibration and viewing angles. Without specific data, it's difficult to assess brightness or color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are absent, making a direct comparison challenging. However, the Le Max, as the premium model, likely featured a larger sensor and a more sophisticated image signal processor (ISP) integrated within the Snapdragon 810. This would translate to better low-light performance and dynamic range. The Le 2’s ISP, while capable, would be limited by the Helio X20’s capabilities. Without knowing the megapixel counts or lens apertures, it’s impossible to definitively declare a winner, but the Le Max’s chipset suggests a superior camera experience.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The LeEco Le Max’s Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20nm) utilizes an octa-core configuration with 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57 and 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. This architecture, while powerful, was known for thermal throttling under sustained load. The LeEco Le 2, conversely, employs the MediaTek MT6797 Helio X20 (20nm) with a deca-core setup: 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A72, 4x2 GHz Cortex-A53, and 4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53. The Helio X20’s complexity aims for peak performance, but its power consumption and heat generation can be significant. The Snapdragon 810’s more mature architecture generally provides more consistent performance, even if it’s capped by thermal limits. The Le 2’s heterogeneous core design *could* offer efficiency gains in lighter tasks, but the Le Max’s GPU is likely superior for graphics-intensive applications.
Battery Life
Both devices share the same 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 2.0 support, offering a 50% charge in 30 minutes. Without knowing the battery capacities, it’s difficult to assess real-world battery life. However, the Snapdragon 810, despite its thermal issues, is built on a 20nm process, potentially offering slightly better power efficiency than the Helio X20’s 20nm process, especially under sustained load. The Le Max’s more efficient chipset could translate to longer screen-on time, even with a similar battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the LeEco Le 2 if you prioritize a potentially lower price point and are willing to accept some performance variability in exchange for a more complex CPU configuration. This phone might appeal to users who enjoy tinkering and benchmarking. Buy the LeEco Le Max if you value consistent performance, especially for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and prefer a more established chipset architecture from Qualcomm.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the LeEco Le 2's deca-core processor actually faster than the Snapdragon 810 in real-world use?
While the LeEco Le 2 boasts a deca-core processor, the Snapdragon 810 in the Le Max generally delivers a more consistent and smoother experience. The Helio X20's complex architecture can lead to thermal throttling, reducing sustained performance. Benchmarks may show the Le 2 winning in short bursts, but the Le Max excels in prolonged tasks like gaming.
❓ Does the Snapdragon 810 in the LeEco Le Max overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 810 is known to be prone to thermal throttling. While the LeEco Le Max likely has thermal management solutions, you may experience performance drops during extended gaming. Expect frame rate dips and potential slowdowns after prolonged use. The Le 2 may also throttle, but its thermal profile is different due to the different chipset.
❓ Which phone is better for watching videos and streaming content?
Without display specifications, it's hard to say definitively. However, the Le Max likely has a slightly better display due to its flagship status. The Snapdragon 810's video decoding capabilities are also excellent, ensuring smooth playback of high-resolution content. Both phones should provide a good viewing experience, but the Le Max has a slight edge.
