The LeEco Le Max 2, a 2016 flagship powered by the Snapdragon 820, represents a bygone era of aggressive pricing from Chinese manufacturers. The Tecno Camon 16 Premier, released several years later, aims for a different segment – offering a feature-rich experience at a competitive mid-range price point. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses, revealing which device offers the best value in 2024.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and fast charging, the Tecno Camon 16 Premier is the clear winner. While the LeEco Le Max 2 boasts a capable Snapdragon 820, its significantly shorter battery endurance and slower charging speeds make it less practical for modern usage. The Camon 16 Premier offers a more balanced and convenient experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - X821 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 38, 39, 40, 41 - X821 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, April. Released 2016, May | 2020, September 04. Released 2020, September 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 156.8 x 77.6 x 8 mm (6.17 x 3.06 x 0.31 in) | 170.6 x 77.2 x 9.1 mm (6.72 x 3.04 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 210 g (7.41 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~392 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 89.6 cm2 (~73.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.85 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz, HDR10+, 480 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm) | Mediatek MT6785 Helio G90T (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Mali-G76 MC4 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), eUI 5.6 | Android 10, HIOS 6.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Penta-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP, f/2.4, (dedicated video camera)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 21 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.4", PDAF, OIS | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 48 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm
8 MP, f/2.2, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Features | - | Dual-LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2 | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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 |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC2 | 33W wired, 70% in 30 min (International)
18W wired (India) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3100 mAh, non-removable | 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Rose gold, gold, silver, gray | Glacial Silver |
| Models | Le X821, Le X829, Le X820, LEX820, LEX821, LEX829 | CE9, CD6j |
| Price | About 350 EUR | About 230 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.25 W/kg (head) 0.88 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.1dB / Crosstalk -85.5dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 67h
| Endurance rating 118h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1444:1 (nominal), 2.567 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1896:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 74dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 77dB
|
-28.1 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 2063Basemark X: 33874 |
AnTuTu: 283847 (v8)
GeekBench: 6692 (v4.4), 1672 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LeEco Le Max 2
- Potentially faster single-core performance (Snapdragon 820)
- Impressive sunlight contrast ratio (2.567)
- Flagship build quality for its time
- Significantly shorter battery life (67h endurance)
- Slow 18W charging
- Older software and potentially limited updates
Tecno Camon 16 Premier
- Excellent battery life (118h endurance)
- Fast 33W charging (70% in 30 min)
- More modern chipset (Helio G90T)
- Potentially lower single-core performance
- Contrast ratio, while good, isn't class-leading
- May include bloatware
Display Comparison
The Tecno Camon 16 Premier’s display boasts a higher contrast ratio of 1896:1 compared to the LeEco Le Max 2’s 1444:1, suggesting deeper blacks and a more vibrant image. While the Le Max 2’s sunlight contrast ratio of 2.567 is impressive, the Camon 16 Premier’s 400 nits maximum brightness (measured) provides good visibility in outdoor conditions. Both displays lack high refresh rates, a common omission in this price bracket during their respective release windows. The LeEco's display tech is unknown, but the Camon 16 Premier's contrast ratio suggests a well-tuned panel.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Tecno Camon 16 Premier, being a more recent device, likely benefits from improved image processing algorithms and potentially better low-light performance. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the Camon 16 Premier is unlikely to significantly impact image quality, serving primarily as a marketing feature. The LeEco's camera performance is largely dependent on its software processing, which is now several years old.
Performance
The LeEco Le Max 2’s Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820, a quad-core processor built on a 14nm process, was a flagship chip in its time. However, the Tecno Camon 16 Premier’s MediaTek MT6785 Helio G90T, an octa-core processor on a 12nm node, offers a more modern architecture. The G90T’s Cortex-A76 cores provide a performance boost in multi-threaded tasks, while the A55 cores handle background processes efficiently. While the Snapdragon 820 may still hold an edge in single-core performance, the G90T’s superior thermal efficiency and modern architecture make it a more consistent performer under sustained load. The LeEco's older architecture is more prone to throttling.
Battery Life
The Tecno Camon 16 Premier dominates in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 118 hours compared to the LeEco Le Max 2’s 67 hours. This substantial difference is due to a combination of the more efficient Helio G90T chipset and potentially a larger battery capacity (unspecified). Furthermore, the Camon 16 Premier supports 33W wired charging, capable of reaching 70% charge in 30 minutes (International version), while the LeEco Le Max 2 is limited to 18W with QC2. The faster charging significantly reduces downtime, making the Camon 16 Premier more convenient for daily use. The LeEco's slower charging is a significant drawback.
Buying Guide
Buy the LeEco Le Max 2 if you prioritize a potentially faster processor for older, less demanding applications and are comfortable with managing battery life and slower charging. Buy the Tecno Camon 16 Premier if you value all-day battery life, significantly faster charging, and a more modern feature set, even if it means a slight performance trade-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Helio G90T in the Tecno Camon 16 Premier overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Helio G90T is known for its decent thermal management, but it can get warm during extended gaming. However, its 12nm process is more efficient than the Snapdragon 820’s 14nm, reducing the likelihood of significant throttling. Tecno likely implemented thermal throttling mechanisms to maintain stable performance.
❓ Is the LeEco Le Max 2 still a viable option for everyday use in 2024, considering its age?
While the Snapdragon 820 remains capable for basic tasks, the LeEco Le Max 2’s age presents challenges. Limited software updates, potential battery degradation, and slower charging speeds make it less practical for modern usage. The Tecno Camon 16 Premier offers a more reliable and convenient experience.
❓ What type of charging protocol does the LeEco Le Max 2 support, and how does it compare to the Tecno Camon 16 Premier?
The LeEco Le Max 2 supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 (QC2), offering 18W charging. The Tecno Camon 16 Premier supports 33W charging (International version), which is significantly faster, reaching 70% in 30 minutes. India receives an 18W version of the Camon 16 Premier, but still faster than the LeEco.
