Lenovo Legion 2 Pro vs Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most gamers, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset provides a noticeable performance uplift, and the 120W charging is a game-changer, fully replenishing the battery in just 15 minutes. While the Legion 2 Pro offers a refined experience, the Black Shark 5 Pro’s raw power and charging speed are hard to ignore.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Lenovo Legion 2 Pro | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 08 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 26 | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 176 x 78.5 x 9.9 mm (6.93 x 3.09 x 0.39 in) | 163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 259 g (9.14 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| Built-in two cooling fans RGB light panel (on the back) 6 pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers): 4 ultrasonic buttons (top), 2 capacitive sliding buttons (back) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 11, Legion OS | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.32", 1.0µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto macro), AF |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec. | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 44 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.65", 1.0µm, AF | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Two USB Type-C (2.0 & 3.1), OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 90W wired (dual USB-C ports), 50% in 12 min, 100% in 30 min 65W wired (single USB-C port) | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5500 mAh | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Titanium White, Ultimate Black | Black, White |
| Models | L70081 | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | About 880 EUR | About 720 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9) GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1) GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Lenovo Legion 2 Pro
- Mature gaming phone design
- 90W fast charging (with dual USB-C)
- Potentially better sustained performance due to thermal design
- Older Snapdragon 888 chipset
- Slower charging compared to Black Shark 5 Pro
- Less detailed display specifications
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
- Blazing-fast 120W charging (15 minutes to full)
- Brighter display (682 nits)
- Potential for thermal throttling with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Newer platform may have initial software quirks
- Camera is not a primary strength
Display Comparison
Both devices are geared towards immersive gaming, but differ in their approach. The Black Shark 5 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 682 nits, suggesting a brighter image in direct sunlight compared to the Legion 2 Pro (brightness data unavailable). While both likely utilize high refresh rate panels, the Black Shark 5 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a superior OLED panel capable of deeper blacks. The Legion 2 Pro’s display specifications are less detailed, making a direct comparison challenging, but its focus is likely on color accuracy for a more visually balanced experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature photo/video capabilities, but neither is a primary focus. Detailed camera specs are limited, but the emphasis is clearly on gaming. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. The Legion 2 Pro’s camera system is likely tuned for general use, while the Black Shark 5 Pro may prioritize speed and convenience for quick social media uploads. The presence of a camera is more about functionality than photographic excellence on both devices.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) represents a significant leap over the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm). The 4nm process node inherently offers better thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Black Shark 5 Pro’s CPU features the newer Cortex-X2 core clocked at 3.00 GHz, compared to the Legion 2 Pro’s Cortex-X1 at 2.84 GHz, promising faster single-core performance. While both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, the Black Shark 5 Pro’s superior chipset will likely translate to higher sustained frame rates and smoother gameplay.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 83 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing charging capabilities. However, the Black Shark 5 Pro’s 120W charging is a massive advantage, achieving a full charge in just 15 minutes. The Legion 2 Pro’s 90W (dual USB-C) or 65W (single USB-C) charging, while still fast, takes 30 minutes for a full charge. This difference is crucial for gamers who need to quickly get back into the action.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro if you prioritize sustained performance over peak speeds and value a more established, refined gaming experience. Its 90W charging is still fast, and the Snapdragon 888 remains capable. Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro if you demand the absolute fastest performance, need the quickest possible charging, and want the latest Snapdragon technology. It’s the choice for gamers who always want to be on the cutting edge.