Lenovo Legion Duel 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: A Deep Dive for Power Users

The Lenovo Legion Duel 2 and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra represent divergent approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The Legion Duel 2 is unapologetically focused on mobile gaming, prioritizing performance and cooling, while the S22 Ultra aims for a more balanced, premium experience with a focus on camera versatility and productivity. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For dedicated mobile gamers, the Lenovo Legion Duel 2 offers a superior experience thanks to its optimized cooling, faster charging, and gaming-centric features. However, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra wins for users prioritizing camera quality, a more refined software experience, and broader everyday functionality.

PHONES
Phone Names Lenovo Legion Duel 2 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 431, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2021, April 082022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, May 10Available. Released 2022, February 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions176 x 78.5 x 9.9 mm (6.93 x 3.09 x 0.39 in)163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight259 g (9.14 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 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)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 660Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 11, ZUI 12.5Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.32", 1.0µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec.8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 44 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.65", 1.0µm, AF40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBTwo USB Type-C (2.0 & 3.1), OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging90W wired (dual USB-C ports), 50% in 12 min, 100% in 30 min 65W wired (single USB-C port)45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5500 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsTitanium White, Ultimate BlackPhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue, Bora Purple
Models-SM-S908B, SM-S908B/DS, SM-S908U, SM-S908U1, SM-S908W, SM-S908N, SM-S9080, SM-S908E, SM-S908E/DS
PriceAbout 800 EUR€ 397.07 / $ 269.98 / £ 304.99 / ₹ 63,899
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.05 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 108h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker--27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 968359 (v9) GeekBench: 3657 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Lenovo Legion Duel 2

  • Unmatched gaming performance with active cooling
  • Extremely fast 90W charging
  • Dedicated gaming triggers for enhanced control

  • Bulky and unconventional design
  • Camera system likely inferior to the S22 Ultra
  • Limited software support compared to Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

  • Versatile and high-quality camera system
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • S Pen integration for productivity

  • Slower charging speeds compared to the Legion Duel 2
  • Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Exynos variant may exhibit lower performance than Snapdragon

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 1266 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Legion Duel 2’s display specs aren’t provided, its focus isn’t on peak brightness but likely on refresh rate and responsiveness for gaming. The S22 Ultra’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior viewing experience for media consumption. The S22 Ultra’s display is also likely LTPO, allowing for variable refresh rates to conserve battery, a feature not confirmed for the Legion Duel 2.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the clear winner in camera capabilities. While both phones offer photo/video functionality, the S22 Ultra’s camera system is renowned for its versatility and image quality. Details on the Legion Duel 2’s camera are scarce, suggesting it’s not a primary focus. The S22 Ultra likely features a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms, resulting in superior low-light performance and dynamic range. The S22 Ultra’s camera system is designed for a wider range of shooting scenarios, including telephoto zoom capabilities not expected on the Legion Duel 2.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Legion Duel 2 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm), while the S22 Ultra ships with either the Exynos 2200 (4nm - Europe) or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm - ROW). The 4nm process node of the Exynos 2200/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers improved power efficiency compared to the 5nm Snapdragon 888, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. However, the Legion Duel 2’s active cooling system, including its internal fan, is designed to mitigate throttling, potentially offsetting the process node advantage. The S22 Ultra’s Cortex-X2 core (2.8GHz/3.0GHz) is a newer architecture than the Legion Duel 2’s Cortex-X1 (2.84GHz), promising incremental performance gains. The S22 Ultra also benefits from potentially faster LPDDR5X RAM, further enhancing performance.

Battery Life

Both devices have an endurance rating of 108 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing approaches. The Legion Duel 2 compensates for a potentially smaller battery capacity with its incredibly fast 90W wired charging (dual USB-C), achieving 50% charge in 12 minutes and 100% in 30 minutes. The S22 Ultra’s 45W wired charging, while still fast, is significantly slower. The S22 Ultra adds the convenience of 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Legion Duel 2. The Legion Duel 2’s dual USB-C ports also offer flexibility for charging while gaming.

Buying Guide

Buy the Lenovo Legion Duel 2 if you need uncompromising gaming performance, extended play sessions without throttling, and the convenience of dedicated gaming triggers. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra if you prefer a versatile flagship with a class-leading camera system, S Pen integration, and a more polished, all-around smartphone experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 in the S22 Ultra suffer from overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2200 has been reported to run hotter than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, potentially leading to thermal throttling during extended gaming. However, Samsung's software optimizations and the S22 Ultra's vapor chamber cooling system mitigate this issue to some extent. The Legion Duel 2, with its dedicated fan, is still likely to maintain more consistent performance under heavy load.
❓ Are the shoulder triggers on the Legion Duel 2 customizable for different games?
Yes, the Legion Duel 2’s shoulder triggers are highly customizable. Users can map them to specific on-screen actions within games, providing a console-like gaming experience. The level of customization allows for tailored control schemes for various game genres.
❓ How does the single USB-C port on the S22 Ultra impact gaming while charging?
The S22 Ultra's single USB-C port can limit gaming while charging, as it shares bandwidth between power delivery and data transfer. This may result in reduced charging speed or potential performance limitations during demanding games. The Legion Duel 2’s dual USB-C ports allow for simultaneous charging and gaming without compromise.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the S22 Ultra worth considering for everyday photography?
While present, the 2MP macro camera on the S22 Ultra is generally considered a secondary feature. Its image quality is limited by the small sensor size. The S22 Ultra’s primary camera and telephoto lenses offer far superior image quality and versatility for most photography scenarios.