Lenovo Legion Duel 2 vs Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most gamers, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset provides a significant performance uplift over the Legion Duel 2’s Snapdragon 888, and the 120W charging dramatically reduces downtime. While the Duel 2’s cooling is impressive, the Black Shark 5 Pro offers a more balanced package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Lenovo Legion Duel 2 | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 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, 2, 3, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 08 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 10 | 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, ZUI 12.5 | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB 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 | - | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | About 800 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 Duel 2
- Unique dual-screen design for multitasking
- Aggressive active cooling system
- 90W fast charging (with dual USB-C)
- Older Snapdragon 888 chipset
- Bulky and unconventional design
- Limited camera details
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
- Ultra-fast 120W charging
- More conventional and streamlined design
- Potential for thermal throttling (though mitigated by 4nm process)
- No secondary screen for multitasking
- Limited camera details
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 682 nits, offering a visibly brighter image than we’d expect from the Legion Duel 2 (brightness data unavailable). Both devices feature infinite (nominal) contrast ratios typical of AMOLED panels. However, the Legion Duel 2’s inclusion of a secondary screen provides a unique advantage for multitasking during gaming, allowing for chat windows or performance monitoring without interrupting gameplay. The Black Shark 5 Pro’s display is likely to offer a more standard, but still excellent, viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but neither is a primary focus. Detailed camera specs are limited in the provided data. Given the gaming focus, camera quality is likely similar, prioritizing functionality over flagship-level image processing. The absence of specific sensor details makes a direct comparison difficult, but users shouldn’t expect professional-grade photography from either device. The Black Shark 5 Pro may benefit from newer image signal processing capabilities inherent in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Legion Duel 2 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) while the Black Shark 5 Pro features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm). The 8 Gen 1’s Cortex-X2 core, clocked at 3.00 GHz, represents a substantial architectural improvement over the 888’s Cortex-X1 (2.84 GHz). This translates to faster processing speeds and improved efficiency. While both phones utilize LPDDR5 RAM, the 4nm process of the 8 Gen 1 should result in better thermal management, potentially reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Legion Duel 2’s active cooling system attempts to mitigate the 888’s thermal limitations, but the Black Shark 5 Pro’s more efficient chipset offers a more sustainable performance advantage.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 83 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing charging speeds. However, the Black Shark 5 Pro’s 120W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving a full charge in just 15 minutes. The Legion Duel 2, with 90W (dual USB-C) or 65W (single USB-C) charging, takes 30 minutes for a full charge. This difference in charging speed significantly reduces downtime for gamers, making the Black Shark 5 Pro more convenient for frequent use.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lenovo Legion Duel 2 if you prioritize a truly unique gaming experience with a secondary screen for multitasking and streaming, and if you value a robust cooling system even at the cost of slightly older processing power. Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro if you demand the latest performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, need incredibly fast 120W charging, and prefer a more streamlined, conventional gaming phone design.