Lenovo Legion Duel vs. Apple iPhone 11: A Clash of Priorities

The Lenovo Legion Duel and Apple iPhone 11 represent vastly different philosophies in smartphone design. The Legion Duel, released as a dedicated gaming device, prioritizes raw performance and cooling, while the iPhone 11, though now older, remains a popular choice for its balance of features, ecosystem integration, and increasingly attractive price point. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For dedicated mobile gamers, the Lenovo Legion Duel is the clear winner, offering significantly more processing power and faster charging. However, the iPhone 11 provides a more refined user experience, a superior camera system, and a lower entry price, making it the better choice for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names Lenovo Legion Duel Apple iPhone 11
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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2221
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat15 800/210 Mbps, 5G 2.5 Gbps DLHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2111, A2223
Launch
Announced2020, July 22. Released 2020, October 152019, September 10
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2019, September 20
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series)
Dimensions169.2 x 78.5 x 9.9 mm (6.66 x 3.09 x 0.39 in)150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight239 g (8.43 oz)194 g (6.84 oz)
 Water-repellent coatingIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.09 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+)Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 10, Legion OS/ ZUI12iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 UFS 3.1NVMe
Main Camera
Dual64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide)12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"
FeaturesDual-LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Video4K@30fps gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/3.1", 0.9µm12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging65W wired, (128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM models) 90W wired, 50% in 10 min, 100% in 30 min (512GB 16GB RAM model)Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh)
Misc
ColorsVengeance Red, Blazing BlueBlack, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, White
Models-A2221, A2111, A2223, iPhone12,1
PriceAbout 510 EUR$ 167.50 / C$ 228.68 / £ 175.00 / € 193.32
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.95 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 4GB RAM-$ 359.95
256GB 4GB RAM-$ 469.99
64GB 4GB RAM-$ 292.79
RENEWED-£ 214.00
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -80.8dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 94h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 76dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 419453 (v7) GeekBench: 13882 (v4.4) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Lenovo Legion Duel

  • Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 865 5G+
  • Significantly faster charging speeds (65W/90W)
  • Larger RAM capacity (12GB/16GB) for smoother multitasking

  • Likely bulkier and less refined design
  • Camera likely not as strong as the iPhone 11

Apple iPhone 11

  • Polished user experience and seamless ecosystem integration
  • Excellent camera system for photos and videos
  • More compact and portable design

  • Less powerful processor for demanding games
  • Slower charging speeds compared to the Legion Duel

Display Comparison

The iPhone 11 boasts a 6.1-inch LCD with a measured peak brightness of 644 nits and a 1505:1 contrast ratio. While respectable, this pales in comparison to the Legion Duel’s likely higher refresh rate (though unspecified in the data) and larger display, geared towards immersive gaming. The Legion Duel’s display, while specs are missing, is designed for extended gaming sessions, likely prioritizing color accuracy and responsiveness. The iPhone 11’s LCD, while color accurate, lacks the dynamic range and potentially the refresh rate of a modern gaming display.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 11’s camera system, while capable of excellent photo and video capture, is not the primary focus. The Legion Duel’s camera specs are absent, but given its gaming focus, it’s likely optimized for streaming and casual photography rather than professional-grade image quality. The iPhone 11’s strength lies in its computational photography and consistent image processing, delivering reliable results in various conditions. The Legion Duel, lacking detailed camera information, is unlikely to compete with the iPhone 11 in image quality or versatility.

Performance

The Lenovo Legion Duel’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G+ chipset, with its octa-core CPU configuration (1x3.09 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55), is a powerhouse designed for sustained performance. This contrasts with the Apple A13 Bionic’s hexa-core CPU (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder). While the A13 Bionic is incredibly efficient and delivers excellent single-core performance, the Snapdragon 865 5G+ offers a more substantial GPU advantage, crucial for demanding games. The Legion Duel’s 12GB/16GB of RAM, compared to the iPhone 11’s 4GB, further solidifies its gaming advantage, allowing for smoother multitasking and larger game assets to be loaded into memory. The 7nm+ fabrication process on both chips suggests similar efficiency, but the Legion Duel’s active cooling system (not detailed in the data, but a key feature) allows it to maintain peak performance for longer.

Battery Life

Both devices boast an endurance rating of 94 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Legion Duel’s charging capabilities are significantly superior. With 65W/90W wired charging, it can achieve 50% charge in 10 minutes (90W model) and 100% in 30 minutes (90W model), vastly outperforming the iPhone 11’s 50% charge in 30 minutes via wired PD2.0. While the iPhone 11 offers Qi wireless charging, the Legion Duel’s faster wired charging is a major advantage for gamers who need to quickly get back into the action.

Buying Guide

Buy the Lenovo Legion Duel if you demand maximum mobile gaming performance, prioritize fast charging, and don't mind a larger, more aggressively styled device. Buy the Apple iPhone 11 if you value a polished user experience, a strong camera, seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, and a more compact form factor, all at a more accessible price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Lenovo Legion Duel overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Legion Duel incorporates an active cooling system (details not provided in the data) specifically designed to mitigate thermal throttling during prolonged gaming. While the Snapdragon 865 5G+ can generate heat, the Legion Duel’s cooling solution aims to maintain stable performance for longer periods than typical smartphones.
❓ Is the iPhone 11 still receiving software updates?
While the iPhone 11 is no longer receiving major iOS version updates, it continues to receive security updates from Apple, ensuring its ongoing security and stability. This is a significant advantage over many Android devices, which often have limited software support lifecycles.
❓ How does the A13 Bionic's efficiency impact real-world battery life compared to the Snapdragon 865 5G+?
The A13 Bionic is renowned for its power efficiency. While both phones have a 94h endurance rating, the A13 Bionic achieves this with a smaller battery and less aggressive power management. The Snapdragon 865 5G+ requires more power to deliver its higher performance, potentially impacting battery life during intensive tasks, but the Legion Duel's larger battery capacity helps offset this.