Lenovo Legion Duel vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 7: A Gamer's Definitive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing future-proofing and charging speed, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and 120W charging significantly outperform the Legion Duel's older hardware. However, the Legion Duel remains a viable option for those seeking a more refined, albeit older, gaming experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Lenovo Legion Duel | ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat15 800/210 Mbps, 5G 2.5 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, October 15 | 2022, February 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, February 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.2 x 78.5 x 9.9 mm (6.66 x 3.09 x 0.39 in) | 170.6 x 78.3 x 9.5 mm (6.72 x 3.08 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 239 g (8.43 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | Pressure sensitive zones (500Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+ | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.09 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 10, Legion OS/ ZUI12 | Android 12, Redmagic 5.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 256GB 18GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.0, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/3.1", 0.9µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector |
| 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, (128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM models) 90W wired, 50% in 10 min, 100% in 30 min (512GB 16GB RAM model) | 120W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 17 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (International) |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Vengeance Red, Blazing Blue | Obsidian, Pulsar, Supernova |
| Models | - | NX679J |
| Price | About 510 EUR | About 630 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 89h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -22.7 LUFS (Excellent) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1056488 (v9) GeekBench: 3855(v5.1) GFXBench: 77fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Lenovo Legion Duel
- Robust cooling system for sustained performance
- Mature software experience (likely)
- Potentially more refined design
- Older Snapdragon 865 5G+ chipset
- Slower charging speeds
- Unknown display specifications
ZTE nubia Red Magic 7
- Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor
- Blazing-fast 120W charging
- Excellent battery endurance (89h rating)
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
- Software may be less polished
- Camera likely not a primary strength
Display Comparison
The Legion Duel’s display specifications are not provided, but given its gaming focus, it likely features a high refresh rate panel. The Red Magic 7 boasts an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting a vibrant AMOLED display. The key differentiator here is likely to be refresh rate and touch sampling rate, with the Red Magic 7 potentially offering a smoother experience. Without specific Legion Duel display data, it's difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Red Magic 7’s modern panel technology gives it an edge.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are minimal for both devices. The Red Magic 7’s inclusion of photo/video capabilities suggests a functional, but likely not flagship-level, camera system. The Legion Duel’s camera specs are unknown. Given the gaming focus of both phones, camera quality is clearly not a primary concern. Without detailed sensor information, it’s impossible to make a meaningful comparison; both likely prioritize functionality over photographic excellence.
Performance
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) represents a significant leap over the Lenovo Legion Duel’s Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7nm+). The 4nm process node translates to improved thermal efficiency and higher sustained performance, crucial for extended gaming sessions. The Red Magic 7’s CPU, featuring the Cortex-X2 core, offers a performance advantage over the Legion Duel’s Cortex-A77 cores. While the Legion Duel’s cooling system is robust, the raw processing power of the Red Magic 7 is undeniable. The Red Magic 7’s LPDDR5 RAM (spec not provided for Duel) further enhances performance.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 7’s 120W charging (100% in 17 minutes in China, 65W internationally) is a game-changer, drastically reducing downtime compared to the Legion Duel’s 65W (30 minutes for 100% on the 512GB model). The Red Magic 7’s endurance rating of 89 hours suggests excellent battery life, despite the power-hungry Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. While the Legion Duel’s battery capacity is unknown, the Red Magic 7’s charging speed and endurance provide a significant advantage for gamers who need to quickly top up their battery between matches.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lenovo Legion Duel if you need a phone with a more mature software experience and a focus on sustained performance through its advanced cooling system, even if it means sacrificing the latest chipset. Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 if you prefer cutting-edge processing power, incredibly fast charging, and are willing to accept potential software quirks in exchange for peak performance and convenience.