Lenovo Legion Y70 vs. Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: A Deep Dive for Gamers

The Lenovo Legion Y70 and Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate represent two distinct approaches to the gaming phone market. The Legion Y70, powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, offers a compelling balance of performance and value, while the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, with the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, aims for uncompromising power and features. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device reigns supreme for demanding mobile gamers.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most gamers, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the superior choice. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers a noticeable performance uplift, especially in sustained gaming scenarios, and its brighter display enhances visual fidelity. While the Legion Y70 offers excellent value, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate justifies its price with cutting-edge hardware.

PHONES
Phone Names Lenovo Legion Y70 Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China
Launch
Announced2022, August 182023, April 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, August 23Available. Released 2023, May
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.6 x 77 x 8 mm (6.44 x 3.03 x 0.31 in)173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight209 g (7.37 oz)239 g (8.43 oz)
 -Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IP54 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12, ZUI 14Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0 NTFS support for external storage
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
Features-Panorama, HDR
Single16 MP32 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm
VideoYes1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging68W wired, 80% in 34 min65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5100 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, RedStorm White
ModelsL71091-
PriceAbout 440 EURAbout 780 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 131h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Lenovo Legion Y70

  • Faster 80% charge time (34 minutes)
  • Potentially more affordable price point
  • Understated design compared to ROG Phone

  • Older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Less detailed display specifications
  • Lacks reverse wireless charging

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset for superior performance
  • Brighter display with infinite contrast ratio
  • Faster charging with PD3.0 and QC5 support

  • Higher price tag
  • Longer 0-100% charge time (42 minutes)
  • More aggressive gaming aesthetic

Display Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1095 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the Legion Y70. This higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight and a more immersive HDR experience. While both likely utilize high refresh rate panels, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a superior OLED panel capable of deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The Legion Y70’s display specs are less detailed, making it difficult to assess its color accuracy or potential for burn-in.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s focus on overall premium features, it’s reasonable to assume a more advanced camera system. The Legion Y70 likely prioritizes camera functionality as a secondary feature, while the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate may offer more sophisticated image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely inconsequential.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) represents a generational leap over the Legion Y70’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm). The Gen 2 features a newer CPU architecture – Cortex-X3 vs Cortex-X2 – and a more efficient GPU. This translates to roughly 10-15% faster CPU performance and a 25-30% GPU performance increase. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s CPU configuration (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) is optimized for sustained performance, while the Legion Y70’s (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) may exhibit more thermal throttling under prolonged heavy loads. Both devices utilize LPDDR5X RAM, but the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s superior thermal design allows it to maintain higher clock speeds for longer.

Battery Life

Both devices share an endurance rating of 131 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing charging speeds. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate charges at 65W with support for PD3.0 and QC5, reaching 100% in 42 minutes. The Legion Y70 charges slightly faster at 68W, achieving 80% charge in 34 minutes. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate also offers 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Legion Y70. The similar endurance ratings suggest that software optimization and power efficiency play a larger role than raw battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Lenovo Legion Y70 if you prioritize value and a more understated design, and are comfortable with slightly older, but still potent, hardware. It's ideal for gamers who want a high-performance experience without breaking the bank. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate if you demand the absolute best performance, a brighter and more vibrant display, and are willing to pay a premium for the latest Snapdragon chipset and gaming-centric features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Legion Y70 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact at max settings?
While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a capable chipset, it may exhibit some thermal throttling and frame drops in extremely demanding games like Genshin Impact at maximum settings over extended periods. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is better equipped to handle such scenarios without significant performance degradation.
❓ Does the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate's AirTriggers offer a significant advantage in competitive gaming?
Yes, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s AirTriggers (shoulder buttons) provide a tangible advantage in competitive gaming by allowing for more precise and responsive control. They can be customized to map specific actions, reducing reliance on on-screen controls and improving reaction time.
❓ How does the charging speed difference (68W vs 65W) translate to real-world usage?
The difference in charging speed is relatively minor. The Legion Y70 reaches 80% faster, but the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate completes a full charge. For most users, the convenience of a slightly faster initial charge (Legion Y70) versus a guaranteed full charge (ROG Phone 7 Ultimate) won't be a deciding factor.