Lenovo Legion Y700 vs Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: A Deep Dive into Gaming Power

The Lenovo Legion Y700 and Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate represent distinct approaches to mobile gaming. The Y700 aims to deliver flagship-level performance at a more accessible price point, leveraging the Snapdragon 870. Conversely, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a no-compromise gaming powerhouse, equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device reigns supreme.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average gamer prioritizing raw power and future-proofing, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a substantial performance leap over the Legion Y700’s Snapdragon 870, coupled with faster charging and a brighter display. However, the Legion Y700 remains a compelling option for budget-conscious gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names Lenovo Legion Y700 Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 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 bands-1, 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 - cellular model onlyHSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China
Launch
Announced2022, March 012023, April 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 10Available. Released 2023, May
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions207.1 x 128.1 x 7.9 mm (8.15 x 5.04 x 0.31 in)173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)
SIMNano-SIM (cellular model only)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight375 g (13.23 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
Resolution1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~343 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size8.8 inches, 224.5 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10, 500 nits (typ)AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12, ZUI 13Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0 NTFS support for external storage
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single13 MP-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video1080p@30fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
Features-Panorama, HDR
Single8 MP32 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 Tuned by JBL32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCNoYes
PositioningNoGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 Gen2USB 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
SensorsAccelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging45W wired, 100% in 45 min65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 6550 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGrayStorm White
ModelsTB-9707F-
PriceAbout 360 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 Y700

  • More affordable price point
  • Capable Snapdragon 870 performance
  • Solid gaming experience for the price

  • Older Snapdragon 870 chipset
  • Slower charging speed (45W)
  • Less detailed display specifications

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Faster 65W charging with PD3.0/QC5
  • Brighter and higher-quality display

  • Significantly higher price
  • May experience some thermal throttling under extreme load
  • Larger size and weight

Display Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1095 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the Legion Y700. While both likely utilize high refresh rate panels, the ROG Phone’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. The ROG Phone’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior OLED panel, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The Legion Y700’s display specs are less detailed, making a direct comparison difficult, but it likely targets a more cost-effective panel solution.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information for either device, a direct comparison is challenging. However, given the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s positioning as a flagship, it likely incorporates a more sophisticated camera system with features like optical image stabilization (OIS) and advanced image processing algorithms. The Legion Y700 likely prioritizes cost savings in this area, potentially resulting in lower image quality in challenging lighting conditions.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) represents a generational leap over the Lenovo Legion Y700’s Snapdragon 870 (7nm). The 8 Gen 2 features a new CPU architecture (Cortex-X3) and a more efficient manufacturing process, resulting in significantly improved CPU and GPU performance. The 8 Gen 2’s CPU configuration – 1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 – is more advanced than the 870’s Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585). This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and higher frame rates in demanding games. While the Legion Y700 is still capable, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate offers a more future-proof and sustained gaming experience.

Battery Life

Both phones share an endurance rating of 131 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing charging speeds. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s 65W wired charging (with PD3.0 and QC5 support) is significantly faster than the Legion Y700’s 45W charging, achieving a full charge in 42 minutes versus 45 minutes. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate also offers 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Legion Y700. While the battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the faster charging of the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate provides greater convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Lenovo Legion Y700 if you need a capable gaming phone that doesn’t break the bank, and are comfortable with slightly older hardware. It’s ideal for users who play a mix of casual and demanding titles. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate if you demand the absolute best mobile gaming experience, prioritize sustained performance under heavy load, and are willing to pay a premium for features like a brighter display and faster charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 870 in the Legion Y700 struggle with demanding titles like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 870 is a capable chip, it may require lower graphics settings in extremely demanding titles like Genshin Impact to maintain consistent frame rates. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will handle these games with ease at higher settings.
❓ How effective is the cooling system on the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate to prevent thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate features a sophisticated cooling system, including a vapor chamber and multiple heat dissipation layers. While some thermal throttling is inevitable under sustained heavy load, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s cooling system is significantly more effective than the Legion Y700’s, allowing for longer periods of peak performance.
❓ Is the 45W charging on the Legion Y700 slow compared to other modern smartphones?
45W charging is adequate, but slower than the 65W charging on the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. It will take approximately 45 minutes to fully charge the Legion Y700, while the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate can achieve a full charge in 42 minutes. This difference may be noticeable for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.