The Lenovo Legion Y90 and ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro are two titans in the gaming smartphone arena. Both pack powerful specs and features designed to deliver an immersive and high-performance gaming experience. But which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The nubia Red Magic 8 Pro edges out the Legion Y90 thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, superior battery life, and potentially better display. However, the Y90's 68W charging and potentially more refined software could appeal to some. It's a close call, but the Red Magic 8 Pro offers a more complete package.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 01 | 2022, December 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 10 | Available. Released 2022, December 28 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 177 x 78.4 x 10.1 mm (6.97 x 3.09 x 0.40 in) | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 252 g (8.89 oz) | 228 g (8.04 oz) |
| | Built-in two cooling fans
RGB light panel (on the back)
4 ultrasonic buttons (Gaming triggers) | Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing)
Built-in cooling fan
Aviation aluminum middle frame |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density) | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 12, ZUI 13 | Android 13, Redmagic OS 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 640GB 18GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1
640GB (512GB UFS + 128GB SSD) | UFS 4.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.32", 1.0µm, PDAF
13 MP, 120˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec. | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort |
| 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/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 68W wired, 100% in 35 min | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (advertised) - China
65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min (advertised) - International |
| Type | Li-Po 5600 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray | Black, Transparent |
| Models | L71061 | NX729J |
| Price | About 570 EUR | $ 659.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 131h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-24.1 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9)
GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Lenovo Legion Y90
- Fast 68W Charging
- Potentially cleaner Android experience
- Good performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
- Missing display details
- Unspecified camera quality
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for superior performance
- Exceptional battery life (131h endurance)
- Unique under-display camera
- 80W Charging (China) / 65W Charging (International)
- Software experience can be polarizing
- International charging speed slower
- Camera details are limited
Display Comparison
The nubia Red Magic 8 Pro boasts a potentially superior display with an advertised 'infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent blacks and vibrant colors. While the Legion Y90's display is likely very good, detailed specs are missing. Both likely feature high refresh rates (120Hz or higher) for smooth gameplay. The Red Magic's under-display camera is a unique feature.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are sparse for both devices. Both are likely capable of taking decent photos and videos, but neither is likely to be a photography powerhouse. The Red Magic 8 Pro's camera setup is likely more advanced, but without specific details, it's difficult to make a definitive comparison.
Performance
The nubia Red Magic 8 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a significant performance advantage over the Legion Y90's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Gen 2 provides faster CPU and GPU speeds, resulting in smoother gameplay and better multitasking. Both phones will handle demanding games with ease, but the Red Magic 8 Pro will likely maintain higher frame rates for longer.
Battery Life
The nubia Red Magic 8 Pro shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 131 hours. While the Legion Y90 has a respectable 68W charging speed, the Red Magic 8 Pro's larger battery capacity and efficient chipset give it a clear advantage in longevity.
Buying Guide
The Lenovo Legion Y90 is ideal for gamers who prioritize fast charging and a potentially cleaner Android experience. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is the better choice for those seeking maximum performance, exceptional battery life, and a dedicated gaming ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is generally better suited for demanding games due to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which offers superior performance and sustained frame rates.
❓ Does the Red Magic 8 Pro have gaming-specific features?
Yes, the Red Magic 8 Pro includes features like shoulder triggers, advanced cooling systems, and a dedicated gaming mode to enhance the gaming experience.
