ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 vs Lenovo Legion Duel 2: A Deep Dive for Mobile Gamers
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing future-proofing and raw power, the Lenovo Legion Duel 2 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 888 5G and 90W charging significantly outperform the Red Magic 3’s Snapdragon 855 and 18W charging. However, the Red Magic 3 remains a compelling budget option for casual gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 | Lenovo Legion Duel 2 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 66 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - NA | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, May | 2021, April 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2019, May | Available. Released 2021, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.38 in) | 176 x 78.5 x 9.9 mm (6.93 x 3.09 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 259 g (9.14 oz) |
| RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones Built-in cooling fan | Built-in two cooling fans RGB light panel (on the back) 6 pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers): 4 ultrasonic buttons (top), 2 capacitive sliding buttons (back) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz | AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 11, ZUI 12.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.32", 1.0µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF | - |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | Motorized pop-up 44 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.65", 1.0µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector | Two USB Type-C (2.0 & 3.1), OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 90W wired (dual USB-C ports), 50% in 12 min, 100% in 30 min 65W wired (single USB-C port) |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Camouflage, Red/Blue | Titanium White, Ultimate Black |
| Models | NX629J | - |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 800 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -96.0dB / Crosstalk -92.4dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 112h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 86dB | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 387726 (v7) GeekBench: 11345 (v4.4) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 3
- Significantly more affordable price point.
- Decent battery endurance for its capacity.
- Still capable of running many mobile games.
- Outdated Snapdragon 855 chipset.
- Slow 18W charging.
- Likely inferior display technology.
Lenovo Legion Duel 2
- Powerful Snapdragon 888 5G processor.
- Ultra-fast 90W charging.
- Advanced cooling system for sustained performance.
- Higher price tag.
- Potentially larger and heavier design.
- May still experience some throttling under extreme load.
Display Comparison
While both devices target gamers, details on display specs beyond the core processors are limited. The Red Magic 3 likely features a high refresh rate panel common for gaming phones of its era, but lacks the advanced features of newer displays. The Legion Duel 2, benefiting from later technology, likely boasts a higher peak brightness and potentially a more color-accurate panel. The absence of LTPO technology in the Red Magic 3 means it won't dynamically adjust refresh rates for power saving like newer phones.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance isn't the primary focus of either device, but the Legion Duel 2 likely offers a more refined experience. The Red Magic 3’s camera is described as 'Photo / Video' without specifics, suggesting a standard configuration for its time. The Legion Duel 2, while not a camera-centric phone, benefits from newer image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes. The focus is on providing acceptable image quality for social media and casual use, rather than competing with flagship camera phones.
Performance
The Lenovo Legion Duel 2’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) represents a substantial leap over the Red Magic 3’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The 5nm process node inherently offers better power efficiency and thermal performance, reducing the likelihood of throttling during prolonged gaming. The Legion Duel 2’s CPU, featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core, provides a performance advantage over the Kryo 485 cores in the Red Magic 3. While both have octa-core configurations, the architectural improvements in the 888 translate to faster processing speeds and improved multitasking. The Legion Duel 2 also benefits from faster RAM options (likely LPDDR5 or LPDDR5x) compared to the Red Magic 3, further enhancing performance.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 3 boasts an endurance rating of 112 hours, indicating solid battery life for its 4000mAh capacity. However, its 18W charging is comparatively slow. The Legion Duel 2, despite potentially having a similar or slightly larger battery capacity, offers a game-changing 90W wired charging via dual USB-C ports, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 12 minutes and 100% in 30 minutes. This drastically reduces downtime between gaming sessions. The faster charging speed effectively mitigates any potential battery capacity disadvantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 if you need a highly affordable gaming phone and are willing to compromise on processing power and charging speed. It’s ideal for less demanding mobile titles and users on a tight budget. Buy the Lenovo Legion Duel 2 if you prioritize top-tier performance, rapid charging, and a more advanced cooling system for demanding games and extended gaming sessions. It’s geared towards serious mobile gamers who demand the best.