It must be admitted that gaming phones are always very striking, but the big question that arises with them is to what extent are they worth it compared to other high-end terminals? Well, for a few days I have been testing the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel and this has been my experience.
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel, video analysis
An aggressive design with RGB touches
One of the most differential aspects of any gaming phone it has always been their design. In general, any product with the last name gaming resorts to this type of colorful aesthetics and with more straight and aggressive lines than other proposals on the market. And yes, it is completely valid, but it still does not fit the tastes of all users.
In this Lenovo proposal there is no exception and the manufacturer achieves exactly that, that you have to look at it yes or yes. because with some very particular design lines, what most attracts attention right out of the box is its rear part, where beyond the touches of red color, the use of lights is also not lacking.
In addition, you can see two areas with a small texture that serves to improve grip when we are using it to play. And that they also serve to advance something that will later become very clear to us, this is a device to be used mainly horizontally.
Of generous dimensions, like its weight of 239 grams, the highlights of this Lenovo Legion Phone Duel on a physical level are the following:
- Back with these two areas with a slight texture that helps improve grip when playing, although the ideal is to place the cover with which you also gain some extra protection
- The position of the main cameras is lower than usual, something that is not convincing later because we will cover them 90% of the times that we are going to use the camera, in addition to leaving traces that will affect the quality of the capture
- It includes two USB-C connectors. This is interesting to take advantage of the 90W fast charging system or use wired headphones while charging (via USB C to 3,5mm jack adapter)
- The front camera is not on the top but on the side, again with the idea of ​​allowing actions such as streaming while playing
Surely just by reading this you already understand why I say that this is a phone designed to be used horizontally. Because the main elements are placed so that they can be used like this, like the customization layer itself, which I will talk about more calmly later.
In summary, on an aesthetic level it is not necessary for me to tell you much more so that you can draw your own conclusions. The product is very well made and regardless of whether you like it or not, the truth is that the only thing I can complain about is that it does not seem very discreet and elegant to use as a daily phone. But that's my opinion, it suits you anyway and what you're looking for is what it really aspires to, to be one of the best options for those who play a lot on Android. But let's move on with key aspects of your hardware.
A screen that surprises with its 144 Hz
A matter of a couple of years ago, gaming phones differed from the rest of the proposal, even from the high-end, for having screens capable of reaching refresh rates much higher than usual. That is already changing and phones of all kinds of prices are already betting on panels that exceed 60 Hz refresh rate. Still, this Lenovo Legion Phone Duel is going to be the best of the best.
Lenovo's gaming terminal screen offers a panel 6,65-inch AMOLED diagonal with FHD+ resolution and a refresh rate up to 144 Hz. This is where part of the great appeal of the device resides and one of its values ​​for you to decide on it.
This refresh is practically identical to what the most demanding PC gamers are looking for, so you can already imagine that the experience in titles that offer support is simply outstanding. In addition, in sections such as brightness, color representation, contrast and saturation it is also at a high level. It is probably not the best screen in each of these aspects, but it is one that will not disappoint you on a day-to-day basis.
Of course, as I said before, compared to the current high-end that refresh rate is not so differential either. Because there are other devices that do not have that gaming focus and are also capable of easily reaching 90 Hz and even 120 or 144 hz.
Regarding the possible impact that a screen of this type may have on the battery, don't worry. In the system settings you can establish that only in compatible games it forces the maximum refresh rate possible. Thus, for the use of applications and the operating system itself, you can choose not to exceed 90 Hz, which already offers a very fluid experience.
Lastly, what is greatly appreciated is that display offers 240 Hz sampling And that is noticeable when playing because the touches are more precise.
Raw power and a "violence" mode so that nothing resists you
And how does the device behave at the potential level? Because to move graphics to at least 144 Hz you will need good graphics performance. Well, the experience can practically be summed up with a single word: superb.
The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel integrates the best of the best in terms of hardware and that results in practically no type of application or game resisting it. What's more, when playing you can Activate a "Violence" mode which maxes out both the CPU and the GPU. In this way, you simply run the title that you want to enjoy to the fullest and fly.
Without a doubt, if you are a demanding user who does not want to suffer lag or anything similar while playing I can think of few better options. Because its Snapdragon 865+ is capable of giving a lot in all kinds of situations. It is also very well accompanied by two configurations of 12 or 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 156 or 512 GB UFS 3.1 storage units that are super fast and this is noticeable when it comes to reducing installation, loading, and data access times. , etc.
A capable battery, fast to charge and without temperature problems
One of the peculiarities of this Lenovo gaming phone is found in its battery, or rather batteries. The manufacturer has decided to use not only a double USB C connector, but also a battery consisting of two 2.500 mAh each. Thanks to this, it achieves various benefits that are even more important in a proposal of this type:
- The autonomy with those 5.000 mAh total offers a day and a half of use quietly with normal use. As well as a good number of hours when you play
- In case you need an extra charge, you can connect the two USB C cables that it incorporates and with its charger take advantage of a 90W fast charge that practically achieves 50% of the charge in just over 10 minutes.
- Having the battery split in two prevents overheating issues while charging, so you can charge and play at the same time without disturbance
Without a doubt, the charging system is something that draws a lot of attention in this Legion Phone Duel. Lenovo's solution of using two batteries is smart, because other terminals with a gaming focus or not, but capable of power, do suffer and if you are using it while charging quickly, you notice how its back heats up a little more than necessary. A sensation that is not dangerous, but rather annoying.
A powerful sound, but not up to expectations
Regarding the sound, an important part of the experience, both multimedia and in video games, I will only tell you that I expected something more. It is powerful, I do not doubt that, also its dual front speaker allows you to enjoy stereo sound. But I still expected something more.
In the reproduction of certain frequencies it is as if it lacked a bit of clarity. Surely this is not a problem for most users because when playing they will use wireless or wired headphones through the USB C adapter that it incorporates. But as a gaming phone, I did expect a little more quality in this section. Still, it's not like you're going to be disappointed.
Software, the key to a good horizontal experience
From the beginning I have told you that this is a terminal designed to be used vertically. Mainly because most games are enjoyed like this, but also because of details such as the grip, the ultrasonic triggers that the terminal integrates and also because of its software.
Lenovo's customization layer not only offers applications like this launcher from which you can access different options, but also the use of the The system has been optimized to be equally comfortable both horizontally and vertically.
It is true that for certain uses traditional use will always be better, because that way you avoid recurring actions on a smartphone such as vertical scrolling, but in general it is nice not to have to keep turning the terminal constantly as you exit a game and want to answer a message , see a website or check email.
Regarding those software options designed for gaming, Lenovo has introduced not only the violence mode that makes the most of the hardware, but also other features that can be very interesting:
- The first is the possibility of record screen while playing. You can record up to the last 15 minutes to make sure you have the necessary material with which to later create a video where you can share your most outstanding plays.
- You also have sgstreaming option from the device and appear thanks to the fact that the front camera (retractable type) is placed on the side
- And then there is the use of some ultrasonic triggers which in certain games offers a considerable advantage. Also, the good thing about these is that they do not depend on the support provided by the developer. Lenovo software allows you to locate on the screen the area on which they will act when you press them. So you can use them for any virtual button that appears on the screen, whatever the game is.
Undoubtedly, leaving aside the very gaming aesthetics of the cape, this is another of the values ​​of this device in order to convince more gamers.
Don't ask too much of their cameras
The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel is not a photographic terminal. That is something that was already clear to me as soon as I started trying it out. And I am not saying that they are not reliable cameras, but it is clear that here the manufacturer has not sought to stand out in this regard.
However, what has frustrated me the most is that the position of the cameras, both front and rear, have been uncomfortable for me. The back covered it 90% of the times I was going to use it and the front... well, it's not that I was very convinced. And that I am left-handed and I did not need to change my phone to be able to use it.
Anyway, here are some examples of photos taken with this Lenovo terminal. In terms of quality, well, like most mid-range devices. They are correct photos, but nothing special.
A phone for what it is, to play
The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel is a striking, interesting device and above all with a lot of power for what has been designed: the game on Android. Even so, after having been using it for several days, my opinion is the same with which he began his analysis.
This is a device that attracts a lot of attention and that is always interesting to use, but if we take into account what it costs (899 euros), the truth is that lose interest in front of high-end models. So you have to be very clear about your priorities, because the investment may not pay off unless for some specific reason or professionally you dedicate yourself to squeezing everything related to the game on Android devices.
For everything else, if you are looking for photographic quality and a somewhat more sober and elegant design, I am afraid to tell you that this would not be the option that I would recommend.