Lenovo Legion Y70 review
The Lenovo Legion Y70 is a gaming smartphone that boasts an impressive set of features at an affordable price point. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 platform, this device offers a smooth performance with a 144Hz OLED display and a 50-megapixel triple rear-facing camera setup. The phone's design is sleek and durable, with a 7.99mm thickness and a brushed metal frame that makes it visually narrower. The Legion Y70's screen has a maximum brightness of 473 nits, which is decent but not exceptional. However, the color temperature data suggests that the display is slightly cooler in appearance. The phone also features three display modes: Bright, Natural, and Standard, with the latter two offering improved color accuracy. Performance-wise, the Legion Y70 runs smoothly, even with demanding games like Honor of Kings. We measured an average frame rate of 59.8fps, 89.74fps, and 119.6fps in various game modes, with temperatures remaining within a tolerable range. The camera setup is a highlight of this device, featuring a 50-megapixel wide-angle main camera, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera, and a 2-megapixel depth-of-field auxiliary camera. We found the camera to be quite satisfactory for daily photography, with a dynamic range performance of 20.14 in a dark-like environment. The phone's battery life is impressive, with a 5,100mAh capacity that can last all day. Fast charging capabilities allow the device to reach 80% power in just 34 minutes. Our tests showed that the Legion Y70 maintained its power even after eight hours of standby, with minimal battery drain. Overall, the Lenovo Legion Y70 offers exceptional value for its price point of Yuan 430 (approximately $65). While it may not be perfect, this device is a great option for those seeking a capable gaming smartphone without breaking the bank.
Build Quality and Design
The Lenovo Legion Y70 boasts an impressive build quality and design that sets it apart from its competitors. The phone's 7.99mm thickness is complemented by a brushed metal frame that is deliberately narrowed, giving the device a sleek and compact appearance. The back cover of the Y70 is made of glass, which provides a premium feel to the phone. The titanium gray and flame red color options have different textures, adding an extra layer of visual interest to the design. The offset placement of the camera module on the back also helps to make the sides of the phone appear narrower. One of the standout features of the Y70's design is its use of durable materials without being overly exaggerated. The "Ice-like" glass on the back cover, for example, provides a smooth and premium feel to the phone. Even the camera decoration module is simple yet elegant, avoiding any unnecessary flair. The body thickness of 7.99mm also makes the Y70 smaller than its competitors, such as the Redmi K50 Extreme Edition with a plastic frame. The overall design language of the Y70 is mature and refined, making it look more like a high-end smartphone rather than a budget gaming device. In terms of build quality, the Y70 feels solid and robust in hand. The materials used are premium and durable, giving the phone a sense of longevity that is rare in devices at this price point. Overall, the Lenovo Legion Y70's build quality and design make it one of the most impressive smartphones in its class, offering a perfect blend of style, substance, and affordability.
Battery Life
In our test, the Lenovo Legion Y70's battery life was impressive, with a 5100mAh battery that supports 68W fast charging. Officially, it takes just 34 minutes to charge from zero to 80%, and less than an hour to fully recharge. Our laboratory results matched these claims, taking 55 minutes to fully charge the phone with one percent power reserve remaining. The battery life is excellent, with 10 minutes providing a 30% boost, 30 minutes delivering a 70% charge, and 35 minutes reaching 80%. In our sleep standby test, we left the phone fully charged overnight, with mobile network on and basic apps running in the background for eight hours. After this time, the remaining power was still at 100%, indicating good night-time battery management. While not exceptional, the Legion Y70's battery life is certainly respectable, especially considering its starting price of under $430. It's a great combination with the phone's performance and display, making it one of the most cost-effective Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 phones on the market today. Overall, the Legion Y70's battery life is a strong selling point for this gaming smartphone.
Display
The Lenovo Legion Y70 boasts an impressive display that's sure to satisfy gamers and everyday users alike. The 6.67-inch OLED screen features a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz, making it ideal for fast-paced games and smooth visual experiences. In our tests, the manual maximum brightness reached 473 nits, which is decent but not outstanding. However, under strong outdoor light, the global brightness increased to a respectable 680 nits. While some flagship devices can reach up to 800 nits, the Legion Y70's brightness performance is still commendable. The color temperature of the display was slightly cooler in appearance, with a measured value of around 746K. This might not be ideal for those who prefer warmer tones, but it doesn't detract from the overall visual experience. Three display modes are available on the system: Bright, Natural, and Standard. We measured the color temperatures as follows: * Bright mode: 7567K * Natural mode: 7538K * Standard mode: 746K In terms of color gamut coverage, the Legion Y70 performed well, with 101% of the P3 standard color gamma volume coverage in Vivid mode. The natural and standard modes achieved 102.95% and 102.37% of the sRGB standard color gamut volume coverage, respectively. Overall, the Lenovo Legion Y70's display is a solid offering that should meet the needs of most users. While it may not be the brightest or most color-accurate screen on the market, its smooth performance and decent brightness make it an excellent choice for gamers and everyday users alike.
Camera
The camera system on the Lenovo Legion Y70 is a dual-use three-camera setup consisting of a 50-megapixel wide-angle main camera, a 13-megapixel 120-degree ultra-wide angle camera, and a 2-megapixel depth-of-field auxiliary camera. The 50-megapixel main camera lens is equipped with a one-point-five-inch sensor that uses four-in-one two-micrometer pixels to synthesize the output image and supports optical image stabilization. In terms of performance, the Legion Y70's main camera measured a grayscale dynamic range of 20.14 in a dark-like environment, indicating a high dynamic range and rich details in captured images. This suggests that the main camera is quite satisfactory and should meet daily photography needs. The ultra-wide angle camera offers a wide field of view, but its performance may be limited by the relatively low resolution of 13 megapixels. However, it can still capture a decent image in various lighting conditions. One notable aspect of the Legion Y70's camera system is its ability to shoot high-quality images with good dynamic range and color accuracy. The phone also offers three display modes for the camera preview screen: bright, natural, and standard. These modes adjust the color temperature and white balance to suit different user preferences. In terms of low-light performance, the Legion Y70's main camera can capture decent images with minimal noise and good detail retention. However, it may struggle in extremely dark environments or when using the ultra-wide angle camera. Overall, the Lenovo Legion Y70's camera system is a solid offering that should meet the needs of most users. While it may not be exceptional in terms of camera performance, it offers a reliable and capable camera setup for daily use and casual photography.
Price and Value
The Lenovo Legion Y70 is a gaming smartphone that punches above its weight in terms of features and performance. At a starting price of under $430, it's one of the most cost-effective Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 phones available today. One of the standout aspects of the Y70 is its price point, which is significantly lower than some of its competitors. The phone starts at just $429.70, making it an attractive option for those looking to get a high-performance gaming device without breaking the bank. In terms of value, the Lenovo Legion Y70 delivers. With a 144Hz OLED display, a 50-megapixel triple rear-facing camera setup, and a 5,100mAh battery that supports 68W fast charging, this phone packs a punch. The addition of a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, LPDDR5 storage, and UFS 3.1 RAM memory only adds to the value proposition. While the Y70 may not have all the bells and whistles of some other gaming phones on the market, its price point makes it an excellent choice for those who want a high-performance device without sacrificing too much in terms of cost. Overall, the Lenovo Legion Y70 is a great option for anyone looking to get into gaming or wants a reliable smartphone with good performance and features at an affordable price.
Performance
The Lenovo Legion Y70 is a gaming smartphone that boasts impressive performance credentials. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 platform, LPDDR5 storage, and UFS 3.1 RAM memory, this device delivers seamless gameplay experience. In our tests, the Legion Y70 consistently ran at full frames in three frame rate modes: 60 FPS, 90 FPS, and 120 FPS. The Honor of Kings game, in particular, showed impressive performance, running for half an hour without any drops in frame rate (59.07 FPS on average). This is a testament to the phone's ability to handle demanding games with ease. The heat dissipation system, which features a 0.55mm thick vacuum cavity and 12 temperature sensors, also played a crucial role in maintaining optimal temperatures during gameplay. The highest temperature recorded on the back of the device was a mere 40°C, while the front remained at 40.2°C. In terms of graphics performance, the Legion Y70's 6.67-inch OLED display (with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz) delivered crisp and vibrant visuals. Our lab tests revealed a manual maximum brightness of 473 nits, with an impressive global brightness of 680 nits under strong light conditions. While the phone may not be able to match today's flagship devices in terms of brightness performance, its color temperature data (746K, 7567K, and 7538K) suggests a slightly cooler appearance. The color gamut volume coverage also measured well, with 101% of the P3 standard and 102.95% and 102.37% of the SRGB standard in vivid and natural modes respectively. Overall, the Lenovo Legion Y70's performance is a significant plus point, making it an excellent choice for gamers and those seeking a powerful smartphone experience.