Lenovo Legion Y70 review
The Lenovo Legion Y70 is a gaming smartphone that packs a punch with its Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 platform, 144Hz OLED display, and 50MP triple rear-camera setup. With a 5100mAh battery that supports 68W fast charging, this device promises impressive performance and long-lasting power. Priced at under $430, the Legion Y70 is an attractive option for those seeking a cost-effective gaming experience. But can it deliver on its promise? This review will dive into the phone's features, performance, and overall value to help you decide.
Build Quality and Design
The Lenovo Legion Y70 is a gaming smartphone that boasts an impressive array of features, but how does its build quality and design stack up? In this review, we'll take a closer look at what the Y70 has to offer in terms of its physical attributes. The Y70's design is understated yet premium. The device sports a 7.99mm thickness and features a brushed metal frame that narrows slightly towards the edges. The back cover, made of glass-like material, is offset from the body, giving the phone a sleeker look. Two color options are available: titanium gray and flame red, each with its own unique texture. The Legion Y70's appearance is deliberately not exaggerated, resulting in a device that looks both elegant and durable. The use of metal and glass materials lends an air of premium-ness to the design, making it feel like a high-end product. In terms of build quality, the Y70 feels solid and well-built. The phone's body is made from high-quality materials that exude a sense of durability. The brushed metal frame adds a touch of sophistication, while the offset back cover gives the device a streamlined look. The Y70's dimensions make it easier to hold and maneuver, even with one hand. The phone's weight is also evenly distributed, making it feel balanced in the hand. Overall, the Lenovo Legion Y70's build quality and design are impressive. The device looks premium, feels solid, and features a well-designed layout that makes it easy to use. While some may find the design too conservative, fans of understated yet elegant designs will appreciate the Y70's aesthetic.
Battery Life
In an era where smartphones are often criticized for their mediocre battery life, the Lenovo Legion Y70 surprises with its impressive endurance. This gaming smartphone boasts a 5,100 milliamp hour battery that's matched with a 68 watt fast charger. Officially, Lenovo claims it can charge the power from zero to eighty percent in just 34 minutes. Our laboratory test confirms this claim, taking only 55 minutes to fully charge the phone from scratch. What's more impressive is the battery life itself. With the screen closed and basic apps running in the background for eight hours, the Legion Y70 retained a whopping 100% power reserve. This level of standby performance suggests that Lenovo has effectively managed night-time background tasks. During our testing, we also measured the phone's charging speeds, which were in line with Lenovo's claims. From zero to thirty percent took just ten minutes, while reaching seventy percent took half an hour. Reaching eighty percent took 35 minutes, almost identical to the official claim. Overall, the battery life of the Lenovo Legion Y70 is a pleasant surprise, making it a great choice for those who need a reliable and long-lasting smartphone.
Display
The Lenovo Legion Y70 boasts an impressive 6.67-inch OLED display with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz at a 1080p resolution. In our tests, the manual maximum brightness reached 473 nits, while under strong external light, it peaked at 680 nits. Although this falls short of today's flagship displays starting at 800 nits, the Legion Y70's display still offers respectable brightness performance. In terms of color, the Legion Y70 is slightly cooler in appearance, with a measured color temperature of around 746K to 7538K. The device also features three display modes: default bright, natural, and standard. We measured the color gamut volume coverage as follows: 101% of the P3 standard color gamma volume in vivid mode, 102.95% and 102.37% of the SRGP standard color gamut volume coverage in natural and standard modes respectively. Our laboratory measurements show that the Legion Y70's display is capable of delivering accurate colors and respectable brightness levels. However, it may not match the standards set by flagship devices. Overall, the display on the Lenovo Legion Y70 is a solid offering for gaming enthusiasts and those seeking a high-performance smartphone experience. While it may not be the best in its class, it still provides a visually appealing and engaging viewing experience. In conclusion, the Lenovo Legion Y70's display offers a good balance of brightness, color accuracy, and refresh rate, making it an excellent choice for gamers and those seeking a high-performance smartphone experience.
Camera
The Lenovo Legion Y70 is a gaming smartphone that boasts an impressive array of features, including a 144Hz OLED display and a 50-megapixel triple rear-facing camera setup. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the camera capabilities of the Legion Y70. The Legion Y70 features a dual-use three-camera system 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 an optical image stabilization (OIS) feature, which helps to reduce camera shake and blur. We tested the camera performance of the Legion Y70 using data quantification methods. In a dark-like t-65 environment, the Legion Y70 measured a grayscale dynamic range result of 20.14, indicating a high level of detail in captured images. This suggests that the main camera of the Legion Y70 is quite satisfactory and can meet the needs of daily photography. The grayscale dynamic range performance of the Legion Y70's picture was tested using our instrument. The result showed a significant level of detail in captured images, with a value of 20.14. This indicates that the camera has a high level of sensitivity to light and can capture a wide range of tonal values. The Lenovo Legion Y70's triple camera setup is quite impressive, with a high-quality main camera capable of capturing detailed images even in low-light conditions. The addition of a 13-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera and a 2-megapixel depth-of-field auxiliary camera further enhances the camera capabilities of the Legion Y70. Overall, the camera performance of the Lenovo Legion Y70 is quite satisfactory and can meet the needs of daily photography.
Price and Value
In the cutthroat world of gaming smartphones, Lenovo has managed to create a surprise hit with its Legion Y70. Priced at just under 430 yuan (approximately $65 USD), this device packs a punch that's hard to ignore. As one of the most cost-effective Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 phones on the market today, it's no wonder the Lenovo Legion Y70 has gained attention. At its starting price point, the Legion Y70 offers an impressive array of features, including a 144Hz OLED display, a 50MP triple rear-facing camera setup, and a 5100mAh battery that supports 68W fast charging. This level of performance and specs would typically be expected from phones priced in the mid-range to high-end category. Considering its price, the Legion Y70 delivers surprisingly good value for money. While it may not have the same premium feel as some of its competitors, the phone's textured appearance and durable build quality make it a solid choice for those on a budget. One can't help but compare the Lenovo Legion Y70 to other gaming smartphones in its class, like the Redmi K50 Extreme Edition. Starting at a relatively affordable price point, the Legion Y70 offers comparable performance without breaking the bank. In conclusion, the Lenovo Legion Y70 is an excellent choice for those looking for a budget-friendly gaming smartphone that doesn't compromise on features or performance. With its impressive specs and value-for-money pricing, it's no wonder this device has gained attention in the market today.
Performance
The Lenovo Legion Y70 is a gaming smartphone that boasts impressive specs at an affordable price. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, this device delivers outstanding performance that's hard to match in its class. In our tests, the Legion Y70 handled demanding games like Honor of Kings with ease. We ran the game in three frame rate modes - 60 FPS, 90 FPS, and 120 FPS - and were pleased to see smooth performance throughout. The average frame rates in these modes were 59.8 FPS, 89.74 FPS, and 119.6 FPS, respectively. However, we did notice some minor issues when running the game at 90 FPS. We experienced a slight jitter, but this was not a major concern. When switching to 120 FPS mode, there were only two-three frame rate shooters, but temperature control was still decent. The Legion Y70's performance in Genshin Impact was also impressive. The game ran for half an hour without any drops in frame rate, with an average of 59.07 FPS. We monitored the heat of the phone during this test and were pleased to see that it remained under 40°C on both the front and back. In terms of battery life, the Legion Y70's 5100mAh battery delivered good results. With a 68W fast charger, we managed to charge the device from 0-100% in just over an hour. Standby performance was also impressive, with minimal power drain after eight hours of usage. Overall, the Lenovo Legion Y70 is a cost-effective gaming powerhouse that delivers excellent performance and battery life. While it may not match the specs of more expensive devices, its value for money makes it an attractive option for gamers on a budget.
Pros
1. One of the most cost-effective Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 phones at this stage, starting at RMB 429.
2. A 144Hz OLED display with a manual maximum brightness of 473 nits and global brightness of 680 nits.
3. A 50MP triple rear-facing camera setup with optical image stabilization and a dynamic range performance of 20.14 in a dark-like environment.
4. A 5,100mAh battery that supports 68W fast charging and can fully charge the phone from 0 to 80% in 34 minutes.
5. Good standby performance, with the phone retaining its power overnight and basic apps running in the background for 8 hours.
6. A durable and not exaggerated design with a brushed metal frame and an offset back cover.
7. Satisfactory camera performance that meets daily photography needs.
Cons
1. The screen's brightness performance is only at a medium level, compared to today's flagships starting at 800 nits.
2. A slight cooler appearance in terms of color, with the color temperature data measured under the instrument confirming this.
3. Limited high-color gamut volume coverage in bright mode (101% P3), natural mode (102.95% sRGB) and standard mode (102.37% sRGB).
4. The phone's performance may not be perfect in certain games, with a serious jitter recorded in the 90fps frame rate mode.
5. A relatively thick body at 7.99mm, although the brushed metal frame is deliberately narrowed.
6. Limited temperature control during gaming, with temperatures reaching up to 40.2°C on the front and back of the phone.
7. The price may not be worth it for some users, considering the phone's features and performance.