Lenovo's second-gen Legion gaming phone packs dual cooling fans

The rumors were true. Lenovo has unveiled its second-generation gaming handset, the Legion Phone Duel 2, and it’s an even more audacious design than the first model.

The Legion Phone Duel 2 centers around a new cooling system that mates a vapor chamber with dual cooling fans. The Snapdragon 888 inside should stay cool and maintain peak performance even during lengthy gaming sessions, in other words. As you’ve likely noticed, that cooling dictates the unique look of the phone — the Snapdragon sits at the middle of the chip to ensure “unparalleled symmetry” in cooling when you’re playing games in a landscape orientation.

You’ll also find a host of upgrades useful when you’re not playing the latest online brawler. The Legion Phone Duel 2 boasts an even larger 6.92-inch (if still 1080p) 144Hz AMOLED display with HDR10+ support and an extra-quick 720Hz touch sampling rate. You’ll also find up to 18GB of RAM, a larger 5,500mAh battery, and an upgraded 44MP pop-up side camera for selfies and livestreaming.

Control plays an important role in the Legion Phone Duel 2. Lenovo offers eight virtual keys, including four ultrasonic shoulder buttons, two rear capacitance points and two force-based points in the screen itself. You’ll have plenty of shortcuts for fast-paced games.  Accordingly, a new dual haptic feedback system delivers more precise responses to your actions.

Related: All the Snapdragon 888 phones released so far

The Duel 2 carries over the 64MP main camera, 16MP ultra-wide cam, dual USB-C ports and 90W fast charging of the first Legion Phone. There may be few complaints, though, when the dual-cell battery layout promises a full charge in 30 minutes.

There’s a better chance of buying Lenovo’s latest model, too. The Legion Phone Duel 2 is launching in its native China in April in black and white color schemes, but it’s also coming to Europe in May starting at a price of €799 (about $948) with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, or €999 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of space. And crucially, people on the other side of the planet might not be left out. Lenovo would only say that North American availability is “to be determined,” but that’s still a huge improvement over the no-show of the first Legion.

As with last year, Lenovo has one main challenge: ASUS. The ROG Phone 5 offers similar performance, and it’s already available. If you just want a fast gaming phone, you can buy something now. However, the Legion Phone Duel 2 costs less in its 12GB form (it’s similarly priced in 16GB trim), touts faster charging, offers more virtual controls, and doesn’t require an add-on for extra cooling. If you’re comfortable with Lenovo and don’t mind the wait, it might offer the stronger value.