Asus ROG Phone 9 vs. Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most gamers, the Asus ROG Phone 9 is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and significantly brighter display provide a noticeable advantage in demanding games, while its longer battery life ensures extended play sessions. However, the Black Shark 5 Pro’s incredibly fast 120W charging is a compelling feature for those prioritizing quick top-ups.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 9 | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, November 19 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, November 20 | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 227 g (8.01 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 185Hz, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak) | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 15, upgradable to Android 16, up to 2 major Android upgrades | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto macro), AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 46 min 15W wireless (Qi) 10W reverse wired | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | 5800 mAh | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Storm White | Black, White |
| Models | AI2501-12G256G-BK, AI2501-12G256G-WH, AI2501-16G512G-WH, AI2501-16G512G-BK | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | £ 799.99 / € 899.90 | About 720 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9) GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1) GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus ROG Phone 9
- Superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Significantly brighter and more vibrant display
- Longer battery life for extended gaming
- Slower charging speed (46 minutes)
- Potentially higher price point
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Blazing-fast 120W charging (15 minutes)
- Potentially lower price point
- Capable gaming performance
- Less powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
- Dimmer display with lower outdoor visibility
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 9 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1958 nits, compared to the Black Shark 5 Pro’s 682 nits. This difference is crucial for outdoor visibility and HDR content. While both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, the ROG Phone 9’s higher brightness translates to a more vibrant and immersive viewing experience. The ROG Phone 9 likely utilizes LTPO technology (though not explicitly stated) for adaptive refresh rates, contributing to power efficiency, a feature not confirmed on the Black Shark 5 Pro. The ROG Phone 9’s superior brightness will benefit users playing in brightly lit environments.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the context data provides limited specifics. Given the gaming focus, camera performance is likely secondary. However, we can infer that the ROG Phone 9, being a newer device, likely benefits from improved image processing algorithms. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. The Black Shark 5 Pro’s camera is adequate for casual use, but the ROG Phone 9 is expected to deliver slightly better image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the Black Shark 5 Pro is unlikely to be a significant selling point.
Performance
The Asus ROG Phone 9’s Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) represents a substantial leap in performance and efficiency over the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s octa-core CPU, with its Oryon V2 Phoenix cores (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz), delivers faster processing speeds and improved multi-tasking capabilities. The 3nm process node allows for greater transistor density and reduced power consumption, leading to less thermal throttling during prolonged gaming. While the Black Shark 5 Pro’s CPU (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) is capable, it simply cannot match the efficiency and raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Gamers will see higher and more stable frame rates on the ROG Phone 9.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 9 achieves an impressive 16:41 hours of active use, demonstrating superior battery endurance. While the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro has an endurance rating of 83 hours, this is a different metric and doesn’t directly translate to active usage time. The ROG Phone 9’s more efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset contributes significantly to its longer battery life. However, the Black Shark 5 Pro compensates with its incredibly fast 120W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 15 minutes, compared to the ROG Phone 9’s 46 minutes for its 65W charging. Users who prioritize minimizing downtime will favor the Black Shark 5 Pro, while those who need all-day battery life will prefer the ROG Phone 9.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 9 if you prioritize raw performance, a superior display experience, and extended battery life for marathon gaming sessions. It’s ideal for competitive gamers and those who demand the best possible visuals. Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro if you value incredibly fast charging above all else and are looking for a capable gaming phone at a potentially lower price point. It’s a good option for casual gamers who want a quick power boost between matches.