Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro vs Black Shark 5: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Black Shark 5 is the clear winner. While the 2 Pro still holds up well, the 5's Snapdragon 870, significantly faster charging (120W!), and improved display make it a superior choice for gamers seeking top-tier performance and convenience. The 2 Pro remains a viable option for budget-conscious buyers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA/3CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, July. Released 2019, August | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 75 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 2.95 x 0.35 in) | 163.8 x 76.3 x 10 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| - | Physical pop-up gaming triggers | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED, 144Hz, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 (700 MHz) | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 54mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@1920fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm | 16 MP, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-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 |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 27W wired | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Shadow Black, Iceberg Grey, Gulf Blue, Streamer Purple | Black, White, Gray |
| Models | DLT-A0, DLT-H0 | SHARK PAR-A0 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 600 EUR |
Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro
- Powerful Snapdragon 855+ processor
- Good cooling system
- Competitive price (now)
- Decent display
- Slower charging (27W)
- Older design
- Camera performance is average
- Lacks some modern features
Xiaomi Black Shark 5
- Blazing-fast 120W charging
- Powerful Snapdragon 870 processor
- 144Hz AMOLED display
- Improved camera performance
- Modern design
- Higher price
- Can get warm under heavy load
- Software updates may be less frequent than other Xiaomi phones
Display Comparison
The Black Shark 5 boasts a significant upgrade with a 144Hz AMOLED display, offering smoother visuals and a more responsive gaming experience compared to the 2 Pro's 120Hz AMOLED. Both phones feature excellent color accuracy and brightness, but the 5's higher refresh rate gives it an edge.
Camera Comparison
While neither phone excels in camera quality compared to flagship devices, the Black Shark 5 generally produces slightly better images with improved dynamic range and detail. Both feature a triple-camera setup, typically including a main sensor, ultrawide lens, and macro lens. Expect decent results in good lighting conditions.
Performance
The Snapdragon 870 in the Black Shark 5 is noticeably faster than the 855+ in the 2 Pro. Expect smoother gameplay, quicker app loading times, and better multitasking performance on the 5. Both phones handle demanding games well, but the 5 has more headroom for future titles.
Battery Life
The Black Shark 5's 120W charging is a game-changer. It can fully charge the phone in just 15 minutes, a massive improvement over the 2 Pro's 27W charging. Both phones have similar battery capacities (around 4500mAh), but the 5's faster charging makes it far more convenient.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro? Gamers on a tighter budget who still want a powerful Snapdragon 855+ device. Who should buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5? Serious mobile gamers who demand the best performance, fastest charging, and a more modern display experience.