Xiaomi Black Shark 3 vs Asus ROG Phone 3: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most gamers, the Asus ROG Phone 3 is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 865+ chipset provides a noticeable performance edge, and its 719 nits peak brightness delivers a more vibrant gaming experience. While the Black Shark 3 offers faster 65W charging, the ROG Phone 3’s overall refinement and power justify the price difference.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 | Asus ROG Phone 3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - A version |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - A version |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 03. Released 2020, March 06 | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.7 x 77.3 x 10.4 mm (6.64 x 3.04 x 0.41 in) | 171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 222 g (7.83 oz) | 240 g (8.47 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.3, (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@1920fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm | 24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, 100% in 38 min 30W wired (128/8 model) 18W magnetic wireless | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4720 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Lightning Black, Armor Gray, Star Silver | Black Glare |
| Models | KLE-H0, KLE-A0 | ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D |
| Price | About 390 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 120h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 621932 (v8) GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Black Shark 3
- Faster 65W wired charging
- Magnetic wireless charging support
- More aggressive pricing (likely)
- Slightly less powerful Snapdragon 865
- Less detailed display specifications
Asus ROG Phone 3
- More powerful Snapdragon 865+
- Brighter display (719 nits)
- Potentially better thermal management
- Slower 30W wired charging
- No wireless charging support
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 3 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 719 nits compared to an unspecified brightness for the Black Shark 3. This higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in outdoor conditions and a more immersive gaming experience. While both likely utilize high refresh rate panels (a common feature in this segment), the ROG Phone 3’s contrast ratio is listed as infinite, suggesting superior black levels. The Black Shark 3’s display specs are less detailed, making a direct comparison difficult, but the ROG Phone 3 clearly holds an advantage in display quality.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is listed as 'Photo / Video' for both devices, offering little differentiation based on the provided data. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, it’s impossible to determine a clear winner. However, given Asus’s broader smartphone portfolio, it’s reasonable to assume the ROG Phone 3 benefits from more refined image processing algorithms. The lack of detail suggests neither phone prioritizes camera capabilities as a primary selling point, focusing instead on gaming performance.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G, but the ROG Phone 3 steps up to the Snapdragon 865+ variant. This ‘plus’ version features a slightly higher clock speed – 3.10 GHz on the ROG Phone 3’s prime core versus 2.84 GHz on the Black Shark 3 – resulting in a measurable performance boost in sustained workloads. Both utilize an octa-core configuration with the same Cortex-A77 and A55 cores, but the ROG Phone 3’s faster processor and potentially more aggressive cooling (not specified in the data) will lead to less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The ROG Phone 3’s use of faster RAM (likely LPDDR5) would also contribute to smoother multitasking and faster game loading times.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 120 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Black Shark 3 offers significantly faster wired charging at 65W, capable of fully charging the battery in just 38 minutes. The ROG Phone 3 is limited to 30W wired charging, taking considerably longer. The Black Shark 3 also introduces 18W magnetic wireless charging, a feature absent on the ROG Phone 3. While the ROG Phone 3 offers 10W reverse wired charging, the Black Shark 3’s faster charging speeds provide a more convenient experience for gamers who need to quickly top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 if you prioritize value and rapid charging. It’s an excellent option for gamers on a tighter budget who still want a dedicated gaming experience with features like shoulder buttons. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 if you demand the highest possible performance, a brighter display, and a more polished overall experience, even if it means paying a premium. It’s geared towards competitive gamers and power users.