Xiaomi Black Shark 3 vs. Honor 30 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Gaming and All-Round Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 is the clear winner, offering a more potent Snapdragon 865 and faster 65W charging. However, the Honor 30 Pro+ provides a more versatile experience with its capable camera system and excellent 99-hour endurance rating, making it ideal for everyday users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 | Honor 30 Pro+ |
| 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 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 03. Released 2020, March 06 | 2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 21 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.7 x 77.3 x 10.4 mm (6.64 x 3.04 x 0.41 in) | 160.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.90 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 222 g (7.83 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| - | Water-repellent coating | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) | OLED, 90Hz |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G76 MP16 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (Periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 18mm (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.3, (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@1920fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@1920fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG |
| 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 | 40W wired 27W wireless 5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4720 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Lightning Black, Armor Gray, Star Silver | Titanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black |
| Models | KLE-H0, KLE-A0 | EBG-AN10 |
| Price | About 390 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 99h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.8 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 510031 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Black Shark 3
- Faster 65W wired charging
- Potentially superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 865
- Gaming-focused design and features
- Battery life potentially lower than Honor 30 Pro+
- Camera details are unknown, potentially less advanced
Honor 30 Pro+
- Excellent 99-hour battery endurance
- Strong camera system (based on brand reputation)
- Versatile feature set
- Slower charging speeds compared to Black Shark 3
- Kirin 990 may not match Snapdragon 865 in gaming
Display Comparison
The Honor 30 Pro+ boasts a measured peak brightness of 586 nits, providing good visibility outdoors, though the Black Shark 3’s display specs are not provided for direct comparison. Both utilize 7nm+ fabrication, suggesting similar efficiency. The Honor 30 Pro+’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a likely OLED panel, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors. Without display specs for the Black Shark 3, it’s difficult to assess color accuracy or refresh rate differences, but the Honor’s display is a strong point for media consumption.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. The Honor 30 Pro+ likely benefits from Huawei’s established image processing expertise. Without sensor size or aperture information for either phone, a direct comparison is difficult. The absence of details suggests neither phone prioritizes groundbreaking camera technology, focusing instead on other features. The Black Shark 3’s camera is likely tuned for general use, while the Honor 30 Pro+ may offer more sophisticated shooting modes.
Performance
The Xiaomi Black Shark 3’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+) chipset, with its octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55), is geared towards sustained performance. The Honor 30 Pro+ utilizes the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+), featuring an octa-core CPU (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55). While both are 7nm+ chips, the Snapdragon 865 generally exhibits superior GPU performance, crucial for gaming. The Kirin 990, however, may offer advantages in certain AI-driven tasks. Thermal management will be key; the Black Shark 3’s gaming focus suggests a more robust cooling solution, potentially mitigating throttling under heavy load.
Battery Life
The Honor 30 Pro+ boasts an impressive 99-hour endurance rating, indicating excellent battery life. While the Black Shark 3’s battery capacity is unknown, it compensates with significantly faster charging: 65W wired (38 minutes to 100%), 30W (128/8 model) and 18W magnetic wireless. The Honor 30 Pro+ offers 40W wired, 27W wireless, and 5W reverse wired charging. The Black Shark 3’s charging speed is a major advantage for users who need to quickly top up their battery, while the Honor 30 Pro+ prioritizes longevity between charges.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, need the fastest possible charging speeds (65W), and appreciate gaming-centric features like shoulder triggers. Buy the Honor 30 Pro+ if you value a well-rounded experience with a strong camera, long battery life (99h endurance), and a more refined software experience, even if it means sacrificing some raw gaming horsepower.