Xiaomi Black Shark 3 vs. OnePlus 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and All-Round Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers prioritizing performance and rapid charging, the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 is the clear winner. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro offers a more refined all-around experience with a superior camera system and longer-term software support, making it the better choice for general users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 | OnePlus 8 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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 78 SA/NSA - IN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 03. Released 2020, March 06 | 2020, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, April 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.7 x 77.3 x 10.4 mm (6.64 x 3.04 x 0.41 in) | 165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 222 g (7.83 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) | Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 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 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera) |
| 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@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 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, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, 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, DLNA |
| 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, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4720 mAh | Li-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Lightning Black, Armor Gray, Star Silver | Glacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black |
| Models | KLE-H0, KLE-A0 | IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025 |
| Price | About 390 EUR | About 310 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 428.39 |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 853.51 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 486.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 103h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Black Shark 3
- Extremely fast 65W wired charging
- Dedicated gaming features and cooling
- Potentially higher sustained performance
- Likely inferior camera system
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to all
OnePlus 8 Pro
- Versatile and high-quality camera system
- Excellent battery endurance
- Balanced all-around experience
- Slower charging speeds
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Black Shark 3’s display is geared towards gaming, likely prioritizing refresh rate over absolute color accuracy. The OnePlus 8 Pro, while lacking specific brightness data, benefits from OnePlus’s history of excellent display calibration. The lack of LTPO information for either device means we can't assess variable refresh rate efficiency, but the Black Shark 3’s higher refresh rate (assumed, based on its gaming focus) will be more impactful for fast-paced games.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus 8 Pro is expected to have a significantly more versatile and capable camera system. While both phones share the Snapdragon 865 ISP, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera system (details not provided in context) likely features larger sensors, more advanced image processing algorithms, and a wider range of shooting modes. The Black Shark 3, geared towards gaming, likely features a more basic camera setup focused on convenience rather than photographic excellence. The absence of details on the Black Shark 3’s camera suggests it’s not a primary selling point.
Performance
Both the Black Shark 3 and OnePlus 8 Pro are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+), featuring the same Octa-core CPU configuration. This means raw processing power will be comparable for most tasks. However, the Black Shark 3’s design prioritizes sustained performance through advanced cooling solutions, mitigating potential throttling during prolonged gaming. While the OnePlus 8 Pro offers excellent performance, it lacks the dedicated cooling features of the Black Shark 3, potentially leading to thermal throttling in demanding scenarios. The RAM configurations available (8GB/12GB for both) will impact multitasking capabilities, but the chipset is the primary performance determinant.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating strong battery life. The Black Shark 3 offers significantly faster charging – 65W wired, achieving 100% in just 38 minutes, compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W wired (50% in 23 minutes). The Black Shark 3 also includes 18W magnetic wireless charging and 3W reverse wireless charging, features absent in the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W wireless charging. While the OnePlus 8 Pro’s endurance suggests a larger battery capacity, the Black Shark 3’s charging speed is a major advantage for users who need to quickly top up their device.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 if you need uncompromising gaming performance, a high refresh rate display for competitive play, and the fastest possible wired charging. Its focus on cooling and dedicated gaming features make it ideal for extended gaming sessions. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you prefer a balanced flagship experience with a versatile camera system, a smooth and responsive display, and a more polished software experience. It’s the better choice for everyday use, photography, and media consumption.