Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro vs 4S Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Showdown

The Xiaomi Black Shark series has consistently delivered powerful gaming phones, and the 4 Pro and 4S Pro are no exception. But with subtle differences, choosing between them can be tricky. This comprehensive comparison will dissect every aspect, helping you decide which device best suits your gaming needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Black Shark 4S Pro edges out the 4 Pro thanks to its slightly faster Snapdragon 888+ chipset, offering a marginal performance boost. Both offer incredible 120W charging and a dedicated gaming experience, but the 4S Pro's improved CPU makes it the preferred choice for serious mobile gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro	Xiaomi Black Shark 4S 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) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2021, March 23	2021, October 13
Status	Available. Released 2021, March 30	Available. Released 2021, October 16

Body
Dimensions	163.8 x 76.4 x 9.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.39 in)	163.7 x 76.2 x 9.9 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.39 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	220 g (7.76 oz)	220 g (7.76 oz)
	Physical pop-up gaming triggers	Physical pop-up gaming triggers

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)	Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
	Always-on display	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 660
OS	Android 11, Joy UI 12.5	Android 11, Joy UI 12.8

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm
Triple	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2 (China), 5.0 (Global), A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFC	Yes	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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only)	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	120W wired, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min	120W wired, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Shadow Black, Misty Grey, Cosmos Black, Dark Blue, Silver	Black, White
Models	SHARK PAR-H0	-
Price	About 500 EUR	About 650 EUR

Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro

Excellent 120W charging
High refresh rate display
Powerful Snapdragon 888
Dedicated gaming features (shoulder triggers)
Competitive price

Camera could be better
Design can be polarizing
No expandable storage

Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro

Slightly faster Snapdragon 888+ chipset
High refresh rate display
Dedicated gaming features (shoulder triggers)
Fast charging

Higher price than 4 Pro
Camera performance similar to 4 Pro
No expandable storage

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch sampling rate. Color accuracy and brightness are comparable, offering a visually immersive gaming experience. The 4S Pro might have slightly improved color calibration, but it's a subtle difference.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature a triple-camera system: a 108MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. Image quality is generally good, with vibrant colors and decent dynamic range. Low-light performance is acceptable but not exceptional. The 4S Pro might have slightly improved image processing algorithms, but the difference is minimal.

Performance

The key differentiator lies in the chipset. The 4S Pro boasts the Snapdragon 888+, which provides a modest CPU clock speed increase (3.0 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the X1 core). This translates to slightly faster app loading times, smoother gameplay in demanding titles, and improved multitasking. Both phones have ample RAM (8GB/12GB) and storage (128GB/256GB), ensuring a lag-free experience.

Battery Life

Both phones pack a 4500mAh battery and support 120W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in 5 minutes and 100% in 15 minutes. Battery life is comparable, offering a full day of moderate use and several hours of intense gaming.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro is ideal for gamers on a tighter budget who still want a high-performance device with excellent cooling and a vibrant display. The Black Shark 4S Pro is for dedicated mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance and are willing to pay a premium for that slight edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 888+ in the 4S Pro a significant upgrade?

While the upgrade is noticeable, it's not a massive leap. Expect slightly faster performance in demanding games and apps, but the 4 Pro remains a very capable device.

❓ Are the shoulder triggers customizable?

Yes, both phones feature customizable shoulder triggers that can be mapped to various in-game actions, enhancing the gaming experience.