Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro vs 5 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Showdown

The Xiaomi Black Shark series has consistently delivered powerful gaming phones, and the 4 Pro and 5 Pro are prime examples. But with incremental upgrades, which one offers the best value and performance for mobile gamers? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Black Shark 5 Pro boasts a newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and a slightly improved display, offering a performance edge. However, the 4 Pro's Snapdragon 888 remains incredibly capable, and its faster charging might sway some. Ultimately, the 5 Pro is the better choice for those prioritizing raw power.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro	Xiaomi Black Shark 5 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, 12, 17, 18, 19, 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	-

Launch
Announced	2021, March 23	2022, March 30
Status	Available. Released 2021, March 30	Available. Released 2022, April 04

Body
Dimensions	163.8 x 76.4 x 9.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.39 in)	163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 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	-

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 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)	OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+
	Always-on display	-

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 730
OS	Android 11, Joy UI 12.5	Android 12, Joy UI 13

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

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm	16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
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	108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto 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	16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	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, video output
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 (China only)

Battery
Charging	120W wired, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min	120W wired, 100% in 15 min
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4650 mAh

Misc
Colors	Shadow Black, Misty Grey, Cosmos Black, Dark Blue, Silver	Black, White
Models	SHARK PAR-H0	SHARK KTUS-H0
Price	About 500 EUR	About 720 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 83h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9) GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1) GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro

Faster charging (slightly)
More affordable
Excellent gaming performance (Snapdragon 888)
Good battery life

Older chipset
Slightly dimmer display
Camera not a standout

Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro

Newer, faster chipset (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
Slightly brighter display
Excellent battery life
Premium feel

More expensive
Camera not a standout
Charging speed is same as 4 Pro

Display Comparison

Both phones feature AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (likely 144Hz). The Black Shark 5 Pro's 682 nits max brightness is a slight improvement over the 4 Pro, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio claim on the 5 Pro is nominal and doesn't translate to a significant real-world difference. Both offer excellent color accuracy and responsiveness for gaming.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable between the two. Both offer decent image quality in good lighting conditions, but struggle in low light. Video recording capabilities are also similar, with both supporting 4K recording. Neither phone excels in camera quality compared to flagship competitors, but they are adequate for casual use.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Black Shark 5 Pro is undeniably faster than the Snapdragon 888 in the 4 Pro. While both handle demanding games with ease, the 5 Pro will exhibit smoother frame rates and better sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. The newer CPU architecture in the 5 Pro also contributes to improved efficiency.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 83 hours. The 120W wired charging is a standout feature on both, allowing for incredibly fast charging times (5 minutes to 50% and 15 minutes to 100%).

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro? Gamers on a tighter budget who still want a powerful and feature-rich experience. Who should buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro? Serious mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 worth the extra cost?

If you're a hardcore mobile gamer who demands the absolute best performance, then yes. The 8 Gen 1 offers a noticeable improvement in frame rates and sustained performance. However, for casual gamers, the 888 is still very capable.

❓ How does the cooling system compare between the two phones?

Both phones feature advanced cooling systems with vapor chambers and multiple layers of graphite sheets. The 5 Pro likely has a slightly more refined cooling system due to the higher power consumption of the 8 Gen 1, but both phones manage heat effectively.