Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro vs Black Shark 5 RS: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Comparison

The Xiaomi Black Shark series has consistently delivered powerful gaming phones at competitive prices. But with the Black Shark 5 RS arriving, is it a worthy upgrade over the already impressive Black Shark 4 Pro? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Black Shark 5 RS offers a slight performance edge with its marginally faster CPU clock speed and potentially improved thermal management. However, the 4 Pro's faster charging and established reputation make it a strong contender. Ultimately, the 5 RS is a refinement, while the 4 Pro remains a fantastic value.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro	Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS

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, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 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	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)	163.7 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)	AMOLED, 144Hz, 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 (1x2.84/3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888/888+ 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 660
OS	Android 11, Joy UI 12.5	Android 12, 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
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1/SSD 256GB 8GB RAM - Snapdragon 888 256GB 12GB RAM - Snapdragon 888+

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm	20 MP, (wide)
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, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto macro)
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, (wide)
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, 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, Yellow
Models	SHARK PAR-H0	-
Price	About 500 EUR	About 470 EUR

Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro

Faster Charging (120W)
Established Reputation
Excellent Value
High Refresh Rate Display

Slightly Older Chipset
Potential Thermal Throttling under sustained load

Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS

Slightly Faster CPU Clock Speed
Potentially Improved Cooling
Refined Design
High Refresh Rate Display

Slower Charging (15 min to 100%)
Incremental Upgrade
Potentially Higher Price

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth visuals. The 5 RS *may* have slightly improved color accuracy or brightness, but it's a marginal difference. Resolution is likely 1080 x 2400 pixels on both.

Camera Comparison

Both phones likely feature a triple-camera system with a primary 64MP sensor. Image quality should be comparable, with the 5 RS potentially benefiting from software optimizations. Expect ultrawide and macro lenses on both.

Performance

The Snapdragon 888 is present in both, but the 5 RS boasts a slightly higher CPU clock speed (3.0 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the X1 core). This translates to a small performance boost in demanding games and applications. Cooling systems are likely improved in the 5 RS, potentially leading to more sustained performance.

Battery Life

Both offer a 4500mAh battery. The Black Shark 4 Pro's 120W charging is noticeably faster, reaching 50% in 5 minutes and 100% in 15 minutes. The 5 RS charges at 120W, but takes 15 minutes to reach 100%, suggesting potentially less efficient charging or a slightly larger battery capacity.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro is ideal for gamers on a budget who prioritize fast charging and a proven track record. The Black Shark 5 RS is best suited for hardcore gamers seeking every last bit of performance and potentially better sustained performance under heavy load, even if the gains are incremental.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Black Shark 5 RS a significant upgrade over the 4 Pro?

It's a refinement rather than a revolution. The performance gains are incremental, and the 4 Pro still offers excellent value with its faster charging.

❓ Which phone is better for long gaming sessions?

The Black Shark 5 RS *may* offer slightly better sustained performance due to potential improvements in cooling, but both phones can handle extended gaming.