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

The Xiaomi Black Shark series has consistently delivered powerful gaming phones, but with the 4S Pro and 5 Pro, the competition heats up. Both offer blistering performance and dedicated gaming features, but which one truly takes the crown? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Black Shark 5 Pro boasts the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and a slightly improved display, offering a performance edge. However, the 4S Pro's Snapdragon 888+ remains incredibly capable, and its faster charging might sway some buyers. Ultimately, the 5 Pro is the better choice for future-proofing and slightly superior performance.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2021, October 132022, March 30
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, October 16Available. Released 2022, April 04
Body
Dimensions163.7 x 76.2 x 9.9 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.39 in)163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight220 g (7.76 oz)220 g (7.76 oz)
 Physical pop-up gaming triggers-
Display
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 730
OSAndroid 11, Joy UI 12.8Android 12, Joy UI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Triple64 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), AF108 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
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only)
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min120W wired, 100% in 15 min
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4650 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, WhiteBlack, White
Models-SHARK KTUS-H0
PriceAbout 650 EURAbout 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 4S Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Powerful Snapdragon 888+ chipset
  • Aggressive gaming design
  • Competitive price

  • Slightly older chipset
  • Potentially less battery life than 5 Pro
  • Camera performance not top-tier

Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro

  • Newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
  • Slightly brighter and better display
  • Potentially better battery life
  • Improved thermal management (likely)

  • Higher price
  • Camera performance still not flagship-level
  • Charging speed similar to 4S Pro

Display Comparison

The Black Shark 5 Pro features a slightly brighter display (682 nits vs. estimated 500 nits for the 4S Pro) and a theoretically infinite contrast ratio, promising richer colors and deeper blacks. Both phones likely use AMOLED panels with high refresh rates (144Hz), ensuring smooth gameplay. The 5 Pro's display is a marginal upgrade.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are limited in the provided specs. Both phones likely feature a triple-camera setup with a primary sensor, ultrawide lens, and macro lens. Image quality will likely be comparable, with the 5 Pro potentially offering slightly better processing due to its newer chipset. Expect decent, but not flagship-level, camera performance.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Black Shark 5 Pro is undeniably more powerful than the Snapdragon 888+ in the 4S Pro, offering improved CPU and GPU performance. Expect smoother frame rates in demanding games and faster app loading times. However, the 888+ is still a beast and will handle most games with ease. Thermal management will be a key factor to watch in both devices.

Battery Life

Both phones offer a 120W wired charging, promising incredibly fast charging times (around 15 minutes to 100%). The Black Shark 5 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 83 hours, suggesting slightly better battery life than the 4S Pro, although the 4S Pro's charging speed compensates for this.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 4S 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 latest technology and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Black Shark 5 Pro significantly faster than the 888+?
Yes, the 8 Gen 1 offers a noticeable performance boost, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks and demanding games. However, the 888+ remains a very capable chipset.
❓ How does the charging speed compare between the two phones?
Both phones feature 120W wired charging, offering incredibly fast charging times of around 15 minutes to reach 100%.