Xiaomi Black Shark 4S vs Sony Xperia XZ3: A Clash of Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Black Shark 4S dominates in performance and charging speed, making it ideal for gamers. However, the Xperia XZ3’s superior display and camera, coupled with its impressive battery endurance, offer a compelling alternative for those prioritizing image quality and longevity. It's a clear win for the Black Shark for gaming, but the XZ3 holds its own.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Black Shark 4S | Sony Xperia XZ3 |
| 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 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| 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, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 13 | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 16 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 76.2 x 9.9 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.39 in) | 158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 210 g (7.41 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| Physical pop-up gaming triggers | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | P-OLED, HDR BT.2020 |
| Always-on display | Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 630 |
| OS | Android 11, Joy UI 12.8 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.8µm | 19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.8µm | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 100% in 17 min | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red |
| Models | - | H9436, H8416, H9493 |
| Price | About 360 EUR | About 510 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 90h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Black Shark 4S
- Exceptional Performance (Snapdragon 870)
- Blazing-Fast 120W Charging
- High Refresh Rate Display (likely 144Hz)
- Dedicated Gaming Features (shoulder triggers)
- Camera Performance Not Top-Tier
- Battery Life Could Be Better
- Design Primarily Focused on Gaming
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Outstanding Display Quality
- Excellent Camera Performance
- Exceptional Battery Life (90h Endurance)
- Premium Build Quality
- Older Chipset (Snapdragon 845)
- Slower Charging Speed
- Less Powerful for Demanding Games
Display Comparison
The Xperia XZ3’s display is a standout feature, boasting an 'infinite' contrast ratio and excellent sunlight visibility. While the Black Shark 4S has a good display, it prioritizes refresh rate (likely 144Hz) for smoother gaming over absolute color accuracy and contrast. The XZ3's OLED panel offers richer colors and deeper blacks.
Camera Comparison
Sony's camera expertise shines in the XZ3. While specs aren't the whole story, the XZ3 consistently delivers excellent image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Black Shark 4S's camera is decent, but not a primary strength, often prioritizing speed over image fidelity.
Performance
The Black Shark 4S’s Snapdragon 870 absolutely crushes the Xperia XZ3’s Snapdragon 845. The 870 offers significantly faster CPU and GPU performance, making it ideal for demanding games and multitasking. The XZ3 is still capable, but struggles with newer, graphically intensive titles.
Battery Life
The Xperia XZ3’s endurance rating of 90 hours is remarkable, a testament to its efficient design and battery optimization. The Black Shark 4S, while offering incredibly fast 120W charging, likely has a smaller battery and may not match the XZ3’s longevity.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 4S? Gamers and power users who demand the absolute best performance and lightning-fast charging. Who should buy the Sony Xperia XZ3? Photography enthusiasts and users who value a stunning display and long-lasting battery life, even if it means sacrificing some processing power.