Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro vs Black Shark 4: 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 Pro and Black Shark 4, which one offers the best experience? We're diving deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Black Shark 4 edges out the 5 Pro in battery life and charging speed, while the 5 Pro boasts a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. Ultimately, the 4 provides better value for most gamers, but the 5 Pro offers a performance boost if you demand the absolute best.

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

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, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International, China
5G bands	1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
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	2022, March 30	2021, March 23
Status	Available. Released 2022, April 04	Available. Released 2021, March 30

Body
Dimensions	163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in)	163.8 x 76.4 x 9.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.39 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	220 g (7.76 oz)	210 g (7.41 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 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+	Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)
GPU	Adreno 730	Adreno 650
OS	Android 12, Joy UI 13	Android 11, Joy UI 12.5

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm	20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.8µm
Triple	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	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; HDR10+	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm	20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, 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, video output	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, 100% in 15 min	120W wired, 100% in 17 min
Type	Li-Po 4650 mAh	Li-Po 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, White	Mirror Black, Pale Grey, Black, Blue, Silver
Models	SHARK KTUS-H0	SHARK PRS-H0, SHARK PRS-A0, SHARK KSR-A0
Price	About 720 EUR	About 930 EUR

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 83h	Endurance rating 96h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9) GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1) GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 617456 (v8) GeekBench: 3448 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
Fast 120W Charging
Aggressive Gaming Design

Shorter Battery Life
Potential for Thermal Throttling
Higher Price

Xiaomi Black Shark 4

Excellent Battery Life
Fast 120W Charging
More Affordable
Slightly Brighter Display

Less Powerful Chipset
Potentially Less Consistent Camera

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant displays with a nominal infinite contrast ratio. The Black Shark 4 has a slightly higher peak brightness (694 nits) compared to the 5 Pro (682 nits), but the difference is minimal and unlikely to be noticeable in most real-world scenarios. Both offer a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for fluid gameplay.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are limited in the provided data. Both phones are described as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities. Based on general knowledge, the Black Shark 4 likely has a slightly better camera system overall, offering more consistent image quality. The 5 Pro may have some improvements in video recording, but it's not a major differentiator.

Performance

The Black Shark 5 Pro takes a clear lead in performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. This offers a significant boost in CPU and GPU performance compared to the Snapdragon 870 in the Black Shark 4, resulting in smoother frame rates and faster load times in demanding games. However, the 8 Gen 1 is known to run hotter.

Battery Life

The Black Shark 4 shines in the battery department, boasting an endurance rating of 96 hours, compared to the 5 Pro's 83 hours. While both offer 120W wired charging, the Black Shark 4 charges slightly faster (17 minutes vs. 15 minutes). This translates to longer gaming sessions and less time tethered to a charger.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro is ideal for hardcore gamers who prioritize raw processing power and don't mind sacrificing some battery life. The Black Shark 4 is a fantastic choice for gamers on a budget who still want a premium gaming experience with excellent battery life and fast charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Black Shark 5 Pro worth the extra money?

If you're a hardcore gamer who demands the absolute best performance and can tolerate potential thermal throttling, the 5 Pro is worth considering. Otherwise, the 4 offers excellent value.

❓ Which phone has better cooling?

While specific cooling system details are not provided, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the 5 Pro is known to generate more heat, potentially leading to thermal throttling under sustained load. The 870 in the 4 is generally more efficient.