Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro vs Poco F4 GT: Which Gaming Beast Reigns Supreme?

The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro and Poco F4 GT are both formidable contenders in the gaming phone arena, packing flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processors and rapid charging. But which one truly delivers the best experience for mobile gamers and power users? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Black Shark 5 Pro edges out the Poco F4 GT with slightly better battery endurance and a marginally faster charging time. However, the Poco F4 GT often offers a more competitive price, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious gamers. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro Xiaomi Poco F4 GT
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, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2022, March 302022, April 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, April 04Available. Released 2022, April 28
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in)162.5 x 76.7 x 8.5 mm (6.40 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight220 g (7.76 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 -Physical magnetic pop-up gaming triggers
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
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 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, Joy UI 13Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS 2
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm20 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm
Triple108 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), AF64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm20 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by JBL
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, video outputUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
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, barometer (China only)Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging120W wired, 100% in 15 min120W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 17 min
TypeLi-Po 4650 mAhLi-Po 4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, WhiteStealth Black, Knight Silver, Cyber Yellow
ModelsSHARK KTUS-H021121210G
PriceAbout 720 EUR€ 227.11 / £ 339.99
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.59 W/kg (head)     0.96 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 83h Endurance rating 81h
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: 952124 (v9) GeekBench: 3637 (v5.1)

Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro

  • Slightly better battery life
  • Faster charging (marginally)
  • Potentially better thermal management
  • More refined gaming aesthetic

  • Higher price
  • Camera performance not class-leading

Xiaomi Poco F4 GT

  • More competitive price
  • Excellent performance
  • Stylish design
  • Fast charging

  • Slightly lower battery life
  • Potentially less effective thermal management under sustained load

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals. The Black Shark 5 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 682 nits, potentially offering slightly better visibility in direct sunlight. Both have 'Infinite' contrast ratios, indicating deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Poco F4 GT's display is generally considered very good, though slightly less bright than the Black Shark.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable. Both offer capable main sensors, ultrawide lenses, and macro lenses. Image quality in good lighting conditions is solid, but low-light performance can be inconsistent. The Black Shark 5 Pro might have a slight edge in video recording due to potentially better stabilization. Both phones lack dedicated telephoto lenses.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, meaning top-tier performance in games and demanding applications. Thermal management is crucial with this chip, and both phones incorporate vapor chambers to dissipate heat. Anecdotally, the Black Shark 5 Pro's cooling system is often cited as slightly more effective, potentially leading to more sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. However, real-world differences are often minimal.

Battery Life

The Black Shark 5 Pro holds a slight advantage in battery endurance, with an 83h endurance rating compared to the Poco F4 GT's 81h. Both support 120W fast charging, but the Black Shark 5 Pro charges slightly faster (15 minutes vs 17 minutes). This difference, while small, can be noticeable when you're in a hurry.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro? Gamers prioritizing slightly longer battery life and a more refined gaming aesthetic. Who should buy the Xiaomi Poco F4 GT? Gamers seeking a powerful device at a more accessible price point, and those who appreciate a more understated design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 still a good processor?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is still a very powerful processor, capable of handling demanding games and applications. However, it can run hot under sustained load, which both phones address with cooling solutions.
❓ Which phone has better cooling?
While both have vapor chambers, the Black Shark 5 Pro is generally considered to have a slightly more effective cooling system, potentially leading to more sustained performance.