Black Shark 5 RS vs. OnePlus 10 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Performance

The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS and OnePlus 10 Pro represent distinct approaches to the high-end Android market. The Black Shark 5 RS aggressively targets mobile gamers with a focus on performance and cooling, while the OnePlus 10 Pro aims for a more balanced flagship experience with a premium camera and refined software. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience with a strong camera and consistently smooth performance, the OnePlus 10 Pro is the better choice. However, gamers who demand maximum frame rates and don't mind potential thermal throttling will find the Black Shark 5 RS a more compelling option, especially given its faster charging.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS OnePlus 10 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, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2022, March 302022, January 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, April 04Available. Released 2022, January 13
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 76.2 x 9.9 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.39 in)163 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm (6.42 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight220 g (7.76 oz)201 g (7.09 oz)
 Physical pop-up gaming triggersIP68 dust/water resistant - T-Mobile only (not for use underwater, liquid damage is not covered under warranty)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 144Hz, 1300 nits (peak)LTPO2 Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84/3.0 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 888/888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, Joy UI 12.8Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 (International), ColorOS (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1/SSD 256GB 8GB RAM - Snapdragon 888 256GB 12GB RAM - Snapdragon 888+UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single20 MP, (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto macro)48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 150˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+8K@24fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single20 MP, (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.1, 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, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging120W wired, 100% in 15 min80W wired, PD, 100% in 32 min (International) 65W wired, PD, 58% in 15 min (North America) 50W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, YellowVolcanic Black, Emerald Forest, Panda White (Extreme Edition)
Models-NE2210, NE2211, NE2213, NE2215, NE2217
PriceAbout 470 EUR$ 264.39 / C$ 349.99 / £ 360.00 / € 399.99
SAR-1.16 W/kg (head)     0.70 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 107h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 886248 (v9) GeekBench: 3447 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Aggressive cooling for sustained gaming performance
  • Potentially lower price point

  • Less refined camera system
  • Software may not appeal to all users
  • Snapdragon 888 is an older chipset

OnePlus 10 Pro

  • Brighter, higher-quality display
  • More versatile and capable camera system
  • Polished software experience

  • Slower charging speeds (especially in North America)
  • Potential for thermal throttling with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The OnePlus 10 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 780 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Black Shark 5 RS. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, the OnePlus 10 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a superior viewing experience in high-dynamic-range content. The Black Shark 5 RS’s display specifications are less detailed, suggesting a focus on refresh rate and responsiveness over absolute visual fidelity. The OnePlus 10 Pro’s larger display size and higher brightness will be more beneficial for outdoor visibility.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details are limited. The OnePlus 10 Pro’s camera is marketed as a key feature, likely incorporating larger sensors and advanced image processing. The Black Shark 5 RS’s camera specifications are less prominent, suggesting a secondary focus. Without specific sensor size or aperture information for the Black Shark, it’s reasonable to assume the OnePlus 10 Pro offers superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The OnePlus 10 Pro’s Hasselblad partnership likely influences its color science, aiming for more natural and accurate tones.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Black Shark 5 RS utilizes the Snapdragon 888/888+, while the OnePlus 10 Pro features the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Gen 1, built on a 4nm process versus the 5nm process of the 888, offers improved power efficiency and, crucially, a more advanced CPU architecture with the Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.00 GHz versus the 888’s 2.84/3.0 GHz Cortex-X1. This translates to faster application loading and smoother multitasking on the OnePlus 10 Pro. However, the 888 in the Black Shark 5 RS benefits from aggressive cooling solutions, potentially sustaining higher clock speeds for longer periods during gaming. The OnePlus 10 Pro’s GPU is also more powerful, but thermal throttling remains a concern with the 8 Gen 1.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 107 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Black Shark 5 RS). However, the charging speeds are dramatically different. The Black Shark 5 RS’s 120W wired charging is significantly faster, achieving a full charge in just 15 minutes. The OnePlus 10 Pro’s 80W (International) or 65W (North America) charging takes considerably longer – 32 minutes for a full charge internationally, and a partial charge in 15 minutes in North America. The OnePlus 10 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Black Shark 5 RS.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS if you need uncompromising gaming performance, prioritize rapid 120W charging, and are comfortable with a more niche software experience. Buy the OnePlus 10 Pro if you prefer a polished, all-around flagship with a versatile camera system, a brighter display, and a more mainstream software experience, even if it means slightly slower charging speeds (particularly in North America).

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the OnePlus 10 Pro suffer from overheating during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known to generate more heat than previous generations. While the OnePlus 10 Pro incorporates cooling solutions, prolonged, demanding gaming can still lead to thermal throttling, reducing sustained performance. However, the throttling is generally less severe than on devices with less effective cooling.
❓ How does the 120W charging on the Black Shark 5 RS affect battery health over the long term?
While 120W charging is incredibly fast, concerns about long-term battery degradation are valid. Xiaomi likely employs charging algorithms to mitigate this, such as reducing charging speed as the battery nears full capacity. However, consistently utilizing ultra-fast charging *may* accelerate battery wear compared to slower charging methods.
❓ Is the Black Shark 5 RS’s gaming-focused software (Shark Space) intrusive for everyday use?
Shark Space is designed to optimize performance for gaming, but it can be somewhat intrusive for general use. It provides quick access to game settings and performance modes, but some users may find the interface and notifications distracting when not gaming. It can be disabled or minimized, but it's a core part of the Black Shark experience.
❓ Does the OnePlus 10 Pro support the latest Wi-Fi standards (Wi-Fi 6E)?
Yes, the OnePlus 10 Pro supports Wi-Fi 6E, offering faster and more stable wireless connectivity when paired with a compatible router. This is a significant advantage for users with high-bandwidth internet connections and a Wi-Fi 6E router.