Xiaomi Black Shark 5 vs Black Shark 4 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Black Shark 4 Pro boasts a slightly faster Snapdragon 888 chipset and quicker charging, giving it a performance edge. However, the Black Shark 5 offers a compelling alternative with the efficient Snapdragon 870, making it a strong contender, especially if price is a key factor. Ultimately, the 4 Pro is the slightly better performer.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 | Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro |
| 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, 8, 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 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 30 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 04 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.3 x 10 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.39 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 | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| Physical pop-up gaming triggers | 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 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 12, Joy UI 13 | Android 11, Joy UI 12.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) | 64 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), AF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 20 MP, f/2.5, (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 | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2 (China), 5.0 (Global), 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 | 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 | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min | 120W wired, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4650 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Gray | Shadow Black, Misty Grey, Cosmos Black, Dark Blue, Silver |
| Models | SHARK PAR-A0 | SHARK PAR-H0 |
| Price | About 600 EUR | About 500 EUR |
Xiaomi Black Shark 5
- Excellent value for money
- Efficient Snapdragon 870 chipset
- 120W fast charging
- Good cooling system
- Slightly less powerful than the 4 Pro
- Camera not as versatile as the 4 Pro
- Design might be polarizing
Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro
- Faster Snapdragon 888 chipset
- Quicker 120W charging (50% in 5 min)
- Potentially better camera system
- Premium build quality
- More expensive than the Black Shark 5
- Can run hotter under sustained load
- Battery life marginally less efficient
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth visuals. The 4 Pro might have slightly better color accuracy due to its slightly newer panel, but the difference is minimal. Both offer excellent viewing experiences for gaming.
Camera Comparison
The Black Shark 4 Pro generally has a more versatile camera system, often featuring a higher resolution main sensor and potentially better image processing. While both phones offer decent camera performance, the 4 Pro is likely to produce slightly better photos and videos, especially in low light. Expect a 64MP main sensor on the 4 Pro and a 48MP on the 5.
Performance
The Snapdragon 888 in the Black Shark 4 Pro holds a slight advantage over the Snapdragon 870 in the Black Shark 5. While the 870 is incredibly efficient, the 888 offers raw power for demanding games and multitasking. However, both phones handle most games at max settings without issue.
Battery Life
Both phones have a 4500mAh battery and 120W fast charging. The Black Shark 4 Pro's charging is noticeably faster, reaching 50% in just 5 minutes, while the 5 takes 15 minutes to reach 100%. Battery life is comparable between the two, offering a full day of moderate to heavy use.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 is ideal for gamers on a budget who still want a powerful and feature-rich experience. The Black Shark 4 Pro is for those who demand the absolute best performance and fastest charging, and are willing to pay a premium.