Xiaomi Black Shark 5 vs Poco F4 GT: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 and Poco F4 GT are both formidable contenders in the gaming phone arena, boasting impressive specs and aggressive designs. But which one truly delivers the best gaming experience? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco F4 GT edges out the Black Shark 5 thanks to its newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and potentially better sustained performance. However, the Black Shark 5's 120W charging is slightly faster, and its dedicated gaming features might appeal to hardcore mobile gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Black Shark 5 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, 8, 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, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA-
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
Dimensions163.8 x 76.3 x 10 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.39 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
Weight218 g (7.69 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 Physical pop-up gaming triggersPhysical 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 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 144Hz, 1300 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, Joy UI 13Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS 2
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-20 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)64 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@960fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, (wide)20 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 audio24-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 2.0USB 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, barometerFingerprint (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, White, GrayStealth Black, Knight Silver, Cyber Yellow
ModelsSHARK PAR-A021121210G
PriceAbout 600 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 81h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 952124 (v9) GeekBench: 3637 (v5.1)

Xiaomi Black Shark 5

  • Dedicated gaming triggers
  • Excellent cooling system
  • Faster 120W charging
  • Aggressive gaming design

  • Older chipset (Snapdragon 870)
  • Less refined software compared to Poco
  • Potentially less sustained performance

Xiaomi Poco F4 GT

  • Newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
  • Vibrant AMOLED display
  • Excellent battery life (81h endurance)
  • Faster charging (PD3.0, QC3)

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 thermal throttling potential
  • Gaming triggers absent
  • Design less focused on gaming aesthetics

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smooth visuals. The Poco F4 GT's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (likely a marketing term) suggests deep blacks and vibrant colors, but real-world differences are likely minimal. Both offer excellent viewing experiences.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable, with both phones offering capable photo and video capabilities. The Poco F4 GT might have a slight edge in image processing due to its newer chipset, but both are unlikely to compete with flagship camera phones. Expect decent results in well-lit conditions.

Performance

The Poco F4 GT's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 holds a significant advantage over the Black Shark 5's Snapdragon 870. While the 870 is still a capable chip, the 8 Gen 1 offers noticeably faster processing speeds and improved graphics performance, especially in demanding games. However, the 8 Gen 1 is known to have thermal throttling issues, which could impact sustained performance.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the Poco F4 GT boasting an endurance rating of 81 hours. The Black Shark 5's 120W charging is marginally faster than the Poco F4 GT's 120W charging (15 minutes vs 17 minutes to 100%), providing a quicker top-up.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 is ideal for dedicated mobile gamers who prioritize dedicated gaming features like shoulder triggers and a focus on cooling. The Poco F4 GT is a better choice for those seeking a well-rounded flagship experience with strong performance and a vibrant display, alongside gaming capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Poco F4 GT is generally better for demanding games due to its more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. However, be mindful of potential thermal throttling.
❓ Does the Black Shark 5 have better cooling?
Yes, the Black Shark 5 is known for its robust cooling system, which can help maintain performance during extended gaming sessions.