The Black Shark 5 series was launched in Malaysia in June, featuring the Black Shark 5 Pro and Black Shark 5. Both are the latest Xiaomi-backed gaming phones, which are here to take on the mobile gaming market. I’ve been using both devices for quite some time, and it’s time to move on with a full review.
Black Shark 5 Pro Specs
- 6.67-inch Full HD+ (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) 144Hz AMOLED display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor
- Up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
- Camera
- Rear: 108MP main + 13MP ultra-wide camera + 5MP telemacro camera
- Front: 16MP
- 4,650mAh battery with 120W Hyper Charge
- Black Shark JOYUI 13 based on MIUI 13
- Colors: Nebula White, Stellar Black
Black Shark 5 Specs
- 6.67-inch Full HD+ (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) 144Hz AMOLED display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor
- Up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM
- Up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
- Camera
- Rear: 64MP main + 13MP ultra-wide camera + 2MP macro camera
- Front: 16MP
- 4,650mAh battery with 120W Hyper Charge
- Black Shark JOYUI 13 based on MIUI 13
- Colors: Mirror Black, Explorer Grey
Design
The front of both phones look pretty much the same, it’s hard to know which. Both phones look pretty much the same as the Xiaomi 11T series. You get a hole-punch selfie camera at the center top of the screen, just like many other Android phones.
The I/O ports are also located at the same position for both phones, you get a USB-C port at the bottom, the volume rocker on the left side, and the power button (with fingerprint sensor) on the right side. Both phones also have magnetic pop-up triggers that are physical ones instead of capacitive ones. I do prefer this type of physical trigger as it provides better feedback.
Speaking of magnetic pop-up triggers, both triggers will only pop up when you push the sliders next to them. You can use them for gaming or customize them to perform certain actions when you are not gaming. Both phones also have a pressure-sensitive screen whereby you can press either the left or right side of the screen harder to trigger input. There are also motion sensors (MEMC) that act as triggers, but the MEMC feature is not that nice to use.
The back of both phones is where you can see the difference. The Black Shark 5 Pro has a matte finishing back, while the non-Pro variant has glossy glass. Both phones have a tiny RGB light on the back, tiny for a gaming phone, but I’m fine with it. Both phones have different graphics on the back panel, and the Pro variant even comes with the Nebula White color option!
Display
Both phones have the same 6.67-inch Full HD+ (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 720Hz touch sampling rate. However, only the Pro variant can automatically adjust the optimal refresh rate according to the usage scenario.
In terms of screen quality, both Black Shark 5 Pro and Black Shark 5 have identical color accuracy, not the best in the market but good enough for your day-to-day usage.
Performance
The Black Shark 5 Pro is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, while the non-Pro variant has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage.
In terms of gaming performance, both phones can handle graphically demanding games well without any hiccups. Both phones also have great thermal management thanks to the more efficient cooling system. The Pro variant has the Anti-Gravity Dual VC Liquid Cooling, which is more advanced than the “Sandwich” Liquid Cooling System in the non-Pro variant. This is because the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor is a hot chip that requires a better cooling system to keep it cool. The Pro variant is still slightly hotter than the non-Pro variant, but that doesn’t affect the overall gaming performance.
Software
Both phones run on Black Shark JOYUI 13, which is a skinned version of MIUI 13. Everything looks and feels pretty much the same as MIUI 13, but Black Shark has added more green elements to the interface.
JOYUI 13 also features Shark Space 4.0, which allows you to quickly get access to network settings, performance adjustments, mute notifications, and other functions in any game. You can also connect to other Black Shark accessories and customize the settings in the app. JOYUI 13 even has a smart assistant called Shark Chan, which is your visualized smart assistant that can interact with you. She can help
you set up the morning alarm clock, and show up in the wallpaper or while charging.
Camera
Both phones have a triple-camera setup, though they are quite different. The Pro variant comes with a 108MP main camera, while the non-Pro variant has a 64MP main camera. The Black Shark 5 Pro has a 5MP telephoto camera as opposed to the non-Pro’s 2MP macro camera. Both phones also feature a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 16MP front camera for taking selfies.
Both phones are quite identical in terms of camera quality, though the Pro model often shoots brighter photos. By default, the Pro variant shoots 12MP photos, while the non-Pro variant shoots 16MP photos due to the nature of Quad Bayer technology. Just like many other gaming phones, don’t expect both Black Shark 5 Pro and Black Shark 5 to shoot flagship-level photos, but they are still good enough.
Battery Life
Both phones pack the same 4,650mAh battery that supports 120W Hyper Charge. Both phones don’t have great battery life, which is kind of expected since both phones are at their peak performance most of the time. Charging both phones from 15% to full only took less than 15 minutes though, faster than 95% of smartphones in the market right now. Both phones also support a bypass charging feature that lets you plug in the charger and play games without charging the battery.
Final Words
Both phones are now available in Malaysia, pricing as below:
- Black Shark 5 Pro (Lazada | Shopee)
- 12GB + 256GB: RM3,699
- 16GB + 256GB: RM3,999
- Black Shark 5 (Lazada | Shopee)
- 8GB + 128GB: RM2,299
- 12GB + 256GB: RM2,699
So, which should you get? The Pro or non-Pro model? To be honest, the Pro variant is quite similar to the non-Pro variant, the only reason you should be getting the Pro variant is futureproofing. The Black Shark 5 Pro has the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen processor, which theoretically will support new games at better graphical settings.
Here’s a problem though, you can’t predict the future. With that being said, getting the non-Pro variant is the safest option as getting the Pro variant will cost at least RM1k more, which still considers a lot. If you insist want the best option, just go right ahead to get the Black Shark 5 Pro.
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