In just two days, we quickly ranked up in games like Call of Duty Mobile, where we reached the master tier. We weren’t just playing better, we were outperforming everyone else. Coming from someone who doesn’t generally do all that well at shooters, that’s saying something. I used to be pretty skeptical about gaming phones, and for the most part, still am. It’s not the most impressive gaming-focused feature though; that award goes to the magnetic pop-up triggers, found on the right-side of the smartphone (or the top left and right when gaming horizontally). Hidden when not in use, the triggers simply pop out by flipping the switches that sit next to each, providing a more console-esque gaming experience without the need to carry around accessories.
- Black Shark 4 features up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
- It lasted almost 13 hours in our video-loop battery test, for example.
- I would have liked to see a more integrated way of connecting and powering the cooler, however.
- To fix the problem, download the Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro USB driver and install it on your computer.
- While most modern devices have all standard sensor features, some devices have more complete sensor features than others.
I took them on walks and comfortably used them in the studio. The buds themselves hit about 6 hours of battery life alone and 28 hours with the charging case.
If you’re more focused on the core gaming experience than the specs, the Black Shark 4 Pro is still a tempting option. It also allows for game macros – something not found on most gaming phones – that allow you to trigger repetitive actions with a single tap of a button, further aligning the PC and mobile gaming experiences. The Black Shark 4 Pro is an exceptionally well-built gaming phone, with all the nuts and bolts that we’ve come to expect from one. Better yet, its $579 starting price undercuts most of the competition, without compromising on processing power and functionality. Just be prepared for the device’s heavy skin over Android, a slower cadence of software updates, and middling battery life. If you can get over those shortcomings, the Black Shark 4 Pro may be the gaming phone for you.
Check out the Black Shark website (opens in new tab) for accessories, including a cooling fan, earphones, and more gaming triggers. I used to think gaming phones were more of a gimmick without any noticeable benefits compared to their non-gaming variants. As smooth as the Black Shark 4 Pro looks and feels, the biggest test for a gaming phone is its performance. While I’m typically against comparing devices through benchmarks — nothing is more accurate than real-world use — here’s a snapshot of how the Black Shark 4 Pro fares in a sea of similarly priced handsets.
- What is the difference between stock firmware the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 and Xiaomi Black Shark 4?
- The Black Shark 4 has triple rear AI cameras, a 48MP f/1.8 primary camera paired with a 120-degree ultra-wide-angle shooter of 8MP, and a dedicated 5MP depth of field sensor.
- The Black Shark 5 Pro has a triple rear camera module powered by a primary 108 MP main lens and coupled with a 13 MP ultra wide angle lens and a 5 MP macro sensor.
- I actually prefer these physical triggers over the touch-sensitive ultrasonic ones on the Asus ROG Phone 5.
- Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro ADB Driver and Fastboot Driver enable you to pass ADB commands and Fastboot commands from the computer to perform certain operations on your phone.
- The Black Shark 4 Pro does not support wireless charging, but if that’s the expense for 120W wired charging, it’s a compromise that I’m willing to accept.
Black Shark claims that the display has a touch delay of 24ms. However, dynamic refresh-rate adjustment doesn’t seem to be present, presumably due to the lack of a MEMC chip. The devices also come with two pop-up mechanical shoulder buttons that can be remapped to perform other tasks.
