Xiaomi is set to launch its latest high-end smartphone, the intriguingly named Black Shark 4 and the Black Shark 4 Pro. Working with premium gaming brand Black Shark, Xiaomi has crafted two new devices designed with gamers' needs firmly at the fore.
Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Targeting Gamers
Let's dive into the Black Shark 4 and Black Shark 4 Pro specs to give you a better idea about what Xiaomi and Black Shark have cooked up.
Both the Black Shark 4 and Black Shark 4 Pro feature 6.67-inch AMOLED screens with a refresh rate of 144Hz, which should offer excellent clarity and response time. Paired with the screen is the substantial touch response rate of 720Hz, which will become the fastest touch response rate on the market.
This figure details how fast your touch screen response is, and as far as smartphones go, that's really fast. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S20 has a 240Hz touch response rate, which was considered an excellent screen.
Under the hood, the Black Shark 4 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, while the Black Shark 4 Pro uses the slightly more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset.
Both of these Snapdragon SoCs come with 5G, support for Wi-Fi 6, and support up to 16GB RAM, but the Snapdragon 888 uses the more powerful Adreno 660 CPU, which should allow better overall gaming performance.
Of course, such powerful gaming smartphones need a suitable source of energy. Both Black Shark 4 models feature a 120W 4,500mAh battery, which should keep you gaming all day. But if you run short, both devices are equipped with fast-charging, taking just 15 minutes to achieve a full charge.
Despite the impressive array of specs, the Black Shark 4 and Black Shark 4 Pro hides another secret, something that makes them unique in the world of smartphone gaming. The Black Shark 4 includes physical triggers that sit flush to the phone's body, but that can be popped up for better access while gaming.
Suddenly, your smartphone has shoulder buttons, giving you greater control over any game with way more functionality than other devices. Xiaomi has made it clear that the extra buttons aren't just for gaming, either. You can use them to access other apps and files on the Black Shark 4, too.
Is the Black Shark 4 the Best Gaming Smartphone?
The combination of specs, the addition of actual shoulder buttons, and the potentially exceptional screen could put the Xiaomi Black Shark 4 and Black Shark 4 Pro right up there with the best gaming smartphones of all.
US prices aren't currently available for the Black Shark 4 or Black Shark 4 Pro, but we'll update this post as and when we have the information to hand. Until then, please keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming hands-on review with the Xiaomi Black Shark 4, coming soon!
