Following Asus’ ROG Phone 5 and Nubia’s Red Magic 6, Black Shark introduced the latest duo in its gaming phone collection: the Black Shark 4 and the Black Shark 4 Pro.
While gaming phones tend to have thicker bezels and a bulkier design to accommodate special features like front stereo speakers and a large battery, the Black Shark 4 series did things a little differently.
In fact, we would dare say that it looks like a smartphone 2021 standard flagship, but without compromising on key features that set the Black Shark series apart from a sea of gaming cellphones.
Let’s start by talking about the similarities between the Black Shark 4 and the Black Shark 4 Pro because at first glance it doesn’t seem like there are big differences between the two.
For example, they both have the same 6.67-inch FHD + display with a 144Hz refresh rate and an incredible 720Hz touch input rate, beating the 300Hz of the Asus ROG Phone 5 and the 500 Hz of Red Magic 6.
While the touch input rate has no visible difference, it does refer to how often touch is registered on the screen, which should result in faster reaction times both when playing games. and when scrolling through apps like Twitter and Instagram.
However, that’s not the biggest revelation on screen. While most gaming phones have thick bezels that house the front camera and other tech, often under the pretext that the bezels are better for horizontal gaming, the Black Shark 4 line does without bezels, instead introducing a camera. selfie perforated.
The end result is a much cleaner screen, similar to high-end flagships, but that “holepunch” might hamper some games a bit.
Unlike last year, when only the Black Shark 3 Pro received the physical trigger treatment, the feature is available across the entire Black Shark 4 lineup, albeit redesigned this time around.
For those who don’t know, the smartphone It has physical triggers that live inside the body and come out when you want to play. It appears to be a more tactile experience than the ROG Phone 5’s Touch AirTriggers, delivering a console-like gaming experience without the need for additional accessories.
Triggers can be used in most games – even those that are not compatible with the controller – thanks to Xiaomi’s trigger mapping technology, and triggers can also be used to activate non-gaming functions, such as than the camera, when not playing. .
The two smartphones combine 120W fast-charging technology and a 4,500mAh battery that the company claims can provide a full charge in just 15 minutes via USB-C.
A headphone jack is also available on both models, but that’s not much of a surprise given the gamer-centric nature of the collection.
You’ll find a triple camera setup on the back of both smartphones, although there is a slight difference in the offering: while the standard Black Shark 4 has a 48 MP primary lens, the Pro model has a camera. main improved from 64 MP.
Both are flanked by 8 MP and 5 MP cameras on the back, and while the lenses were not detailed during the event, we assume that it will be an ultra-wide lens and an ultra-wide lens, respectively. ‘a macro lens.
With so many differences between the two models, why choose the Pro model? It is mainly one element: the processor. While the Pro model carries the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 888 used by most competitors, the standard Black Shark 4 carries the Snapdragon 870.
The Snapdragon 870 is still a top-notch processor, capable of producing a great mobile gaming experience, but gamers tend to want as much power as possible, so this is an interesting change.
Aside from the processor, the only other tangible difference is in the design department, as the Pro models sport large LED-lit “X” markings on the rear, while the standard model has a more subtle matte rear, without lighting effects. .
The Black Shark 4 starts at CNY 2,499 (around $ 280) with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while 8GB / 128GB and 12GB / 256GB configurations are available in China.
The Black Shark 4 Pro starts at CNY 3,999 (around 610) with an 8GB / 256GB combo, but for those who want a little more, 12GB / 256GB and 16GB / 512GB options are also available.
Of course, prices tend to be cheaper in China than anywhere else, so don’t expect the same prices when they finally arrive in Europe and Latin America.
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