Black Shark 5 Pro Review: ‘Big Gaming Power Combined With an Awesome Camera’

BLACK SHARK 5 PRO GAMING PHONE REVIEW.

The battle of the gaming phones continues with the Black Shark 5 Pro. What sets this phone apart from the competition is the way that it not only succeeds as a portable gaming powerhouse, but it is also extremely capable at other phone duties like photos and media consumption. However, is the price tag of the Pro model worth it? This is my Black Shark 5 Pro review.

Yes, it can game!

Let’s get all of the gaming features out of the way first. The Black Shark 5 Pro packs in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU, a still very formidable almost top-tier processor; the impressive-sounding (and pleasingly functional) “Anti-Gravity Dual VC Cooling System,” which is passive and so doesn’t cause any fan noise; a 144 Hz OLED screen, which makes an extremely responsive display; and an aesthetic that is so unapologetically “gamer” that it comes complete with its own small RGB light.

Testing in games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Apex Legends Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Genshin Impact, I was pleased to see that I could crank up the graphics quality and still enjoy super-smooth performance. For those looking for benchmark figures, I measured 1174 single core and 3660 multi-core in GeekBench 5.

While it might not be the absolute best performer now that there are Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 phones in the wild, it still more than meets the mark when put to the test in the most popular mobile games.

Physical triggers are a big win

I’ve saved the best gaming feature until last, however, as the magnetic pop-up triggers on the Black Shark 5 Pro are the best around. Having physical triggers will always be better than settling for capacitive options. While yes, they are moving parts that are potentially more prone to failure later down the line, they have been flawless so far and the tactile feel they provide makes shooter games so much more enjoyable.

More than just a gaming phone

Unsurprisingly, the Black Shark 5 Pro is a damn good gaming phone. What is a surprise, however, is just how great it is for other applications. While a gamer is going to game a lot, they are also likely to take photos and video, as well as consume other media.

I found the camera to be the most impressive non-gaming feature. The Black Shark 5 Pro’s camera system shines brightest when using the 108 MP shooter, which incorporates pixel binning to capture photos that would normally have no business coming out of a “gaming phone.”

Pump it up

Speaking of impressive things coming out of the Black Shark 5 Pro, the speakers on this phone are fantastic. In fact, they rank as #1 in the DXOMARK audio ranking. They join forces with the OLED display to make for a brilliant movie-watching device.

Sonic charger

When you’re done playing gaming, taking photos, and watching movies on this multi-talented device, it’ll be time to recharge it. In my testing, I found the 4650 mAh battery died a little quicker than I expected. During moments where I would expect to be at around 30-40% on other phones, I’d already be at 15-25% on the Black Shark 5 Pro. However, when it comes to recharging it, that’s when the fun truly begins.

With the option to charge two separate cells simultaneously with the included 120W charger, it’s possible to get the phone back up to 100% in 15 minutes. Yes, just 15 minutes!

Black Shark Pro 5 Review: The final verdict

Starting at $799, the Black Shark Pro 5 is going up against the likes of the RedMagic 7S Pro which has its own arsenal of strengths and reasons to buy.

However, the Black Shark 5 Pro pulls away from the competition when it comes to its camera, which is much better than anticipated and makes for a capable little shooter ready for those who want to capture real-life victories in addition to making waves on the virtual battlefield.

Black Shark 5 Pro review unit provided by Xiaomi.