A new wave of gaming smartphones has entered the industry, thanks to the introduction of the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus.
The new gaming-centric processor will come with overclocked CPU and GPU over the standard Snapdragon 855 model. This creates a more powerful chipset that’s great for handling games.
One of the first devices to have this chipset is the new Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro. Besides having a more powerful processor, the Black Shark 2 Pro also got a facelift, and upgraded specs in some areas.
But other than Xiaomi’s offering, the ASUS ROG Phone II is also a feature-packed device to come with the new Snapdragon 855 Plus. Much like its predecessor, and other ROG products for that matter, the new ROG Phone brags a design and set of hardware aimed for gamers.
Today, we’ll see which between these heavily-rigged smartphones can actually fulfill your demanding needs. So, without further ado, here’s our Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro vs ASUS ROG Phone II specs comparison.
| Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro | ASUS ROG Phone II | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 9 Pie MIUI 10 | Android 9 Pie Zen UI 6/ROG UI |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM |
| Display | 6.39-inch FHD+ AMOLED 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution ~430ppi 108.9% DCI-P3 430-nits 34.7ms latency HDR | 6.59-inch FHD+ AMOLED 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution ~391ppi 120Hz refresh rate 1ms response time Delata E HDR support Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Processor | 2.96GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 octa-core Liquid Cooling 3.0 | 2.96GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 octa-core GameCool II heatsink |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB/12GB |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 640 |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.0 non-expandable | 128GB/512GB UF 3.0 non-expandable |
| Front camera | 20-megapixel f/2.0 | 24-megapixel f/2.2 |
| Rear Camera | 48-megapixel (f/1.8, Sony IMX 586) + 12-megapixel (2x telephoto, f/2.2) PDAF LED flash | 48-megapixel (f/1.8, Sony IMX 586) + 13-megapixel (ultra-wide) PDAF Laser autofocus Dual LED flash |
| Audio | Stereo speakers No headphone jack | Stereo speakers Headphone jack |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner Face unlock | In-display fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS USB Type-C | 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS 2x USB Type-C |
| Others | RGB lighting Proprietary accessories | RGB lighting AirTriggers Proprietary accessories |
| Dimensions | 163.61 x 75.01 x 8.77mm | 170.99 x 77.6 x 9.78 mm |
| Weight | 205g | 240g |
| Colors | Electric Black Ice Gray Blue Blue Orange Purple | Black |
| Battery | 4,000mAh 27W fast-charging support Quick Charge 4+ | 6,000mAh 30W ROG HyperCharge Quick Charge 4.0 |
| Price | 12GB/128GB: CNY2,999 (~Php22,100) 12GB/256GB: CNY3,499 (~Php25,800) | 8GB/128GB: CNY3,500 (~Php26,000) 12GB/512GB: CNY6,200 (~Php46,100) |
Since they are the only first two smartphones to have the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus processor, both the Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro and ASUS ROG Phone II are easily the most powerful smartphones in the market today.
But, if you’re looking for the best value for money, then you might want to get the more affordable Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro. However, you’d be sacrificing some of the interesting features that the ASUS ROG Phone II have.
Both devices come with an identical FHD+ Super AMOLED display. But with the ROG Phone II, you’re getting a screen with a smoother 120Hz refresh date, faster 1ms response time, and Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection.
They also come with up to 12GB of memory. As for storage, both models come sports a UFS 3.0 storage solution. Having 256GB of storage is already enough for most people, but if you really want to go 512GB, then the ROG Phone II is the one for you.
Clearly, these devices are rigged for gaming. As stated earlier, they come with a faster processor, with their own cooling solutions. But since ASUS’ offering has a heatsink, it may do a better job in cooling the processor.
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Their respective manufacturers created proprietary accessories that can boost the gaming experience. But to ASUS’ credit, their portfolio of mobile gaming accessories is vaster than Xiaomi’s. Also, the ASUS ROG Phone II has built-in AirTriggers in case you forgot the accessory at home.
The ROG Phone II even has an extra side-mounted USB Type-C port, so you can comfortably charge the device while playing in landscape orientation.
As for the design, well, it’s pretty much subjective. What we do know is that they both come with obligatory RGB lights and edgy for-gamers design. But to Xiaomi’s credit, the Black Shark 2 Pro is available in more colors other than Black.
Probably the major lead of the ASUS ROG Phone II over the Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro is the battery. This one comes with a 6,000mAh battery with a faster 30W HyperCharge support. Meanwhile, the latter has a smaller 4,000mAh battery with marginally slower 27W charging support.
As per the other things, the two are pretty much identical. They come with a 48-megapixel Sony IMX 586 sensor. Xiaomi’s bet has a secondary 12x telephoto shooter, while the latter has a 13-megapixel ultra-wide lens.
They are also rigged with in-display fingerprint sensors and stereo speakers. On the downside, the Black Shark 2 Pro lacks a headphone jack.
If you don’t care about the extra flares, then going with the more affordable Black Shark 2 Pro is definitely the best for you. This device starts at CNY2,999 (~Php22,100) for the 12GB/128GB model. The storage can be bumped up to 256GB when you pay CNY3,499 (~Php25,800).
But if the extra features and bigger battery of the ASUS ROG Phone II appeals you, then you can get it for a starting price of CNY3,500 (~Php26,000) for the Tencent version. However, it only comes with 8GB of storage instead of 12GB. Also, it will come with a lot of pre-installed apps and bloatware from Tencent.
If you want to be free from unwanted apps, you might want to get the top-of-the-line model — which also comes with 12GB of RAM and a roomy 512GB of storage — for a price of CNY6,200 (~Php46,100).