The Xiaomi-backed Black Shark was made to lure in gamers and to basically compete with the Razer Phone.
The Xiaomi Black Shark is rigged with a slew of high-end components to make it the perfect companion for those who want to go serious about mobile gaming. However, this also meant that the Xiaomi Black Shark has serious hardware that might also appeal to regular, non-gamer consumers.
With that, the Black Shark will also be competing with other flagship devices that are out in the market today. One of these devices is the ASUS Zenfone 5Z — a smartphone that’s also from a company that wants to bring the best value for the buck.
So the question is, how does the two fair against each other? Is Xiaomi’s new handset more than just a gaming smartphone? Is ASUS latest flagship more than just good looks? Learn the answer to those questions in our Xiaomi Black Shark vs ASUS Zenfone 5Z specs comparison.
| Xiaomi Black Shark | ASUS Zenfone 5Z | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.0 Oreo JOY UI | Android 8.0 Oreo ZenUI 5.0 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Display | 5.99-inch FHD+ IPS 2160 x 1080 resolution ~403ppi 18:9 aspect ratio 97% DCI-P3 coverage | 6.2-inch FHD+ IPS 2246 x 1080 resolution ~401ppi 19:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 630 |
| RAM | 6GB / 8GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB UFS 2.1 non-expandable | 128GB expandable via microSD up to 2TB |
| Front Camera | 20-megapixel f/2.2 aperture | 8-megapixel ZeniMoji |
| Rear Camera | 12-megapixel (Wide, f/1.8) + 20-megapixel (Telephoto, f/1.8) dual-pixel sensor Phase detection autofocus LED flash | 12-megapixel (f/1.8) + 8-megapixel (120-degree wide-angle) OIS 240fps slow-mo Phase detection autofocus LED flash |
| Security | Fingerprint scanner Facial recognition | Fingerprint scanner Facial recognition |
| Audio | Stereo front speakers | Stereo speakers |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 ac, WiFi hotspot Bluetooth 5.0 Dual-band NFC GPS, A-GPS USB Type-C | 4G LTE, X20 Gigabit modem WiFi 802.11 ac, Hotspot Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX NFC GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou USB Type-C |
| Others | Dedicated Gamepad | AI-powered camera modes |
| Dimensions | 161.6 x 75.4 x 9.3mm | 153 x 75.7 x 7.9mm |
| Weight | 190g | 155g |
| Colors | Polar Night Black Sky Gray | Meteor Silver Midnight Blue |
| Battery | 4,000mAh Non-removable Quick Charge 3.0 | 3300mAh battery Fast charge |
| Price | CNY2,999 (~Php25,000) | Php29,995 |
It appears that the Xiaomi Black Shark and the ASUS Zenfone 5Z are really similar to each other — at least in the spec sheet. But it is actually not so surprising since they almost have the same price as well.
Both devices use the same industry-leading Snapdragon 845 processor. The two also share the same Full HD+ IPS display, although the Zenfone 5Z is slightly taller due to its 19:9 aspect ratio.
The rivals run on the same Android version, but with their own take on the user interface with Zen UI and Joy UI. There are also stereo speakers, facial recognition, and dual-SIM capabilities.
See also: Xiaomi Black Shark vs Razer Phone: Specs Comparison
And while the Black Shark has a better set of cameras, ASUS is clearly showing more effort in this department by introducing a slew of AI-powered camera modes and features.
The Xiaomi Black Shark proves that it’s really meant for gamers as it has a bigger 4000mAh battery, a dedicated gamepad (sold desperately), and a really aggressive for-gamers type of design.
So if you don’t mind having a smaller battery, or more pixel-dense cameras, then you might enjoy the Zenfone 5Z’s sleeker and relatively elegant design.
The ASUS Zenfone 5Z has an official price of Php29,995 in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi Black Shark’s price in China is CNY 2,999 which is around Php25,000 when directly converted. Of course, that’s before taxes and dues, so we expect the price to go up if ever it comes to PH.
just want to clarify on sold desperately