Xiaomi’s latest project makes its entry in the gaming battlefield and it is set to compete with smartphone goliaths like the Galaxy S9.
Officially announced a couple of days ago, the Xiaomi Black Shark is the first ever gaming-centric phone from the popular Chinese brand. And as always, it is equipped with extremely powerful hardware but without the sky-high asking price.
While the difference in cost is definitely far from each other, the Galaxy S9 and Xiaomi Black Shark are definitely close in the hardware department. So without further adieu, let’s start our specs comparison.
| Xiaomi Black Shark | Samsung Galaxy S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.0 Oreo JOY UI | Android 8.0 Oreo Samsung Experience 9 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Display | 5.99-inch Full HD+ IPS 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution ~403ppi 18:9 aspect ratio | 5.8-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED 2960 x 1440 pixel resolution, ~568ppi 18:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core | 2.9GHz Samsung Exynos 9810 octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Mali-G72 MP18 |
| RAM | 6GB / 8GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB UFS 2.1 | 64GB |
| Front Camera | 20-megapixel f/2.2 aperture | 8-megapixel AR Emoji |
| Rear Camera | 12-megapixel f/1.8 sensor 20-megapixel f/1.8 dual-pixel sensor with 2x optical zoom Phase detection autofocus LED flash | 12-megapixel Dual pixel sensor f/1.5-f/2.4 OIS 2x optical zoom 960fps slow-mo PDAF dual-LED flash |
| Security | Fingerprint scanner Facial recognition | Fingerprint scanner Iris scanner Facial Recognition |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 ac, WiFi hotspot Bluetooth 5.0 Dual-band NFC GPS, A-GPS USB Type-C | 4G LTE, Cat. 18, up to 1.28Gbps WiFi 802.11 ac, Hotspot Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX NFC GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou USB Type-C |
| Audio | Dual speakers | Dual AKG speakers Dolby Atmos |
| Others | Dedicated Gamepad | IP68 water and dust resistance Bixby 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 161.6 x 75.4 x 9.3mm | 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm |
| Weight | 190g | 168g |
| Colors | Polar Night Black Sky Gray | Midnight Black Lilac Purple Coral Blue |
| Battery | 4,000mAh Non-removable Quick Charge 3.0 | 3000mah Li-Po non-removable battery Fast charge, Wireless charging |
| Price | CNY2,999 (~Php25,000) | Php45,990 |
Obviously, the Galaxy S9 beats the Xiaomi Black Shark overall. However, that doesn’t mean that Xiaomi’s first effort in creating a gaming smartphone is a failure. In fact, it offers incredible value.
The screen of the Samsung Galaxy S9 is undoubtedly second to none, and it is still the very best in the market today. The company’s Super AMOLED has more pixel density and better colors than the competitor’s IPS panel.
When it comes to the hardware inside, both have a Snapdragon 845 chipset version — probably the processor of choice for most flagship smartphones coming out in 2018. Samsung also has its own Exynos 9810 which will be used in different regions around the world. Xiaomi equipped the Black Shark with more memory and storage — 50% more RAM on the standard 6GB + 64GB model and twice the amount in the 8GB + 128GB variant.
See also: Huawei P20 vs Samsung Galaxy S9: Specs Comparison
The Galaxy S9 has an IP68 certification which means that it can be submerged in water for a certain without getting damaged. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Black Shark lacks waterproofing, but it makes up for it with its dedicated gamepad. Unfortunately, it’s not included in the retail package out of the box, but customers can purchase it separately.
Black Shark is holding 33.33% more battery capacity than the S9. This means that it could potentially last longer in a busy day, but it could also be a tie given that AMOLED is very efficient in handling the battery.
Perhaps everything still boils down to the reliability and price. The Samsung Galaxy S9 is battle-tested already and it’s made by one of the best Android manufacturers in the world. Meanwhile, the Black Shark gaming smartphone is the first ever product of the company of the same name.
The Galaxy S9 costs Php45,990 in the Philippines. Xiaomi is yet to release more details about the Black Shark gaming smartphone, but we expect it to roll out to internationally and to other regions if it gets good sales in China. The price for the said smartphone is CNY 2,999 which is approximately Php25,000 in Philippine peso.