Xiaomi has finally released its latest flagship and powerful smartphones in the country.
First, we have the Xiaomi Mi 10, a proper flagship device with the best processor you can find on a phone, the highest camera resolution, and more.
However, that’s not the only high-end phone that the company released in the Philippines.
A few weeks after the Mi 10, the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 also arrived in the Philippines. Being a gaming phone, it has some of the high-end features that the former have, plus a few extras to justify its namesake.
So the question is, which between these flagship devices is right for you? We find out in our Xiaomi Mi 10 versus Black Shark 3 specifications and features comparison.
Xiaomi Mi 10 | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 | |
Operating System | Android 10 MIUI 11 | Android 10 Joy UI 11 |
SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby |
Display | 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution ~386ppi HDR10+ 90Hz refresh rate 180Hz sampling rate 1200-nit brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 5 TUV Rheinland low blue-light certification | 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution ~392ppi 100% DCI-P3 HDR10+ 90Hz refresh rate 270Hz sampling rate MEMC 2.0 display processor Corning Gorilla Glass |
Processor | 2.84GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G octa-core Liquid Cooling | 2.84GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G octa-core Dual Heatsink |
GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 650 |
RAM | 8GB LPDDR5 | 8GB/12GB |
Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.0 non-expandable | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.0 non-expandable |
Front Camera | 20-megapixel f/2.0 120fps slow-mo selfie | 20-megapixel |
Rear Camera | 108-megapixel primary (f/1.7, OIS) 13-megapixel (ultra-wide f/2.2) 2-megapixel (macro) 2-megapixel (depth sensor) 8K video recording 120fps slow-mo PDAF OIS LED flash | 64-megapixel (6p, f/1.8) 13-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.25) 5-megapixel (depth sensor) PDAF AI Scene Detection up to 4K video up to 1920fps slow-mo LED flash |
Audio | Stereo speakers Hi-Res audio No headphone jack | Headphone jack Stereo speakers |
Security | In-display fingerprint scanner Face unlock | In-display fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE 5G WiFi 6, dual-band Bluetooth 5.1 Dual-band, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS IR blaster NFC USB Type-C | 5G 4G LTE WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, NAVIC USB Type-C Magnetic pins |
Others | Reverse Wireless Charging | Gaming Accessories Trigger buttons |
Dimensions | 162.6 x 74.8 x 8.96 mm | 168.72 x 77.33 x 10.42mm |
Weight | 208g | 222g |
Colors | Coral Green Twilight Grey | Lightning Black Armor Gray Star Silver |
Body | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Back: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) Back: Aluminum, RGB logo |
Battery | 4,780mAh 30W wired fast charging 30W wireless fast charging | 4,720mAh 65W fast charger Magnetic 18W charger (sold separately) |
Price | 8GB/128GB: Php34,590 8GB/256GB: Php36,990 | 8GB/128GB: Php29,995 12GB/256GB: Php34,995 |
Design
The Xiaomi Mi 10 and Black Shark 3 are made for two different people. The first one is for those who want a more normal-looking, but sleek and elegant smartphone.
It features Corning Gorilla Glass 5 in front and back. The rear has a shiny aesthetic that most smartphones have. It is available in Coral Green and Twilight Grey.
On the other hand, the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 has a more edgy design that’s really meant for gamer. It has an aluminum back panel, with RGB lighting, and an aggressive overall look. It’s available in Lightning Black, Armor Gray, Star Silver.
The bottom line is if you want something clean and minimalist, the Mi 10 offers a more elegant design and a curved screen will look better for you. But if you’re heavily invested on the gaming lifestyle, the Black Shark 3’s design might appeal to you better.
Either way, devices are attractive and sturdy in their own category. We just wish that they come with any official IP rating for water and dust protection.
Display
The Xiaomi Mi 10 offers a pretty packed display hardware. It has a large size of 6.67-inches to give enough room for gaming and multitasking, a colorful AMOLED panel, a decent FHD+ resolution, 1200-nits of brightness for sunny outdoors.
It also has a smooth 90Hz refresh rate with 180Hz sampling rate for improved responsiveness to touch. And, a TUV Rheinland certification that ensures your eyes are safe from any blue-light emitted on the screen.
What’s interesting is, you’re getting similar features on the Xiaomi Black Shark 3. But this time, the sampling rate was up to 270Hz, which will make it more responsive, perfect for playing games.
Black Shark 3 also has a dedicated MEMC 2.0 display that upscales regular 24Hz videos to take full advantage of its 90Hz screen.
Processor
Since they are both flagship phones, they share the same powerful processor. Both the Xiaomi Mi 10 and Black Shark 3 use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G octa-core processor, which is considered as the most powerful mobile chipset in the market today.
This processor also allowed both devices to have advanced connectivity features like 5G and WiFi 6. Albeit, the Black Shark 3 only has Bluetooth 5.0 instead of 5.1.
Since it’s meant for gaming, Xiaomi went overboard with the Black Shark 3’s cooling system. It has a dual sink system that sandwiches the entire motherboard to keep the temperatures normal and maintain its speed and performance after hours of playing.
To the Mi 10’s credit, it still has a liquid cooling system that should keep the temps down after hours of usage.
Cameras
While the Black Shark 3 nailed all the gaming and performance qualities, the Xiaomi Mi 10 covers all the flagship-y features better. This device comes with a 108-megapixel main camera, the highest resolution sensor you can get from a phone right now. It’s rigged with OIS, 8K video recording, and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera.
On the other hand, the Black Shark 3 settles for a 64-megapixel main camera and 4K video recording. But, it does have a more impressive 1920fps slow-mo recording. It also has the same 20-megapixel selfie camera, but the Mi 10 gets a one-up with its 120fps slow-mo selfie recording.
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Battery
Both the Xiaomi Mi 10 and Black Shark 3 shares almost similar battery capacity, with the Mi 10 only slightly higher at 4,780mAh. It also comes with support for a whopping 30W of wireless fast charging. However, although still relatively fast, it only has 30W of fast wired charging.
Meanwhile, the Black Shark 3 has a whopping 65W fast charger, which is included already on the box. Although, it lack any wireless charging support.
Others
The Black Shark 3 has a few extra features that you can expect from a gaming device. There’s the trigger buttons on the sides for shooter games or whatever you want to map it to. Plus, the slew of gaming accessories like attachable controllers, TV mount, and more.
Black Shark 3 also has a secondary magnetic charger on the side that you can use while in landscape mode.
On the other hand, the Mi 10 is all about practicality. One of its most notable side features is the wireless reverse charging that lets you easily share battery charge wirelessly to a wireless charging-capable smartphone.
Conclusion
Clearly, the Xiaomi Mi 10 and Black Shark 3 are made for two different people. The Mi 10 is for the casual users who take a lot of photos and just want a stylish and feature-packed flagship device.
But if you want an over-the-top experience with aggresive design, ultra-fast charging, and more, then you would definetely enjoy the Black Shark 3. Either way, you can’t go wrong with both of these devices.
Personally, if overall value is what you’re after, then you might be better off with the Black Shark 3. Other than the extra benefits you’re getting, it’s also noticeably cheaper with a starting price of only Php29,995. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Mi 10, with the same 8GB/128GB configuration, starts at Php34,590.