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We’re considering the best Black Shark 5 Pro alternatives in 2023.
The Black Shark 5 Pro is a premium gaming phone that delivers a very strong gaming performance. Released in March 2022 as Black Shark’s flagship mode, its standout features include a stunning OLED display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and 144Hz refresh rate. While it remains a popular gaming phone less than a year since its release, it’s worth knowing about what else is out there and better suited to your personal needs, and maybe more specifically, if gaming phones are worth it?
With 12GB of RAM and a touch sampling rate of 720Hz, the Black Shark 5 Pro is the flagship model for a reason. It’s capable of charging from 0 to 100% in less than 15 minutes in Ultimate Mode which is super impressive too. The Black Shark 5 Pro is clearly a very able device, so which gaming phones are the most attractive alternatives?
We’ve selected five alternatives to the Black Shark 5 Pro, shining a light on rivals that undercut the phone in price and performance, or else make strides in other areas where the Black Shark 5 Pro falters. If you’re interested in a wider selection, consider our top picks for the best gaming phones.
Keep reading as we discuss our selection of gaming phones that make the most worthy alternatives to the Black Shark 5 Pro.
Best Black Shark 5 Pro alternatives
ASUS ROG Phone 6
Price Check: ASUS ROG Phone 6 via Amazon
At 16GB, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 trumps the Black Shark 5 Pro’s RAM, making it a sound choice for those looking for the next level of gaming phone.
Though the ROG Phone 6 shares the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor as the Black Shark 5 Pro, it makes considerable strides when it comes to refresh rate and battery power. At 165Hz, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 is a premium gaming phone boasting an impressive AMOLED display and 6000mAh battery.
Read More: ASUS Rog Phone 6 Pro alternatives – our top picks
The ROG Phone 6 also boasts ultrasonic shoulder buttons that support guroscope aiming, meaning you’ll find minimal limitations when it comes to gaming on your phone.
Other worthy features include access to ASUS’ exciting range of gaming accessories that include the ROG Kunai 3 gamepad that allows you to level up your mobile gaming experience. Ultimately, the Black Shark 5 Pro is still a powerful gaming phone, but the ROG Phone 6, backed by ASUS’ gaming credentials, pushes this gaming phone into the next tier up.
ASUS ROG Phone 5s Pro
Price Check: ASUS ROG Phone 5s Pro via Amazon
If you liked the look of the ASUS ROG Phone 6, but are keen for a closer price match, then you should opt for the ASUS ROG Phone 5s Pro.
It delivers in all the important areas including battery life, refresh rate and RAM. At 144Hz, the ASUS ROG Phone 5s Pro promises a smooth mobile gaming experience, aided by a decent 360Hz touch sampling rate. Though Black Shark 5 Pro trumps this at 720Hz, you’ll find a 360Hz ample for most intensive games.
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You might also want to consider the ASUS ROG Phone 5s Pro if battery life is important to you. At 6000mAh, you can have peace of mind using your phone without the need of a midday charge.
That being said, Black Shark 5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset is around 20% faster than the Snapdragon 888+. Whilst it is easy to discount a phone for a less powerful chipset, the Snapdragon 888+ is still worthy, and will cope with intensive gaming sessions and multi-tasking.
OnePlus 10T
Price Check: OnePlus 10T via Amazon
Xiaomi’s OnePlus 10T is a great alternative to the Black Shark 5 Pro if you’re looking for a phone that’s great for general use as well as gaming.
First and foremost, it has a stunning 10-bit color depth OLED display, boosted by HDR10+ that is great for both gaming and watching content. It also shares the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and up to 16GB of RAM, meaning it’ll be able to cope with intensive gaming sessions with minimal lag.
Read More: Are gaming phones worth it?
It truly starts to excel in the battery department, supported with a 150W charger that takes the device from 1% to 100% in just 19 minutes. Though Black Shark 5 Pro is technically faster, the OnePlus 10T 4800mAh battery is slightly more powerful and should be enough for most users.
You should opt for OnePlus 10T if you’re less keen on the gamer aesthetic of Black Shark 5 Pro. Its back panel is made from glass which gives it a sophisticated feel, significantly less bulky than its gaming phone counterparts.
You should opt for the OnePlus 10T if you’re a fan of gaming, but aren’t interested in committing to a gaming phone like the Black SHark 5 Pro.
Xiaomi Poco F4 GT
Price Check: Poco F4 GT via Newegg
The Poco F4 GT is a very close alternative to Black Shark 5 Pro, undercutting it in price.
When you look at the specs side by side, you’ll find both gaming phones offer remarkably similar performances. Both stand out with slightly less powerful batteries that are capable of a full recharge in less than 20 minutes. The Black Shark 5 Pro has the edge here by just 3 minutes, going from zero to fully charged in an incredible 15 minutes using Ultimate Mode, perhaps making it the preferred choice if you like to game out and about.
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For a cheaper price, you also get the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor too, though the Black Shark 5 Pro performs marginally better with its 144Hz refresh rate. The Black Shark 5 Pro is also the better option if you are keen to have the edge over potential opponents with a very high touch sampling rate of 720Hz.
Xiaomi’s F4 GT main falter when comparing it to the Black Shark 5 Pro is the camera quality. It uses a 64MP camera compared to the latter’s 108MP camera. So, if taking decent quality camera pictures on your phone is important to you, consider another one of our alternatives instead.
Nubia Red Magic 7
Price Check: Nubia Red Magic 7 via Amazon
Nubia’s Red Magic 7 is a premium phone that matches the price range of the Black Shark 5 Pro, with slight edge on performance.
Sharing the samer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 as the Black Shark 5 Pro, expect a solid gaming performance from Nubia’s former flagship. Its standout specs include a monstrous 16GB of RAM that is supported by a refresh rate of 165Hz that just beats the Black Shark 5 Pro.
Read More: Nubia Red Magic 7 alternatives
While the battery life is slightly disappointing, the Red Magic 7 can fully recharge from 0 to 100% in less than 30 minutes which slightly makes up for it. This makes it a sound choice for gamers who like to have intensive gaming sessions out and about.
The Red Magic 7 is also an ideal alternative for those who like to game with their headphones, since the Black Shark 5 Pro does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Frequently asked questions
Does Black Shark 5 Pro overheat?
Overheating is common in gaming phones, and the Black Shark 5 Pro is no exception. However, the VC liquid cooling plates work very well to stabilise the framerates and improve the efficiency of heat dissipation.
What is the latest model of Black Shark?
Black Shark’s latest mobile launch is the 5 Pro that launched in March 2022.
