Black Shark 2 Review – A Gaming Powerhouse with Killer Features
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Reviewed product
Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro★ 7.3Sponsored
Gaming smartphones have really been a buzz these days, as brands like Xiaomi, ASUS and Razer are offering devices made for this category. The first Black Shark was launched last April. Later on, the Black Shark Helo was launched in November. This year, Black Shark 2 was launched.
There are plenty of killer features you would love in Black Shark 2. The bold styling will quickly appeal to hardcore gamers, backed by ultra-smooth touch optimizations and great hardware.
Like other gaming phones, Black Shark 2 has also launched with some accessories, such as two controllers, which can attach to a custom case on either side, as well as a gamepad.
The best thing is that Black Shark 2 is backed by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor.
Well, things get more fun with Game Dock. When you swipe from the top right or left corner of every game, it unveils a range of Gaming Tools. This is where you can customize the vibrating feature, phone’s keypad, and Wi-Fi notifications.
On the front, it features full HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, complemented with an in-display fingerprint sensor, just like in Huawei P30 Pro and OnePlus 6T.
There are a couple of front stereo speakers below the display and there is a 20MP selfie camera on the top.
With Batmobile-like armored look, the overall aesthetic is identical to the initial Black Shark. On the left, it has a volume rocker and there is a power button on the right. There are RGB strips on both sides and USB-C port on the bottom.
On the back, there are two beady eyes with matte and glass metals and dual camera. The lighted-up Black Shark logo is well placed at the center. It shows up the visual appeal of RGB colors this time.
In real-world, its responsiveness was superb. However, it was not that better than any other flagship, even though casual gamers cannot notice the same. Nevertheless, if you play PUBG on the highest setting, you may notice the difference. It features 1080x2340p resolution.
The Black Shark 2 has got a heavy cell and is paired with powerful AMOLED display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. It drained only 8% on 90 minutes of video playback at full HD setting and maximum brightness. Well, it means the device can easily last full day, whether you are a casual user or a hardcore gamer.
Despite lacking wireless charging, it does features power-saving optimizations and fast charging. The Battery Saver mode limits location tracking, vibration, and background data.
Packed with 48MP main camera with f/1.8 and secondary 12MP sensor with 2x zoom and f/2.2 aperture, Black Shark 2 competes well with several flagships out there.
There is a great range of shooting modes available, such as Video, Slow Motion, Photo, Square Photo, Portrait, Pro and Panorama modes. It also has Auto HDR for high contrast scenes.
There are plenty of killer features you would love in Black Shark 2. The bold styling will quickly appeal to hardcore gamers, backed by ultra-smooth touch optimizations and great hardware.
Like other gaming phones, Black Shark 2 has also launched with some accessories, such as two controllers, which can attach to a custom case on either side, as well as a gamepad.
The best thing is that Black Shark 2 is backed by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor.
Price and Availability of Black Shark 2
- Available in the UK
- Priced at £479 (~$620/AU$880)
- US release date is yet to be confirmed
Key Features
- A big and bright AMOLED display
- Stereo speakers and in-display fingerprint scanner
- Wireless charging, 3.5mm jack, and NFC missing
Gaming
- Stereo speakers are quite loud
- Vibrates sometimes when playing games
- The highly customizable gaming experience
- Some parts of the software could be more polished
Well, things get more fun with Game Dock. When you swipe from the top right or left corner of every game, it unveils a range of Gaming Tools. This is where you can customize the vibrating feature, phone’s keypad, and Wi-Fi notifications.
Design
- Slim yet heavy
- Cool and high-end aesthetics
- Lighter elements
On the front, it features full HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, complemented with an in-display fingerprint sensor, just like in Huawei P30 Pro and OnePlus 6T.
There are a couple of front stereo speakers below the display and there is a 20MP selfie camera on the top.
With Batmobile-like armored look, the overall aesthetic is identical to the initial Black Shark. On the left, it has a volume rocker and there is a power button on the right. There are RGB strips on both sides and USB-C port on the bottom.
On the back, there are two beady eyes with matte and glass metals and dual camera. The lighted-up Black Shark logo is well placed at the center. It shows up the visual appeal of RGB colors this time.
Display
There was a nice LCD display on the original Black Shark. Although this time, it has added 0.4 inches of size and AMOLED screen, totaling 6.39 inches. On paper, Black Shark 2 does not have refresh rates of its competitors like ASUS ROG with 90Hz and Razer Phone series with 120Hz. With 240Hz of touch response, it is more responsive with 43.5ms of response time.
In real-world, its responsiveness was superb. However, it was not that better than any other flagship, even though casual gamers cannot notice the same. Nevertheless, if you play PUBG on the highest setting, you may notice the difference. It features 1080x2340p resolution.
Battery Life
- Performs very well on heavy usage
- 4000mAh battery
The Black Shark 2 has got a heavy cell and is paired with powerful AMOLED display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. It drained only 8% on 90 minutes of video playback at full HD setting and maximum brightness. Well, it means the device can easily last full day, whether you are a casual user or a hardcore gamer.
Despite lacking wireless charging, it does features power-saving optimizations and fast charging. The Battery Saver mode limits location tracking, vibration, and background data.
Camera
- 48MP main sensor and 12MP as the telephoto lens
- Dual rear camera
Packed with 48MP main camera with f/1.8 and secondary 12MP sensor with 2x zoom and f/2.2 aperture, Black Shark 2 competes well with several flagships out there.
There is a great range of shooting modes available, such as Video, Slow Motion, Photo, Square Photo, Portrait, Pro and Panorama modes. It also has Auto HDR for high contrast scenes.
What do we like?
- Futuristic Design
- Superior Performance
- 2-day battery life
- Vibrant AMOLED display
- Smooth interface
- Stereo sound
What we didn’t like?
- Don't have 3.5mm headphone jack
- No water resistance
- NFC not available
- Lack of wireless charging
Wrapping Up
Of course, Black Shark 2 is not perfect, but it is still the best when it comes to powerful performance at an affordable price. If you are looking for a flagship phone specifically for gaming without spending around $1000, you should definitely go with Xiaomi’s latest gaming smartphone. It is better than the original in almost every possible way and still delivers decent camera experience.Sponsored