Black Shark 3 vs Black Shark 3 Pro – What’s The Difference?


Black Shark 3 vs Black Shark 3 ProPin

Xiaomi’s Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro are now official. They’re both 5G gaming phones. But how do they differ with respect to specs and features? Let’s investigate…


Xiaomi’s spin-off gaming phone brand Black Shark is back with its third installment (FYI, the Black Shark 2 is now just £539). And this time both the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro are packing 5G connectivity, making them the world’s first 5G gaming phones. So what’s cooking with these two phones? And are they better options than the ASUS ROG 2 Phone?

Black Shark 3 vs Black Shark 3 ProPin

As you’d expect, both the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro pack in plenty of specs (more on this in a bit) and lots of lovely RGB lighting effects, both on the rear of the chassis and inside the phones’ UXs. The phones will retail for $502 and $675, respectively once they’re available.

Both phones will be joined by Black Shark’s Ophidian Bluetooth earbuds (we got a video on these at the end of the post) which are designed for a more immersive gaming experience. Personally? I’d still rather use my Bose QC35IIs. I’ve yet to find a pair of earbuds that can compete with over-ear headphones.

Pre-orders for both phones have now kicked off in China.

Black Shark 3 vs Black Shark 3 Pro: Specs

OK, first let’s take a look at how the specs for both the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro differ.

Black Shark 3 Specs

  • Display: 6.67″ 20:9 1080p AMOLED, 105% DCI-P3 gamut
  • SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
  • RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X or 12GB LPDDR5
  • Storage: 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.0
  • Rear camera: 64MP f/1.8 wide, 13MP f/2.25 ultrawide, 5MP f/2.2 depth
  • Front camera: 20MP f/2.2
  • Battery: 2-cell 4,720mAh w/ up to 30W (8GB RAM) or 65W (12GB RAM) charging, Quick Charge 4+ support
  • Headphone jack: Yes
  • Software: Android (version not listed)
  • Connectivity: 5G, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 6, USB-C
  • Dimensions: 168.7 x 77.3 x 10.4mm / 222g
  • Colors: Faerie Pink, Midnight Black, Knight Grey, Frozen Silver

Black Shark 3 Pro Specs

  • Display: 7.1″ 19.5:9 1440p AMOLED, 97% DCI-P3 gamut
  • SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
  • RAM: 8GB or 12GB LPDDR5
  • Storage: 256GB UFS 3.0
  • Rear camera: 64MP f/1.8 wide, 13MP f/2.25 ultrawide, 5MP f/2.2 depth
  • Front camera: 20MP f/2.2
  • Battery: 2-cell 5,000mAh w/ up to 65W charging, Quick Charge 4+
  • Headphone jack: Yes
  • Software: Android (version not listed)
  • Connectivity: 5G, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 6, USB-C
  • Dimensions: 177.8 x 83.3 x 10.1mm / 253g
  • Colors: Knight Grey, Blasting Black

The Big Differences (Why The Pro Model Costs More)

The main differences between the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro, meaning why you’ll pay more for the Pro model, are to do with the display (the Pro’s is a 7.1in AMOLED panel), battery size (the Pro’s is a larger 5000mAh cell), and the memory used inside the phones – the Pro model uses LPDDR5 memory, which is 1.5x faster than LPDDR4X.

On top of this, the Pro model gets support for a more advanced game controller. And if you’re going to be using these phones as gaming devices, this point is well worth carefully considering before pulling the trigger on either of these phones.

Bottom-line? You’ll need to get the Pro model (pictured below) to achieve the best possible gaming experience on these phones…

black-shark-3-proPin

You do get more color options with the standard Black Shark 3 model, however, with the following options: Faerie Pink, Midnight Black, Knight Grey, Frozen Silver. Mostly, though, you’re paying more for faster memory, a bigger AMOLED display, and a larger battery. Beyond this, the phones are very similar.

For instance, both the models use the same triple-lens cameras (64MP f/1.8 wide, 13MP f/2.25 ultrawide, 5MP f/2.2 depth) and both are available with up to 256GB of storage. Neither supports MicroSD cards, however, which is a bit of a disappointment given their “gaming” nature – gamers like expandable storage.

Continuing with cameras, the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro have 20MP (f/2.2) front-facing cameras, which is a welcome addition. If you do a lot of video calling and take a lot of selfies, you will notice a big difference with a 20MP sensor on the front. The iPhone 11 Pro’s, for instance, is a 12MP setup.

Both models feature Black Shark’s “sandwich” cooling system to ensure the phones run nice and cool when you’re balls-deep in a gaming session.

“Being the leader of liquid cooling technology,” said Black Shark, “Black Shark became the first manufacturer to implement liquid cooling system into a smartphone, the most creative ‘sandwich structure’ is built for keeping the core cool and enable the Snapdragon 865 to run at its best state, providing stably high performance during serious gameplay.”

Let’s Talk About Those “Dual-Batteries”

Both the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro feature dual-batteries that will discharge simultaneously. The idea here is that you get less wear and tear over extended gaming sessions, and improved battery efficiency. You will be able to fast-charge the batteries as well – up to 65W.

“The series charging of the two batteries enables 65W super-fast charging speed,” said Black Shark in a statement, “while the parallel discharging allows a longer and more stable battery life. The R&D test records show that Black Shark 3 with 4,720 mAh battery and Black Shark 3 Pro with 5,000 mAh battery take only 12 minutes for 50% charge and 38 minutes for a full charge.”

But where this dual-battery thing gets weird is that Xiaomi, and OPPO before it, claims that dual batteries actually charge faster than single batteries. How? I have no idea. But if this is true, we could start seeing this technique used in many more phones. I mean, if two charges faster than one, why not use four?

5G Gaming Phone

Obviously, the big “marketing hook” here is the fact that both the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro, thanks to their Snapdragon 865 CPUs, carry 5G connectivity. Obviously, this is a good thing. It’s nice to be future proof. But neither the UK or US’ 5G networks are anywhere near ready just yet – despite the claims of carriers.

Still, it’s nice to have it in place, but I wouldn’t necessarily agree that the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro are the “world’s first 5G gaming phones” because I’m pretty sure IQOO has a 5G gaming phone that was announced before the third-iteration of Xiaomi’s Black Shark series (although I could be mistaken).

Either way, if these phones have got your interest piqued, you’ll want to keep your eyes on Black Shark’s official site for details of when you can buy them outside of China.


From Our Sponsors… 

⚡️Get Unlimited Data, Inc. 5G for nothing + Unlimited Calls & Texts for just £11 a month! ⚡️

Latest Smartphone Releases


  • Xiaomi 15S Pro

    The Xiaomi 15S Pro didn’t come with a flashy launch, but it brings some seriously heavy hardware to the table. A custom 10-core chip, Leica-engineered cameras, and one of the brightest displays on the market

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

    At just 5.8mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest Android phones ever made—but don’t let the slim profile fool you. This phone is all flagship under the hood.

  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

    It’s got the same slick design and OLED display, but adds a periscope zoom camera and a 50MP front-facing shooter.

  • Nothing Phone (3a)

    The Nothing Phone (3a) nails the formula: give people what they actually want, keep the price low, and make it look cooler than anything else in its class.

  • Motorola EDGE 60 Pro

    With a bold design, flagship-like display, and surprisingly refined camera system, it’s one of the most interesting mid-range phones of 2025.

  • Google Pixel 9

    I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for a few weeks now, and honestly? It nails all the basics—and a bit more. Killer stuff all round!

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

    I’ve used the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily device, and it’s hands-down the best balance of power, practicality, and photography you’ll find on Android right now.

  • OnePlus 13

    I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 as my daily driver for a few months now—and I’ve got to say, it’s easily one of the best Android phones I’ve tested this year.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

    After using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a week, I can confidently say: this phone is an absolute beast. It’s made for camera nerds, power users, and creators.

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

    If you’ve been holding out for a truly complete iPhone, the 16 Pro Max delivers—hard. After using it daily, I won't be going back…

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

    Big screen, big battery, and even bigger brains—this is the Pixel to get if you want Google’s best hardware and longest support.

  • Google Pixel 9a

    The Pixel 9a brings Google’s flagship-level smarts to a budget-friendly package, and it’s easily one of the best-value Android phones of 2025.

Best SIM-Only Plans & Deals


  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan

    Boost’s top-tier option brings the heat: 50GB of premium data, hotspot, North America roaming, global talk & text, and $430 off select devices. All-in at $60/month with no contract.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (50GB premium speed)

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited+ Plan

    Level up with 40GB of premium data, hotspot access, global calling, and up to $300 in device savings. All for just $50/month. No contracts and flexible phone options included.

    +

    Data: Unlimited; Speed Caps After 40GB

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan

    Start strong with 30GB of premium data, unlimited everything, and a killer intro offer: just $15/month for the first 3 months, then $25/month forever. No contracts. No fluff. Big value.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (Speed Caps Over 30GB)

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    Another high-data, low-cost option with no contract. 108GB for just £9, full 5G access, and the same goodies you get with 12-month deals.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 20GB

    The lowest price option. 20GB for £6 with all the same perks as pricier plans. Great if you don’t use much data and want to save every penny.

    +

    Data: 20GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 110GB

    This plan gives you big data and zero commitment. 110GB for just £10 with all perks intact. If you need more data but want the freedom to cancel, this is the one.

    +

    Data: 110GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    More data, same price. For just £8/month, you get 60GB on a no-strings 1-month rolling plan. Ideal for users who stream often but don’t want long commitments.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 40GB

    Perfect if you want full flexibility. You get 40GB and all of iD Mobile's perks with no lock-in, annual increases, or setup fees. Great for short-term users.

    +

    Data: 40GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    One of the best pound-per-GB plans around. You get 60GB for £8 with £25 cashback, which means you’re effectively paying closer to £6/month. Includes roaming and data rollover.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    This deal gets you a healthy 108GB of 5G data for less than a tenner, with no upfront costs and £24 cashback. All the perks are included too: data rollover, roaming, and loyalty rewards.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: Unlimited Data

    This iD Mobile plan doesn’t just compete on price, it’s up there with the best of them. Unlimited everything, a year-long lock-in with no price rises, and £42 cashback straight to your pocket. It’s like getting nearly 3 months free.

    +

    Data: Unlimited, No Speed Caps

  • Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

    If you're looking to save some cash on your bills, this plan is an awesome option. You'll get 20GB of data per month and 20GB hotspot data allowance. For moderate to heavy users, that should be more than enough. I seldom use more than 10GB of data a month, and I'm always using my phone

    +

    Data: 20GB