Black Shark 4 Pro review: Not just for gamers

With so many manufacturers going after that skinny-bezelled sleek look for their smartphones, it's refreshing when a phone comes along that's different. The Black Shark 4 Pro's priority is all about practicality: giving you a big and bright screen, big sound, but therefore being that bit bigger than your usual. But does that really matter? We think it's fantastic - whether you're a gamer or not.

Stunning big display; Stereo speakers are great; Ejectable trigger buttons are a real advantage; Not too expensive;

Battery life isn't great; Cameras are so-so; Last generation processor and software might put off some buyers;

Black Shark 4 Pro review

The Black Shark 4 Pro has some great gaming-focused features, including magnetic pop-up triggers and one of the most responsive displays around, but the year-old Snapdragon 888 stops it from being an instant recommendation.

Incredible 144Hz AMOLED display; Magnetic pop-up triggers are handy; Incredible performance from an older chipset;

Price doesn't reflect age of internals; JoyUI 12.5 can be frustrating to use; Limited RGB lighting;

Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro 5G (8GB RAM, 128GB, Black) - BRAND NEW review

The Black Shark 4 Pro delivers on its advertised promise: impressive gaming performance, with a few neat extras that help with gameplay. It's fast and fluid and boasts an amazing 120W fast-charging battery; still, it has some weaknesses.

Speedy 120W charging, Dedicated gaming features, Impressive battery life

No wireless charging, Standard camera quality, Not the thinnest

Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro 5G (8GB RAM, 128GB, Black) - BRAND NEW review

Gaming phones are out of good ideas. Each one that I’ve tried is a slightly different take on an exorbitant design, of course. But it’s just a couple of companies making powerful yet very similar (and, apparently, sometimes very fragile ) phones that aren’t really worth the effort of tracking down —...

Excellent haptics, Tactile mechanical triggers, Looks elegant for a gaming phone

Even the best-looking gaming phone doesn’t look great, Gross, sexist Shark Chan software, Lacking in reliable US carrier coverage

Xiaomi Black Shark 4 Pro 5G (8GB RAM, 128GB, Black) - BRAND NEW review

Mobile Gaming has come a long way from those Java-powered flip phone games, and holding Xiaomi’s Black Shark 4 Pro in my hands is a firm reminder. It maintains the sleek design of a standard smartphone, but upon closer inspection, you’ll find a powerful machine for the gamer on the go.

Snapdragon 888 Processor, Convenient shoulder buttons, Lightweight with a big screen, Responsive display

Odd user interface, Last-gen Snapdragon Processor, Unimpressive camera