syn_anandtech: Xiaomi Unveils Black Shark 2 Pro: Snapdragon 855+, UFS 3.0 Storage

Xiaomi Unveils Black Shark 2 Pro: Snapdragon 855+, UFS 3.0 Storage

Xiaomi has introduced a refined version of its Black Shark 2 gaming smartphone. The new Black Shark 2 Pro is based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 Plus SoC and features a UFS 3.0 storage device. Besides the SoC uplift, Xiaomi has managed to reduce its input latency versus predecessor, providing a snappier gaming experience.

While the Black Shark 2 Pro is not a brand new handset, it does come in a new chassis designed to enable a very comfortable grip during gaming sessions and it is also compatible with Xiaomi’s Gamepad 2.0 Bluetooth add-on that adds 12 buttons, a physical joystick, and a touchpad. Just like the original version, the Black Shark 2 Pro comes with a 6.39-inch AMOLED display featuring a 2340x1080 resolution, a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 430 nits brightness, a 60,000:1 contrast ratio, and a 240 Hz touchscreen polling rate. In a bid to provide an even better gaming experience, the Black Shark 2 Pro features 34.7 ms input latency, down from 43.5 ms in case of the original one.

Another key feature of the Black Shark 2 Pro is Qualcomm’s top-of-the-range Snapdragon 855 Plus application processor that provides higher performance than the predecessor and which is cooled down using a new cooling system that uses a vapor chamber-like technology. The SoC is paired with 12 GB of LPDDR4X memory, as well as a 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 3.0 storage device. While the new smartphone uses new internals, it still comes with a 4000 mAh battery.

Imaging capabilities of the Black Shark 2Pro handset include main camera comprising of a 48 MP RGB sensor as well as a 12 MP telephoto sensor, which are accompanied by a dual-LED flash, as well as an HDR-enabled 20-MP sensor for selfies on the front.

The Black Shark 2 Pro Smartphone
		Preliminary Specifications
Display		AMOLED 6.39" 2340x1080 Corning Gorilla Glass 6
SoC		Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus Adreno 640
RAM		12 GB LPDDR4X
Storage		128 or 256 GB of UFS 3.0 NAND flash
Local Connectivity	Wi-Fi	802.11ac Wi-Fi
	Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0
	Data/Charging	USB 2.0 Type-C
	Audio	No 3.5-mm jack
	NFC	Yes
LTE		X24 Modem
Navigation		dual-band A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
Rear Camera		48 MP, f/1.75, 1/2-inch 0.8µm pixels, Laser/PDAF	12 MP, f/2.2, 54mm (telephoto), 1.0µm pixels, Laser/PDAF
Front Camera		20 MP, f/2.0, 0.9µm
Battery	Capacity	4000 mAh
	Expected Life	?
SIM Size		Nano SIM + Nano Sim
Sensors		accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Biometric Security	Fingerprint	in-screen
	Facial Recognition	-
Dimensions	Height	163.6 mm \| 6.44 inches
	Width	75 mm \| 2.95 inches
	Thickness	8.8 mm \| 0.35 inches
Weight		205 grams \| 7.23 ounces
Colors		black, blue, silver, orange, purple
Protection	Drop	?
OS		Google Android 9.0
Launch Countries		China initially, NA/EU launch later
Price		$385+

Xiami will start shipments of the Black Shark 2 Pro smartphones in black, blue, silver, orange and purple colors. The 128 GB variant will cost CNY 2,999 ($385), whereas the 256 GB version will be priced at CNY 3,499 ($450).