The world of gaming smartphones is increasingly diverse.
However, this sector is still driven by devices that are configured in the high
end of the market, sold at prices that easily exceed 1000 euros in the most
performing variants (for example, ROG Phone 5 Ultimate costs 1299 euros). Of
course, there are also devices like RedMagic 6, which starts at 599 euros, but
it remains in a price range of a certain type. So far it has hardly fallen
below this cost, considering that Black Shark 3 in 2020 had a starting price of
599 euros. In this context, not a few think that techsupportreviews someone is needed who can
"shake" the market. Black Shark 4 is a smartphone that wants to do
just that , focusing on the aggressive price of 499 euros on the official
website(8 / 128GB).
Then there is a 12 / 256GB variant, sold for 599 euros. For
completeness of information, you should know that we have tried the Chinese
variant from 12 / 128GB, which in any case does not present substantial
differences with the product available in Europe. In any case, over the last
few weeks there have already been some promotions in Italy , which have brought
the starting price closer to 400 euros than 500 euros. In short, the cost can
be associated with that of some mid-range smartphones, but how does the smartphone
behave?
A design that stands out
A gaming smartphone must be noticed. Black Shark 4 features
a screen with a hole for the camera at the top center at the front, but it is
the back of the device that stands out from the myriad of products on the market.
In fact, unlike many other models of this type, Black Shark 4 does not have any
LEDs. Simply, it takes advantage of the shape of the back to create excellent
plays of light around the inevitable "S". The result is also pleasing
to the eye in the Mirror Black color that we had the opportunity to try (the
Pale Gray model is also available on the market). One aspect that made us turn
up our noses a bit is the fact that the backcover holds some fingerprints. It
also lacks waterproofing.
Otherwise, even though the frame is metal, the materials do
not provide a "Premium" feel and this may not be ideal for some.
Despite this, the constructive solidity is there, also considering the weight
of 210 grams and the dimensions of 163.83 x 76.35 mm x 10.24 mm. Weight and
thickness are therefore not contained, on the contrary, but after some time we
got used to it and we used the device without too many problems. The handling
is in fact not that bad.
At the top of the back the triple camera peeps out, flanked
by the LED flash. The protrusion of the sensors is very small and the
smartphone does not "dance" at all if placed on a flat surface (on
the other hand, the thickness of the device is already high). On the right side
we find 2 physical sliders to make the dorsal triggers "come out", as
well as the power button which also acts as a fingerprint sensor.
The unlocking speed is average and the classic facial
recognition is also present. On the left we find the volume rocker, microphone
and trolley for the SIM (dual nanoSIM). At the top there are microphone and
speaker, while at the bottom we find microphone, 3.5 mm audio jack for
headphones , speaker and USB Type-C port (video output is not missing).
As for the contents of the package, however, we remind you
that we received the Chinese model on test, so there may be variations. We
found a semi-rigid cover, the pin for extracting the SIM compartment, various
manuals, some Black Shark stickers, a USB Type-C / USB Type-A cable and a 120W
charger. Count that in the European variant the content should be similar, but
the charger in the package should reach 67W (despite the smartphone supports
120W). In any case, it is certainly a complete proposal.
Wise choices in terms of performance
A gaming device cannot fail to focus on "brute
force". However, in this case there is also the need to contain costs.
Black Shark has therefore put in place an idea that probably has been flashing
in the minds of many fans for some time: given that this year there are
processors that "take their cue" from the Snapdragon 865 used by the
2020 flagships, why not implement one of these SoCs in an essentially low-cost
gaming smartphone (given the current prices)? The manufacturer has done just
that and in fact Black Shark 4 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor ,
flanked in our model by an Adreno 650 GPU, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS
3.1 internal memory (not expandable).
The performances are therefore of a high level, both in
everyday life and with regard to gaming (as we will see in more detail below).
The benchmarks only confirm the situation. On AnTuTu 9 the smartphone recorded
600,226 points, while on GeekBench 5 the results are 1019 points in single-core
and 3386 points in multi-core.
To support the performance there is a 4500 mAh battery (2 x
2250 mAh), which allows you to arrive in the evening without particular
problems. Much depends on the use, also given the gaming nature of the product,
but in general the autonomy does not disappoint, even if it is not a battery
phone. There is also a lightning-fast charge up to 120W , the fastest we have
tried with hand. Just under 20 minutes and the smartphone is 100%. However, it
is necessary to disable the intelligent charging option, which keeps
temperatures low, to be able to achieve this result, otherwise it will get
close to 30 minutes for a full charge. In any case, we reiterate that the
European charger should be 67W.
You should therefore think about 30 minutes regarding the
charging speed. In any case, the results are good and we are sure that many
users will appreciate the smartphone from this point of view. Too bad for the
absence of wireless charging.
The display is a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with an aspect ratio
of 20: 9, a refresh rate of 144 Hz, a touch sampling rate of 720 Hz, support
for HDR10 +, a hole for the camera positioned in the top center and Full HD +
resolution ( 2400 x 1080 pixels). This is a good panel, especially considering
the price range. There is some contrast that has not completely convinced us,
but the general quality is not lacking and we are certainly faced with a screen
that will not disappoint many users. Do not miss the Always On functionality.
Widevine DRMs are only L3. This means that content from
platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video can only be viewed in SD. This
is a real shame, as the multimedia sector is not bad as a whole, on the
contrary: in addition to the screen, even the stereo speakers convince, both in
terms of maximum volume and general quality.
An "old saying" says that " a gaming
smartphone is not bought for cameras ". Black Shark 4 does not change this
concept. However, when contextualized in its price range, in reality the device
does not disappoint and can all in all convince the average user. In fact, the
triple camera from 48MP (f / 1.8) + 8MP (f / 2.2, ultra-wide) + 5MP (f / 2.4,
for macros) allows you to get shots of decent quality . During the day, thanks
also to the use of artificial intelligence, the quality of the photos is close
to what is offered by some medium / low-end devices, while at night all the
limits of the photographic department inevitably come to the surface. Then
there are the classic smudges in terms of wide-angle and macro photos.
The maximum zoom achievable in digital is very limited: 5x.
The front camera is 20MP (f / 2.45) and guarantees decent quality shots. For
the rest, the videos reach up to 4K / 60fps at the rear or 1080p / 30fps at the
front. If you want some advice, leave the default options to have a worthy
stabilization. Little gem: you can use the back triggers to take pictures. In
any case, if you want to learn more, you can refer to our Drive folder
dedicated to Black Shark 4 , where there are uncompressed photos.
A flaw that for some users is important is in terms of
connectivity. In fact, Black Shark 4 does not have NFC . However, the rest is
in its place: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and Dual SIM are not lacking.
Gaming with Black Shark 4 and software
The operating system is Android 11 with JOYUI 12.5
customization , which at the time of writing has the security patches of March
2021. Let's clarify it immediately: it is essentially Xiaomi's MIUI 12, so much
so that many options are exactly identical. The difference is the focus on
gaming, given the nature of the smartphone. In other words, Black Shark has
taken the MIUI 12 as its "base", an already complete and well-known
customization by many, implementing additions that can be pleasant for lovers
of mobile video games.
In fact, net of the aesthetic reinterpretation of the
software, from the icons to the general theme to which the green color is the
pivot, we find Shark Space and Performance Manager. The first acts as a hub for
the installed titles and allows you to set all the accessories and gaming
functions of the case, while the second allows you to keep under control the
load of the GPU, memory, the quality of the Internet connection and the battery
status. Also interesting is the functionality related to the process manager,
which allows you to understand how much a particular application is using CPU
and RAM.
Then there are features related to energy saving and more
detailed statistics related to the use of Wi-Fi. However, a problem of no small
importance emerges here: the lack of care taken in the translation of the
software. In fact, some options are even in Lithuanian . Of course, a little
"effort" allows you to understand and use all the same and it is not
new that translation and localization are poorly maintained on these devices,
but clearly this is not the best of presentations.
Do you think that, by swiping to open the quick panel
located at the top left, you can see the possibility of using different
features: among those highlighted, we find WeChat Scan, WeChat Code, Alipay
Scan and Alipay Code. Fortunately, from this panel you can also open other
pre-installed applications, as well as use the Freeform feature (which allows
you to use some apps in the window), but you understand that the focus is on
the Chinese market and that the previously mentioned features are difficult for
us will come in handy.
During these weeks we have received several updates that
have corrected various bugs and optimized the system, but these
"oversights", combined with the classic MIUI bugs , give the feeling
of a software department on which there is still work to be done. Don't get us
wrong: the most "geek" users will not have too many problems using
the device even in everyday life, thanks above all to the features coming from
MIUI 12, but for the average user it could represent a "stumbling
block". In any case, the context in which Black Shark 4 gives its best is
inevitably gaming. Net of the plurality of languages present, including
Italian, English and even Latvian (apparently), as well as translations that
are not exactly the best,the available functionalities are several and
interesting .
For example, you can set the back triggers, which "come
out" by using the physical sliders placed on the side, as well as use the
motion sensor to simulate the pressure of some keys. There is also the
possibility to set macros, configure a performance preset, possibly
"force" a certain refresh rate, adjust graphics and color
improvements, set the touch sensitivity, manage audio and network and so on and
so forth. There are also statistics on the quality of the network, the FPS
counter, the ability to "clean" the RAM and the feature that allows
you to quickly change the network used without leaving the game. Also
interesting are the features that allow you to prevent accidental touches, as
well as block messages and calls.
A brief parenthesis should be dedicated to accessories: only
the smartphone was provided to us, but on sale there are external fans,
gamepads, earphones and even a mechanical keyboard. Obviously, these are
products sold separately. For the rest, entering "the heart" of
gaming, Black Shark 4 does not disappoint expectations in any way. In fact, the
mechanism that makes the dorsal triggers "come out" (complete with an
excellent "mechanical" sound), making them keys that can be pressed
just like in classic controllers, is as simple as it is effective.
Black Shark has managed to find an excellent solution, which
allows the user to play properly and then reposition the buttons inside the
smartphone once the game is over. We liked this "gimmick" a lot, also
considering the fact that the triggers, which are generally used to aim and
shoot, are always reactive and comfortable to use in the game phases.
Coming to the games, we put the smartphone to the test with
a good number of titles. To make you understand the goodness of performance,
Call of Duty Mobile runs as it should with details on "Very High" and
FPS on "Max". ARK: Survival Evolved, on the other hand, works
flawlessly with the "Epic" preset. No problem even in titles like
Asphalt 9: Legends, which can be played with the "High Quality"
presets. For the rest, PUBG Mobile runs well with details on "Ultra
HD" and frame rate on "Ultra", while Fortnite supports the
"Epic" preset at 30 fps. In short, while not using exactly the most
performing SoC on the market, a choice that allows you to contain costs, Black
Shark 4 is able to offer excellent satisfactions in terms of gaming. For
completeness of info, it must be said that the cooling system, called
"Sandwich" by the manufacturer, struggles in some contexts, for example
after a 120W recharge or following prolonged gaming sessions, so the heat on
the body is felt. .
techiesline tipsfromcomputertechs beaucenter marketingmarine thedigitaltrendz
