Black Shark pulled back the covers on the latest generation of its gaming-focused smartphones back in March, with the Black Shark 5 series going on sale in China shortly after – but what about the rest of the world?
As with previous models in the series, there was a bit of a delay, but the Black Shark 5 range is now available worldwide following a larger global release in June.
With the range now available worldwide, here’s all you need to know about the three new models in the Black Shark 5 family.
When was the Black Shark 5 released worldwide?
The Black Shark 5 range was announced in China on 30 March and the phones went on sale there on 2 April.
Following a period of radio silence from the brand, Black Shark rolled out the Black Shark 5 and Black Shark 5 Pro worldwide on 9 June. They are now available to buy in the UK, US and other regions not only via Black Shark’s website, but third-party retailers like Amazon and Aliexpress too.
How much does the Black Shark 5 cost?
With the international release came international pricing for the Black Shark 5 range – that is, aside from the Black Shark 5 RS, which seems to still be a China-exclusive for now. Here’s how the Black Shark 5 pricing stacks up:
Black Shark 5
- 8GB/128GB: CNY 2,799 / £439 / $549 / €549
- 12GB/128GB: CNY 2,999 (approx £359/€429/$470)
- 12GB/256GB: CNY 3,299 / £529 / $649 / €649
Black Shark 5 RS
- 8GB/256GB: CNY 3,299 (approx £519/€470/$519)
- 12GB/256GB: CNY 3,799 (approx £455/€545/$599)
Black Shark 5 Pro
- 8GB/256GB: CNY 4,199 / £639 / $799 / €799
- 12GB/256GB: CNY 4,699 / £729 / $899 / €899
- 16GB/512GB: CNY 5,499 / £809 / $999 / €999
Here’s the official reveal trailer from Xiaomi (via Sparrow News/YouTube):
What are the Black Shark 5 specs?
As you can see from above, there are three tiers in the Black Shark 5 range. These are the standard, RS, and Pro – though the RS isn’t available outside of China at the time of writing.
The standard Black Shark 5 is the entry-level model and as such doesn’t receive the top-of-the-line specs that you’ll find on the Pro. But, for the money it looks like it could be a very interesting mid-range option, even for non-gamers.

The Black Shark 5 RS is essentially a rebranded Black Shark Pro 4, as it shares the same processor, cameras, design, display and battery.
Finally there’s the flagship Black Shark 5 Pro, which will be the one serious gamers will clamouring to get their hands on thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, OLED display and advanced cameras.
Here’s a breakdown of their technical specifications:
Black Shark 5 | Black Shark 5 RS | Black Shark 5 Pro | |
Display | 6.67in AMOLED, 1080×2400, 20:9, 1300 nits, 144Hz | 6.67in AMOLED, 1080×2400, 20:9, 1300 nits, 144Hz | 6.67in AMOLED, 1080×2400, 20:9, 1300 nits, 144Hz |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888/888+ 5G | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
Memory | 8/12GB | 8/12GB | 8/12/16GB |
Storage | 128/256GB | 256GB | 256/512GB |
Main Cameras | 64Mp (Wide), 13Mp (Ultrawide), 2Mp (Macro) | 64Mp (Wide), 8Mp (Ultrawide), 5Mp (Macro) | 108Mp (Wide), 13Mp (Ultrawide), 5Mp (Macro) |
Front Camera | 16Mp (Wide) | 20Mp (Wide) | 16Mp (Wide) |
Video Recording | 4K/60fps | 4K/60fps | 4K/60fps |
Biometric Security | Fingerprint | Fingerprint | Fingerprint |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
LTE | 5G | 5G | 5G |
Wireless Charging | No | No | No |
Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 |
Waterproofing | No | No | No |
SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM |
Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.3 x 10mm | 163.7 x 76.2 x 9.9mm | 163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5mm |
Weight | 218g | 220g | 220g |
If you’re curious how the collection stacks up against the competition, be sure to read our roundup of the best gaming phones.
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