Move over Razer Phone 2 and ASUS ROG Phone, Xiaomi’s Black Shark 2 is here. Fresh from its China launch just two weeks ago, the Black Shark 2 is set to get mobile gamers’ hearts pumping with the latest generation Snapdragon 855 chipset, high-end smartphone hardware and a competitor-thumping price point.
Offered in two configurations: 8GB RAM + 128GB storage and 12GB RAM + 256GB of storage, the Black Shark 2 is the first Snapdragon 855-powered smartphone in Malaysia. The premium-tier processor runs at 2.84GHz, coupled with a super powerful Adreno 640 GPU.
It sports a 6.39-inch AMOLED Full HD+ display (1080×2340) with an in-display fingerprint sensor. Compared to the high refresh rates offered by the ASUS ROG (90Hz) and Razer Phone 2 (120Hz), the Black Shark 2’s 60Hz refresh seems paltry. It’s by no means a mediocre display – AMOLED with 430-nit brightness and DCI-P3 108.9% colour gamut; TrueView (like the iPhone’s TrueTone) with HDR.
Black Shark is also touting its phone’s 240Hz touch report rate and 43.5ms response time, making it the world’s lowest latency touch display. The phone also introduces Master Touch—a pressure-sensitive display technology powered by Black Shark’s Gaming AI. It lets you customise touch zones and you can trigger multiple on-screen actions with just two thumbs.
In terms of design, the Black Shark 2 has a unique ergonomic curved design with strong lines, crafted from aviation-grade metal and glass. The design does make the phone look bigger than it actually is, but what’s important is how comfortable it feels in the hand. Built into the body are dual RGB strips that intelligently syncs with in-game effects or dance to music.
The Black Shark 2 boasts a next generation Mille-Feuille Full Area Cooling System with Direct Touch Liquid Cooling 3.0—the first and unique direct touch multilayer liquid cooling system with full coverage. It can reduce CPU core temperatures by 14C and increase CPU liquid cooling efficiency by 20 percent. If that’s not enough, there’s an optional cooling case
The phone also features an X-type antenna for optimum connectivity, regardless of phone orientation.
A toggle located on the right side of the phone, above the power button, can turn the Android interface into a customised gaming hub. RAM is instantly cleared up for maximum performance, and games are instantly organised in a carousel.
In Gamer Studio, you can turn on Ludicrous Mode which ensures maximum gaming performance; tweak display settings, customise touch settings, and more.
In terms of audio, the Black Shark 2 is equipped with dual front-facing speakers and two noise cancelling mics for crystal clear in-game voice chat.
The Black Shark 2 also takes cues from the Nintendo Switch. First, there’s a Joy-Con-like controller called the GamePad 2.0, and with a USB-C to HDMI cable, you can connect the Black Shark 2 to a TV or monitor and start gaming on the big screen.
In other areas, the phone packs a large 4,000mAh battery that supports 27W/4.8A quick charging, delivering up to 60 percent battery in just 30 minutes.
Lastly, the Black Shark 2 features a 48MP f/1.75 aperture + 12MP dual-camera system with 2x optical zoom. The front is a 20MP selfie shooter.
Pricing and availability
The Black Shark 2 8GB RAM + 128GB storage is available now for MYR2,499 exclusively from Shopee, while the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model retails for MYR2,999 and is available for pre-order now until 5 April 2019.
For the first 200 customers, get MYR100 off voucher and Fujitsu E210BT headphones (worth RM399).
There’s a galore of accessories, too. Pricing as follows:
- GamePad 2.0 (left) – MYR129
- Game Pad 2.0 (right) – MYR139
- GamePad 2.0 stand – MYR49
- Cooling case – MYR49
The device will also be available with a mobile contract via Maxis.
For more detailed information about the Black Shark, visit the official Black Shark Global Site.
