We are still in Q1 2020 but there are already several gaming phones on the way. Xiaomi’s brand just launched the Black Shark 3 series which includes two variants: Black Shark 3 and 3 Pro. While the Pro variant is definitely the most advanced gaming phone out there this year, the vanilla version has a few rivals. Comparing it with the most interesting gaming phone is the goal of this specs comparison. If you think about gaming phones, the first name coming to your mind will probably be Asus ROG Phone II. Alongside the Black Shark 3 series, another gaming phone launched this year is iQOO 3 5G. Here is a specs comparison between Black Shark 3, Asus ROG Phone 2 and iQOO 3 5G.
Xiaomi Black Shark 3 vs Asus ROG Phone 2 vs Vivo iQOO 3 5G
| Xiaomi Black Shark 3 | Asus ROG Phone II | Vivo iQOO 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 168.7 x 77.3 x 10.4 mm, 222 grams | 171 x 77.6 x 9.5 mm, 240 grams | 158.5 x 74.9 x 9.2 mm, 214.5 g |
| DISPLAY | 6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 20:9 ratio, AMOLED | 6.59 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 391 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, AMOLED | 6.44 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, octa-core 2.96 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz |
| MEMORY | 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB | 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB – 12 GB RAM, 1 TB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10 | Android 9 Pie, ROG UI | Android 10, iQOO UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS |
| CAMERA | Triple 64 + 13 MP + 5 MP f/1.8 and f/2.3 and f/2.2 20 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Dual 48 + 13 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 24 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Quad 48 + 13 + 13 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.5 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.5 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4720 mAh Fast charging 65W or 30W |
6000 mAh, Fast Charging 30W with Quick Charge 4.0 | 4400 mAh, fast charging 55W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot, magnetic charging, support for external accessories | Dual SIM slot, support to external accessories, RGB light | Dual SIM slot, optional 5G |
Design
Gaming phones usually come with an aggressive gaming-centric design. Well, that is not the case of the iQOO 3 5G. It has a more sober design with a higher screen-to-body ratio thanks to its waterdrop notch, and it is the perfect candidate for people needing a normal device with gaming-centric features and hardware. With their RGB lights and aggressive looks, Asus ROG Phone II and Black Shark 3 both come with a gaming-centric design. They carry the support to interesting external accessories (especially the ROG Phone II) and the Black Shark 3 even comes with physical shoulder buttons.
Display
On the display side, Asus ROG Phone II takes the gold medal, at least for gamers. It sports a higher DCI-P3 coverage and the highest refresh rate with 120 Hz. But you should not underestimate the display of the Black Shark 3, which we consider just slightly inferior. The Black Shark 3 has a lower 90 Hz refresh rate, but a higher touch sampling rate and the support of HDR10+ technology for great image quality. Unfortunately, iQOO 3 5G comes with a standard refresh rate and a lower (but still high) touch sampling rate of 180 Hz. It is still a great display for gaming, but Asus ROG Phone II and Black Shark 3 are more suitable.
Hardware/Software
Given that they are fueled by the more powerful Snapdragon 865 SoC, Black Shark 3 and iQOO 3 5G are stronger devices than ROG Phone II when it comes to performance. The iQOO 3 5G is also one of the first smartphones packing UFS 3.1 internal storage. Both Black Shark 3 and iQOO 3 5G support the 5G connectivity (note that only the highest-end memory configuration of the iQOO 3 does), while Asus ROG Phone II does not. But the ROG Phone II is the only to offer up to 1 TB of native storage, it is important to note since none of these devices feature expandable internal storage. All feature Wi-Fi 6 support, but only the iQOO 3 5G supports Bluetooth 5.1.
Camera
The presence of a great quad camera setup including a telephoto sensor and a good 48 MP main sensor makes iQOO 3 the most interesting camera phone, but Black Shark 3 should still provide a good photo quality with its 64 MP triple camera. We can not tell you which one clicks the best photos since they are yet to be available to purchase, but on the paper, ROG Phone II looks less suitable for photos.
Battery
Asus ROG Phone II wins the battery life comparison thanks to a way bigger 6000 mAh battery, followed by the Black Shark 3 packing a 4720 mAh battery. Black Shark 3 has the fastest charging technology with a power of 65W and it supports magnetic charging (pins on the back), so that you can charge it while playing without having a cable between your fingers. Asus ROG Phone II supports 30W fast charging and reverse charging, while iQOO 3 5G supports a faster 55W charging technology.
Price
iQOO 3 5G starts at €463/$515 in China, Black Shark 3 ranges from €450/$502 to €517/$575, and ROG Phone II starts from €457/$509. There is not a definitive winner of this comparison. If you are looking for a device with the widest range of external accessories, the best display for gaming and the biggest battery, Asus ROG Phone II is a better option. But BS3 and iQOO 3 5G are definitely more interesting for average users since they offer higher performance, 5G, and petty nice cameras. Which one would you pick?
Xiaomi Black Shark 3 vs Asus ROG Phone 2 vs Vivo iQOO 3 5G: PRO and CONS
Xiaomi Black Shark 3
PROS
- Magnetic charging
- Fastest charging technology
- Highest touch sampling rate
- 5G
CONS
- Nothing particular
Asus ROG Phone II
PROS
- Best battery
- Reverse charging
- Interesting external accessories for gaming
- Highest refresh rate
CONS
- Inferior cameras
Vivo iQOO 3
PROS
- Sober design
- Optional 5G
- Good price
- Smaller dimensions
CONS
- Standard refresh rate
