While there were a few unconfirmed leaks circulating online, little was known about the mysterious Black Shark, except that it is a gaming smartphone from Black Shark Technology, a Chinese gaming company backed by Xiaomi. The veil was finally lifted yesterday when the whole device was revealed, complete with specs and accessories:

The Black Shark comes in two flavors: Polar Night and Sky Gray
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Some of the new device's specs are as follows:

• 5.99” 18:9 IPS LCD with Full HD+ resolution
  
• Snapdragon 845 chip
  
• Adreno 630 GPU
  
• 4,000 mAh battery
  
• Up to 8GB of RAM
  
• Up to 128 GB Internal Storage
• An integrated multi-stage liquid cooling system that brings the CPU temperature 8° C down
• Android Oreo OS with JOY UI custom launcher
• Dual camera on the back: 12 MP f/1.75 + 20 MP f/1.75 with 6P lens and a dual-LED flash
• Front camera: 20MP sensor but slower f/2.2 lens
• 109g weight

Unfortunately, the Black Shark does not feature a microSD slot but comes in two versions: 6 GB RAM + 64 GB internal storage or 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage.

To stand out as a gaming smartphone, the Black Shark has a few dedicated features to back its claim. The gaming phone's most striking feature is its dedicated detachable gamepad. The latter is somewhat akin to the Nintendo Switch's joy-con as it attaches on one side of the phone. The gamepad itself packs a 340 mAh and can connect via Bluetooth. While this peripheral will be sold separately, the first 50,000 buyers will get it for free. It is a quite peculiar gamepad as it is only one-sided, offering only one analogue stick and a shoulder button but no directional keys nor any A/B/X/Y buttons.

Another "game-y" feature is its "Shark" key located on its left side. This will allow the phone to go all out, dedicating all resources for optimal performance.

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Gaming smartphones might sound like a niche market but they are slowly picking up. That's especially the case in China where online mobile games are a huge hit. There is even a growing competition among hardware companies to bring gaming smartphones to consumers. Razer recently unveiled its Razer phone and another gaming phone, the Red Magic, is in the works. The smartphone gaming market has also been welcoming console titles like PUBG and Fortnite that will soon follow suit and might attract more gamers worldwide.

The Black Shark is now available for pre-order on JD.com, with the 8GB RAM/128GB storage version costing CNY3,499 (€452/$557) and the 6GB RAM/64 GB version priced at CNY2,999 (€387/$477). The Black Shark Gamepad is sold separately at CNY179 (€23/$28).

Black Shark Official Website

 

[Xen0]

Who needs iPhones anyways? Much better shit for hlav the price.

 

[Reploid]

gaming phone? With actual cooling? sounds so redundant it's scary.

Who needs iPhones anyways? Much better shit for hlav the price.

fanbois.

 

[shaunj66]

I really despise the whole look of "gaming" centric product design such as these along with Razor etc.

 

[Xzi]

Oh god phone gaming. Kill me now. Or at least design a better controller.

 

[InsaneNutter]

I like the look of it, kind of like a Switch style phone, but which docks in to a controller instead.
That solves the problem of touch screen d pads / analogue sticks sucking for mobile gaming anyway (i know there's been other stuff that clips on to some phones before)

Certainly an interesting concept, you could carry the phone in one pocket and the controller in the other.

 

[Hyborix3]

I really don't see these selling well

 

[AlanJohn]

Nice original green and black color scheme, really underrepresented in gaming tech.

 

[pedro702]

so the only controller thing is an analog stick and a single button? srs touch controls for gaming are awnful and a single analog stick wont change that...

 

[smileyhead]

>No mSD slot
>Not Android One
*Hiss*

 

[anhminh]

I am more interest with the controller really.

 

[K3Nv2]

Sprint should jump on this.

 

[Veho]

I really despise the whole look of "gaming" centric product design such as these along with Razor etc.

Black and olive green is cool and edgy and military and mature for mature hardcore gamers such as myself. Go hug your beige PC case, grampa

Nice original green and black color scheme, really underrepresented in gaming tech.

Bro, get with the times, gaming is all about the RGB these days, black and green are positively retro.

 

[KingVamp]

With all these phones claiming to be gaming phones, at least they tried to do something with a controller. Too bad they messed up so badly with it and it isn't included in every box.

 

[Pacheko17]

The phone itself looks okay, but that "controller" is hideous.
Also, gaming branded shit is stupid and should just die. If it isn't a console, there's no real reason to call it "gaming something".
They just make it black and green, put some mid to high end specs and overprice the fuck out of it, bam, that's a gaming device. Add some stupid useless LEDs into the mix too.

 

[Rune]

The controller is a neat idea. But where's the other half of it?

 

[Ryccardo]

Bro, get with the times, gaming is all about the RGB these days, black and green are positively retro.

The picture actually doesn't show the LED lol

meanwhile here:

 

[Bladexdsl]

gaming...phone. here we go again...

 

[leon315]

open for EU oreders??

 

[ANTONIOPS]

A "gaming" phone, and the first 50,000 buyers will get the controller for free? I'm glad I got my joycons with my switch without having to purchase them separately, also no micro sd card slot? Well I gess 50,000 is more than enought for all of its possible buyers.