Black Shark 2 review: A superior gaming smartphone, if you can afford it

Black Shark 2 review: From clicking pictures to watching videos, we want our smartphones to do it all. And, one thing that is becoming popular among smartphone users is gaming. It has reached to the next level with users willing to play heavy and virtual cum real-world mission games on their devices. However, not all smartphones can allow you to play every or probably the high computing games that require powerful chipsets and processors. This is why it is important for a gaming enthusiast to opt for a gaming smartphone instead of a normal smartphone that claims to offer a better gaming experience. 

The recently launched Black Shark 2 clearly stands apart when it comes to the mobile phone gaming experience. With its unique design, customized LED lights on side panels, 48MP+12MP dual rear camera, crystal clear display, huge battery, and extremely powerful engine, Black Shark 2 seems convincing at first sight. So is it the best gaming machine that one should buy? Read on to know the answer. 

The Shark Factor

We all know that there should be an X-factor in a product that drives us crazy to buy it. While in the case of Black Shark 2, there is a shark factor that drives attention. The phone has shark-like looks, backlit 'S' logo, side ambient LED lighting and a 6.39-inch Super AMOLED full HD display replacing the Black Shark’s 5.99-inch LCD display. Talking about the unique design, the theme to attract gamers seems different and good, however, the company could have made it slightly sleek and bezels could have been reduced too.

Black Shark claims that it did not keep the bezels too slim as the smartphone is meant for gamers and a full display can hinder the gaming experience as the users hands might cover some part of the screen. Overall the display and looks really stand apart and should satisfy the users. 

A Gaming Beast

Black Shark 2 comes loaded with a 2.84GHz octa-core Snapdragon 855 SoC along with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage options. The cherry on the cake is the speed and smooth multitasking while playing intense games because of its 6GB or 12GB RAM options. The phone does its while running heavy games like PUBG, Fortnite, Brothers in Arms and Asphalt 9. There was no sign of heating and the experience of playing games on Black Shark 2 keeps you glued to the phone for hours. The power generated from its Snapdragon 855 SoC processor smoothly handles every high-end game at the highest resolution. 

To enhance the gaming experience, the phone has various built-in gaming features like 'Game Studio' and 'Shark Mode'. Entering shark mode multiplies the speed of CPU and GPU by stopping every other activity like calls, messages, notifications and RAM usage. The Game Studio, on the other hand, is a customized special multitasking toggle which can be slide through the right top corner while playing a game. It basically allows you to perform various other functions without closing the game. 

The Black Shark 2 runs Android 9.0 Pie and is powered by a 4,000mAh battery. It also supports Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging, which can recharge your phone in no-time for an uninterrupted gaming experience. 

Also, the power and cool features are not the only things the Black Shark 2 has to offer. The company also provides a pair of gaming controllers that fit onto the sides of the phone and makes it a Nintendo Switch-like gaming gadget. Though these controllers need to be purchased for an additional cost. 

Watch Black Shark 2 review here:

Crystal and clear images

Coming on the optics, the phone sports a dual rear camera with a 48MP primary and a 12MP secondary lens. Even though it is not the strongest point of the Black Shark 2, the camera clicks some really sharp images. With modes like AI, beauty, portrait, slow motion etc, it really acts as a great camera device that can give tough competition to all premium devices in the market. On the front, it has a 20MP camera. 

Comparing the images with some other high-end smartphones, it does a great job. The rich colors, sharp optics, and giant lens that lets you take some beautiful images not less than a DSLR like quality. 

The camera has a lot to offer and a user definitely expects this standard at a price point it comes at. Nevertheless, when it comes to camera the department, the company does fulfill the promises what it has bundled in its premium smartphone- Black Shark 2. 

Expensive but Worth It

As we all know Indian market is highly price-sensitive and it's becoming difficult to win customers with a growing competition and price battle in the smartphone business. However, from a customer's point of view, the user gets enough for what he or she pays for the Black Shark 2. The 6GB RAM and 128GB storage option of the phone is available at a price tag of Rs 39,999, while for 12GB RAM and 256GB space-variant would cost you Rs 49,999. 

The only think Black Shark 2 could have improved is the thickness and weight of the Black Shark 2 which is tough because of the hardware used. The slippery glass at the back and absence of a 3.5mm jack, that does not allow you to listen to your game audio and charge your phone at the same time, are other areas of concern.

Even then, from performance, audio quality, display, unique style to clicking top-notch quality pictures, the Black Shark 2 does a good job in almost every department. 

While the phone might seem expensive to few, it could be a great buy for gaming enthusiasts looking for an improved experience. However, if you are looking for a premium smartphone under Rs 50,000, there are many more options to go for as well.