Xiaomi’s new gaming phone has 12GB of RAM, pressure-sensitive display

Xiaomi has launched the Black Shark 2, a new gaming-oriented phone with top-notch specifications and some special features that gamers will love. 

The most notable among these is the pressure-sensitive OLED screen, which lets you create virtual control buttons on the screen itself, instead of buying a hardware add-on. 

Xiaomi calls this technology Magic Press. It’s similar to the iPhone’s 3D Touch, but it lets you independently map the virtual button parameters on the left and right side of the screen, including pressure threshold and touch range.

As expected from this category of phone, the Black Shark 2 has specs that measure up to, or exceed, the best flagships around. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, comes with 6/12GB of RAM and 128/256GB of storage, a dual 48/12-megapixel rear camera, a 20-megapixel selfie camera and a 4,000mAh battery. Also notable are stereo speakers, advanced liquid cooling, and HDR support.

Visually, the Black Shark 2 looks like a part of an alien spaceship, with green lines and accents all over the phone’s black surfaces. The look might not be for everyone but it’s a welcome relief from your typical, run-of-the-mill smartphone. 

Xiaomi’s Black Shark 2 is currently only available in China, starting at 3,200 yuan ($477). The more expensive variant with 12GB of RAM costs 4,200 yuan ($626).