Black Shark isn’t ready for a smartphone return yet

After years of relative silence, the gaming tech community recently buzzed with rumors about a potential full-scale comeback for Black Shark. However, those hoping for a brand-new gaming smartphone might have to put their excitement on hold.

According to tipster Digital Chat Station, there is currently no solid evidence to support a smartphone revival.

This reality check comes right on the heels of Black Shark’s recent and surprising hardware release, which is likely what sparked the comeback rumors in the first place.

The Spark: A Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Gaming Tablet

The rumors didn’t just appear out of thin air. Recently, Black Shark broke its long hiatus by launching a Black Shark high-end gaming tablet powered by the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.

This unexpected release proved that the company is still alive and capable of producing premium gaming hardware, leading many fans to assume a flagship gaming phone was next on the roadmap. While the tablet is a powerhouse, it seems the company’s focus is currently strictly on this larger form factor rather than jumping back into the fiercely competitive smartphone arena.

The Xiaomi Connection and a New Software Era

For years, Black Shark was synonymous with Xiaomi, heavily backed by the tech giant and often sharing its ecosystem and custom software (MIUI / HyperOS). Here are two crucial shifts in Black Shark’s current identity:

• Corporate Independence: Black Shark is now operating as a fully independent company, officially separated from Xiaomi. Despite this, the legacy is strong, and a vast majority of users still heavily associate the brand with the Xiaomi umbrella.

• A Shift to Pure Android: Perhaps the biggest indicator of their newfound independence is their software choice. Unlike their older devices that utilized heavily customized user interfaces, their latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 tablet runs on Pure (Stock) Android. This pivot suggests a new strategy aimed at offering a cleaner, bloat-free experience for mobile gamers.

For now, Black Shark seems content with testing the waters via their new flagship tablet and various gaming accessories. While the brand is undeniably active again, a return to the dedicated gaming smartphone market remains strictly in the realm of wishful thinking until supply chain leaks or official announcements prove otherwise.