Sharp mobile devices are not aimed at a wide range of consumers and are mostly sold in Japan. In 2017, the brand announced its intention to supply gadgets to the European market. The trend has not reached Russia, but some models periodically appear on the gray market or in foreign online stores and invariably arouse interest. Below are the best models of the company released in 2017-2018.
Most of the brand's smartphones are sold only in Japan.
- Processor: Snapdragon 630
- Screen: 6 inch, 2160*1080
- Memory: 4/64 GB
- Camera: 12+13 MP, 16 MP
- Battery: 3200 mAh
Aquos S3 is one of the newest Sharp smartphones introduced to the world. From the point of view of the technical component, the phone is a strong middle peasant - a processor designed for everyday tasks, a decent amount of memory. The dual camera is designed to take pictures with the bokeh effect and can shoot video in 4K. The model received support, LTE networks, fast charging. The case is made of metal, the display is made using IGZO's own technology and this is the most interesting moment of the device. The phone belongs to the frameless class, that is, the front panel has a cutout for the camera, and the usable screen area is 91%. Case material - glass, metal edging.
A feature of IGZO displays is that the technology is generally similar to IPS, but other substances are used for production, in particular indium oxide, gallium and zinc. Due to this, the matrices are thinner and more transparent. Advantages - high brightness, excellent sensor sensitivity and fast response. Another important plus of the matrix is lower power consumption, which saves on battery capacity. In general, the phone turned out to be from the class of medium-sized gadgets without bright features. Those users who managed to get the device for use note that the design and display are practically the only strengths of the model. The disadvantages include low autonomy - the phone is enough with active use for a 9-hour working day. The case will turn out to be very slippery, but the situation is corrected by the case that comes with the kit, the camera does not shine with high results in shooting photos and videos. The cost is about 400 euros.
Sharp Aquos S2
- Processor: Snapdragon 630 or Snapdragon 660
- Screen: 5.5 inch, 2040*1080
- Memory: 4/6 GB and 64/128 GB
- Camera: 12+8 MP, 8 MP
- Battery: 3020 mAh
Smartphone Sharp Aquos s2 appeared on the market in 2017 and became a frameless gadget with a waterdrop notch. The phone turned out to be extremely ambiguous. On the one hand, for its time, it has quite a decent stuffing for iron, but some decisions turned out to be very illogical. The first moment - a TFT display is used as a matrix. The second moment - the phone turned out to be compact and light, it leaves a pleasant impression, but the appearance is spoiled by a wide frame at the bottom, on which there is a touch-sensitive home button with several functions and a built-in fingerprint scanner. The case turned out to be glassy and expectedly slippery, there is a case in the kit, which should correct the situation, but at the same time, the phone looks extremely ugly in it.
Regarding hardware, it was mentioned above that the model has a decent amount of memory and a good chipset, in addition, it has an NFC chip, two SIM cards (hybrid slot). The model received good autonomy - the device is able to work up to two days. Pleasantly pleased with fast charging. Regarding the camera - according to reviews, here is the best camera that Sharp has ever had, but the main disadvantage is the complete absence of any stabilization. You can't buy a phone in Russia.
Sharp Aquos S3 mini
- Processor: Snapdragon 630
- Screen: 5.5 inch, 2040*1080
- Memory: 6/64 GB
- Camera: 16 MP, 20 MP
- Battery: 3020 mAh
In the world of mobile technology, there is a tendency to release a model and several of its clones with reduced characteristics, but in this case this did not happen. The Sharp Aquos S3 mini is a smaller version of the S3 in name only, but visually closer to the S2. The model received a similar display and resolution, but unlike the S2, an IGZO matrix is installed here, as in the older device. The phone received a similar teardrop-shaped camera cutout, and the camera itself is not only high-resolution, but also supports face unlock.
The body of the phone is made of glass, rather thin, and the device itself turned out to be very light. On the front panel at the bottom, like the S2, there is a touch-sensitive home button with a fingerprint scanner. The phone received NFC, fast charging is not the most capacious battery. The neighborhood of the Snapdragon 630 and 6 GB of high-speed RAM looks somewhat strange, but this is not a minus, just many would like to see a more efficient chipset. The difference between the S3 mini and the Aquos presented above is a single camera, but at the same time with support for artificial intelligence technology. The cost of the model is not known, but according to rumors, it will be a relatively budget option.
Sharp Android One X1
- Processor: Qualcomm 435
- Screen: 5.3 inch, 1920*1080
- Memory: 3/32 GB
- Camera: 16 MP, 8 MP
- Battery: 3900 mAh
Sharp X1 is a device released as part of the Android One project, that is, a clean version of the operating system without any shells from the manufacturer. Interestingly, the model was released only for the Japanese market for the cellular operator Y!mobile, but at the same time it has full support for the Russian language. The model received a weak filling in terms of performance, but it has a number of interesting features.
The case is plastic with several bright colors - olive, white, black and blue. The phone has a very powerful 3900 mAh battery, NFC support and IP68 protection, that is, the device is not afraid of water and dust. The novelty received a Type-C connector for charging and lost the output for the headset, which is quite unpleasant given the fact that there is no adapter in the kit. The display is own - IGZO, a fairly small 5.3 inches with a decent FHD resolution. The fingerprint scanner is integrated into the touch button in the panel below the screen.
Conclusion
Sharp phones are not represented on the Russian market and do not come out with a large number of models, as is the case with Chinese brands, but at the same time they look quite non-standard. I would like to believe that over time, the mobile equipment of the Japanese manufacturer Sharp, popular in Russia, will begin to go on sale, at least in individual retail chains.
When the opportunity to use imported equipment appeared in the Soviet Union, many of our people appreciated the quality of Japanese devices under the Sharp brand. However, today you can also find products manufactured under this brand, with one exception: despite the fact that Sharp makes smartphones, they are sold only in Japan. Moreover, Sharp occupies the same positions there as, for example, Apple in the USA - the position of the market leader: in Japan, the share of Sharp reaches 22%, the company overtakes Sony, Panasonic, as well as HTC and the same Apple.
Of course, with the modern development of the Internet, it is not so difficult to order and bring a Sharp smartphone (and not only Sharp, but also other Japanese companies) directly from the Land of the Rising Sun, but since these devices are “sharpened” for a specific Japanese market, it is often there were problems with unlocking and adapting such smartphones. So, truly Japanese models have not been sold here before - do not consider Sony devices as such, which, in essence, are quite European smartphones created by ex-engineers of Sony Ericsson.
Now everything is much easier. At the beginning of November 2012 in Moscow, Sharp officially introduced four of its smartphones, optimized specifically for the Russian market. Meet the simple Sharp SH530U, the "brothers" Sharp SH631W and Sharp SH837W, and the flagship Sharp Aquos Phone SH930W.
To begin with, it is worth mentioning that Sharp is known for its own production of fairly high-quality displays, which are subsequently successfully sold to Apple and HTC. Accordingly, Sharp's own smartphones are also equipped with their own screens - somewhat reminiscent of Samsung's strategy, which itself produces cameras, processors, displays, etc.
In 2012, Sharp's management decided to bring their smartphones to the markets of other countries, and Russia is the first on their list. However, this is not surprising, because, unlike most European countries, we do not link smartphones to operators - sales are carried out by independent distributors. Consequently, the company does not need to build relationships with telecom operators for a long time and carefully (and this is a very long process).
First, let's talk about three smartphones based on the MediaTek MTK6577 platform - these are Sharp SH530U, Sharp SH631W and Sharp SH837W. All these devices run on Android 4.0, and will be upgradeable to version 4.1.
The first hero of today's review - Sharp SH530U - has a large five-inch screen, its resolution is 480 x 800 pixels. The clock speed of the dual-core processor is 1 GHz, and the amount of RAM is 512 MB, the characteristics are quite good. Note that the device does not have a slot for memory cards: the developers considered that the 20 GB available to the user is quite enough (although we do not agree with this). It is also impossible not to mention that the gadget has two slots for SIM-cards - this is a rather popular move today, which allows you to save money when calling to different operators. Estimated price Sharp SH530U - 10 thousand rubles, which is consistent with the characteristics of the device.
The second smartphone in the line - Sharp SH631W - is equipped with a screen with IPS-matrix Sharp Mobile. Its diagonal is 4.5 inches, and the resolution is 960 x 540 pixels, and the color reproduction is very natural. The smartphone has a very decent main camera of 8 megapixels. The processor here is also dual-core, running at a frequency of 1 GHz, and the RAM is also 512 MB. Internal memory in the device is 4 GB, but there is a slot for memory cards. In addition, there is a 16 GB microSDHC card itself in the kit - a trifle, but nice. The cost of Sharp SH631W is 14 thousand rubles.
Now a few words about Sharp SH837W. In fact, this smartphone can be considered the "big brother" Sharp SH631W: it differs slightly for the better. The same dual-core processor runs at 1.2 GHz, and the RAM is twice as much - 1 GB. The main camera remains the same - 8 megapixels, but the front camera has improved markedly - 1.3 megapixels versus 0.3 megapixels. The screen is definitely better here: a 4.7-inch display with an IPS-matrix Sharp Mobile has a diagonal of 4.7 inches and a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels - this is HD 720p format.
A more capacious battery (1,900 mAh instead of 1,650 mAh) will ensure the operation of the smartphone for about a day - after all, the HD screen has become more energy-intensive. The internal memory in the Sharp SH837W remains the same - 4 GB, and there is also a 16 GB microSDHC memory card included. All these changes did not affect the price very significantly: they will ask for about 17 thousand rubles for the Sharp SH837W.
Finally, let's talk about the flagship - Sharp Aquos Phone SH930W. The characteristics of the device meet modern standards: a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (MSM8260A) dual-core processor with a clock frequency of 1.5 GHz is installed. The amount of RAM is 2 GB, the internal memory in the device is 32 GB. We think that this place is quite enough for the average user, so we will not consider the lack of a slot for memory cards as a disadvantage. The main camera is the same as in the two younger devices - 8-megapixel, but the front one has become 2-megapixel. The Android operating system is version 4.1 out of the box.
Now about the main thing. The Sharp Aquos Phone SH930W has a screen of its own production that meets the Full HD standard - that is, its resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels (its diagonal is 5 inches). Thus, this is the first mass-produced smartphone with a Full HD display in the world (HTC J Butterfly presented a little earlier has a screen with the same resolution, which is also produced by Sharp, but it will only be sold in mid-December - that is, later than Aquaphone - and only in Japan).
Many will decide that a Full HD screen in a smartphone is superfluous. Let's try to prove the benefit of such a solution. Comparing the Sharp Aquos Phone SH930W with any other popular smartphone, you notice that the image is much clearer - and this is understandable. To measure clarity, there is ppi (points per inch) - the number of dots per inch. Let's see what happens with other smartphones.
Today, the recognized leader in picture clarity is the Apple iPhone 5 (by the way, some of the screens for the fifth iPhones are supplied by Sharp). Its screen has a diagonal of 4 inches and a resolution of 1136 x 640 pixels, while the density is 326 ppi - pretty good. Considered the top Samsung Galaxy S III with a 4.8-inch screen and a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, it has 306 ppi, HTC One X with a 4.7-inch screen and the same resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels has 312 ppi.
Well, Sharp Aquos Phone SH930W with a 5-inch matrix, made using S-CGS VA technology, has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a density of 443 ppi. Today it is a world record for image clarity for mobile devices.
Macro screens. Sharp is in the lead - a fact (photo by A. Lutfullin)
What to say in conclusion? It seems that Sharp's entry into the Russian market was a success. And her flagship was especially successful - Sharp Aquos Phone SH930W. By the way, its cost is 22 thousand rubles, and we believe that the smartphone is worth the money.
Hello friends! Some time ago, a frameless smartphone AQUOS S2, long-awaited for all fans of the Sharp brand, fell into my hands. As for me, with all its minuses, the device turned out to be quite interesting both externally and functionally. And this is despite the fact that the Japanese company is now more than half owned by Foxconn, and both Sharp engineers and their Taiwanese colleagues took part in the development of the gadget. And now, when it is already in my palm, it is extremely unpleasant to admit it, given all my previous mocking censures against AQUOS S2. But first things first.
It is worth noting that the manufacturer withstood the intrigue to the last, without refuting or confirming, at least indirectly, what all fans of the brand expected from the “new” Sharp.
Sharp AQUOS Tab SH-06F, Sharp AQUOS S2 and Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
I have repeatedly expressed my disappointment with the "full screen" AQUOS S2, which everyone was so hoping for. The bummer that eventually awaited all Sharp fans can only be compared with indignation at the very fact that the Chinese bought the Japanese giant. However, many have even come to terms with this reality. As for the "full-screen body", then, as for me, this definition is more consistent with the iPhone X. Agree, because visually its display occupies a larger part of the front surface than the display of the new Sharp. In fact, the difference in these indicators between the iPhone and Sharp is slightly less than 1% in favor of the first: 79.55% versus 78.51%. Of course, no one will measure these figures in everyday life. But the fact remains that in 2017 the main trend among flagship devices (and not only) is the race for the maximum frameless facade.
It's funny that the world has picked up the frameless fashion just now. Let me remind you that at the beginning of 2014, the then Japanese Sharp was the first to introduce its revolutionary solution - EDGEST technology, which was used to produce several subsequent generations of flagship smartphones with three narrow frames on the sides and top. The Sharp AQUOS Zeta SH-04F model became a pioneer in this direction. The peak of perfection was the hitherto unbeaten record of frameless (not full-screen) smartphones of the CRYSTAL series (Sharp AQUOS Crystal 305SH, AQUOS Crystal X 402SH and AQUOS Crystal 2 403SH).
Sharp AQUOS Zeta SH-04H
Since then, for a minute, three years have passed. It turns out that not so long ago, the Japanese were trendsetters, but, as often happens, the trend did not take hold right away, and not everyone knew about these very specific (hidden from prying eyes) models. Most of these devices were sold exclusively in Japan, with the exception of the AQUOS Crystal line, which could be purchased in the US from Sprint.
Sharp AQUOS Crystal X403SH
In addition, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the promotional images of Japanese Sharp smartphones have never outwardly diverged from their prototypes. That is, the frames of live devices remained the same in thickness as in advertising images, and not as it happens now in most cases. By the way, Foxconn decided to use this marketing trick to the fullest with its AQUOS S2. In the photo below, the difference is visible to the naked eye. On the left is an image from the official Sharp AQUOS S2 page, on the right is a real photo. Such tricks on the part of manufacturers are designed to attract the attention of a potential buyer, distracting from the real picture. But what the owner will say later, when he gets his hands on the coveted gadget, remains behind the scenes.
Specifications
Despite the fact that work on the Sharp AQUOS S2 was carried out simultaneously with the Essential Phone, and both devices clearly have a common design style, technically they have slight differences.
Chinese marketers offer the buyer a choice of two versions of AQUOS S2 - with 4 GB RAM / 64 GB ROM and an 8-core Snapdragon 630 processor with A53 cores, as well as 6 GB RAM / 128 GB ROM and an 8-core Snapdragon 660 with Kryo cores. I have the top version of 128 GB in my hands.
But that's not all. In addition to technical subtleties, designers offer to choose the color and material of the case. In the first case, you can purchase a device with a rubberized back cover, which received 4 colors: black, white, blue and menthol blue. The company logo on the back will be applied with regular paint. The alternative is a top-end version with a glass body and an engraved SHARP logo on the back.
Specifications Sharp AQUOS S2:
- Operating system: OS Android 7.1.1 Nougat, shell Smile UX;
- Standards support: GSM, 3G, LTE;
- Support for 2 SIM-cards: yes (combined slot for 2 SIM-cards or one SIM and one MicroSD);
- Processor: 2.2 GHz / 1.8 GHz, octa-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon 630/660;
- RAM: 4GB/6GB;
- ROM: 64GB/128GB;
- Display: 5.5", FullHD+, 2040x1080 pixels, FFD, 420ppi, 16 million colors;
- Main camera: 12 + 8 MP, CMOS, dual optics, 4K video recording, autofocus, dual-color LED flash;
- Front camera: 8 MP, CMOS, fullHD video recording;
- Memory card support: microSDXC up to 128 GB;
- Fingerprint's scanner;
- GPS/GLONASS;
- Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac;
- Bluetooth 4.2;
- USB Type-C;
- Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging function;
- Battery: Li-Ion, 3020 mAh;
- Dimensions: 141.8x72x7.9 mm;
- Weight: 140 grams.
In terms of speed Sharp AQUOS S2 is able to meet the needs of many demanding users. A powerful processor, a lot of memory, a large 5.5-inch display and a 3020 mAh battery will please the sophisticated lover of most modern toys.
Equipment
Unlike Japanese cellular operators, who actually colluded with manufacturers, Chinese manufacturers have never skimped on accessories, especially when it comes to flagships. Moreover, a transparent hard case was added to the box with the phone, in which the smartphone immediately loses its external gloss.
So, complete with the phone we have:
- network adapter;
- USB Type C cable;
- audio adapter from USB Type-C to mini-jack;
- a needle for the SIM tray;
- hard translucent cover-bumper;
- instructions and warranty card.
First impressions. Design
And this is where the cognitive dissonance starts. Assuming that the new AQUOS S2 will not be a revelation for me due to my rich experience with frameless Sharp smartphones, I understand that the feeling of its presence in the palm of your hand is really new and, importantly, pleasant. It is incredibly light and compact. What I'm used to seeing in third-party photos and what I hold in my hand are completely different things. And I really like this thing. The 5.5-inch display does not seem large, thanks to the relatively thin bezels, and the dimensions and weight of the smartphone are quite comfortable to hold with one hand. Apparently, I have not used frameless smartphones for a long time. It is incredibly convenient, and this is definitely the very near future.
On the other hand, such a screen size is still redundant for me. It would be time to build up fingers in order to enjoy just such diagonals, but, apparently, it is not destined. That is why displays no larger than 5 inches remain the ultimate dream for me.
The AQUOS S2 feels comfortable in the hand, but its soapy forms can easily play tricks on you. The glossy surface and cold metal frame with smooth edges can easily cause multiple falls, and dropping the phone from your hands costs nothing. To prevent this from happening, Sharp offered to put the phone in a hard matte case with sharp edges. In my opinion, this symbiosis looks poor and cheap. The whole meaning of framelessness is lost. It's like buying a white phone because you like it and sticking it in a black case.
On the matte case, palm and finger prints are just as successful.
For some reason, the narrowest HOME button with an integrated fingerprint scanner has become one of the smartphone features that Chinese marketers have focused on. The functionality of the scanner is standard and does not differ in originality from competitors. The settings allow you to touch the button to go back a level, and pressing the button throws the user to the desktop.
In the corner between the upper part of the metal end and the display, a barely noticeable ear speaker is very elegantly integrated, covered with a perforated grille. The interlocutor is heard clearly and without any extraneous noise.
To the right of it neatly located indicator light.
Display
For some reason, this time Sharp decided not to use a matrix made using IGZO technology. AQUOS S2 uses conventional TFT technology. Apparently, Japanese Free-form Sharp displays are still the lot of purely Japanese models. So, for example, the compact version of the Sharp AQUOS R compact smartphone, presented not so long ago by the Japanese operator Softbank, has already been made using an IGZO matrix. If you pay attention, the upper corners of the compact are rounded, unlike the Chinese counterpart.
As for the quality of the picture, I personally had no questions about it. The resolution of 2040x1080p is quite natural with a non-standard aspect ratio of 17:9. The display itself is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass, but Foxconn did not specify which generation. The glass has 2.5D rounded edges and an oleophobic coating that wipes off dirt and fingerprints at once. When viewed from an angle, the color scheme changes, but only slightly.
In the sun, the screen works great. Everything, down to small texts, is read perfectly. In sunglasses, the screen is also read without problems. I decided to mention this fact, because. faced with the opposite situation on my current Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 - it is simply impossible to see anything in the sun without turning on the special "Outdoor" checkbox. In sunglasses, the screen is just black. I have to take it off every time to answer a call or write a message.
Now let's talk about what gives rise to a lot of disagreement among users who first saw the Sharp AQUOS S2. This, by the way, also applies to the Essential Phone. One of the nuances that causes controversy when looking at the facade of AQUOS S2 is the unusual location of the front camera inside the screen. The lens simply divides the top edge into two halves. On closer inspection, you can see the light and proximity sensors above the lens. The solution is really unusual. Why, in the minds of Xiaomi engineers and other companies, the decision was made to place the front camera in the “beard” under the screen remains a mystery. And if you look at frameless Sharp smartphones from the past, we will see exactly the same camera arrangement under the screen. Whether Foxconn's idea can be considered a kind of experiment in the field of technologies that allow you to give the display absolutely any shape, the future will show. At least Sharp has made it clear that this is technically possible. It is likely that in the face of AQUOS S2 and Essential Phone we see the first commercial samples with the implementation of such ideas.
Does this stain catch your eye when using a smartphone? The question is moot. Personally, I stopped paying attention to him almost as soon as I started using the phone. It only becomes interesting to observe in which particular usage scenarios the lens “cuts” into the image, and in which it is a harmonious part of the curtain with the on-duty information or the black bar, given that the screen has an aspect ratio of 17:9. Examples below.
Lock screen saver
Fully opened curtain with functional icons
Camera operation in video recording mode
Camera in photo mode with screen width resolution
View photos in the gallery. Photos in 4:3 aspect ratio are displayed with black borders around the edges, but when zoomed in, the camera "cuts" into the image
Widescreen video playback with a black bar around the camera
Interface
When you turn on the smartphone for the first time, it prompts you to select the interface language (English and Chinese are available). It is noteworthy that after localization using morelocale, more Russian language appears in the interface than when Russifying Sharp smartphones (and not only) for the Japanese market using the same method. The interface is Russified by about half. Some settings menu items are translated into excellent Russian, and not as it used to be on cheap Chinese. Below are some screenshots.
Considering that Sharp AQUOS S2 runs on Android 7.1.1, the next time you turn it off / on, the Russian localization flies, and you have to return it with the usual choice of the Russian version in the morelocale menu. Although I do not think that someone will often turn off their smartphone, unless the battery is completely discharged.
Smile UX is used as the main and only interface option for a smartphone. It has never been used in Japanese versions of smartphones, so those who have never used Chinese versions of Sharp will find something new here.
At the moment, Foxconn releases AQUOS S2 with two firmware versions - Chinese and Taiwanese. The difference between the first and the second is the traditional absence of pre-installed Google services. For most Android smartphone owners, this is a huge omission. However, the craftsmen have already corrected the situation by developing and offering a small instruction for flashing the Chinese version to the Taiwanese one.
Let's now return to the appearance of the smartphone. Hidden on the left side is a hybrid SIM/memory card slot. Let me remind you that Sharp AQUOS S2 can work with two SIM-cards of absolutely any operators at once. Unlike Japanese carrier devices, there are no hard locks on the respective networks. The smartphone supports various frequency bands around the world. As soon as the device catches a cellular signal, the mobile Internet and MMS profile is automatically configured. There is no need to manually configure this menu item, as is the case with most Japanese counterparts. AQUOS S2 uses nano-SIM SIM cards.
The case is not protected from water or dust. So be careful with liquids. At the bottom, behind grilles that are symmetrical with respect to the USB connector, there is a microphone and a speaker. The volume of the speaker is quite enough to hear a call on a noisy street or in the subway. USB Type-C is offered as a connector. Through it, using a complete adapter, you can connect headphones. The usual 3.5 mm jack is not here.
The chrome-plated on/off and volume buttons are partially painted in the body color. Looks pretty.
I am sure that, like many others, I am frustrated by such inelegant exterior elements of phones as camera lenses that impractically protrude from the body. In AQUOS S2, this solution is very striking. It seems that this artifact was emphasized intentionally. Yes, I agree that the thickness of the smartphone tends to record thin, but what decision was made regarding a pair of lenses, plunges me into despondency.
The place of contact of the phone with the surface will sooner or later begin to be covered with small scratches and scuffs.
The monolithic glass surface covers both lenses without breaking.
The back surface has a glossy finish and is very dirty. You'll have to get used to or put all this beauty in a case. We are, of course, talking about a smartphone in black. White in this regard will always be more practical.
The SHARP logo is etched into the glass. I'm not sure if it looks expensive, but anyway, it's presented as a feature that was awarded to the expensive version of AQUOS S2. The manufacturer strongly recommends to be proud of this fact. So...
Camera
In order not to describe in detail one of the best cameras in the history of Sharp smartphones, including the period of its stay in the hands of Chinese owners, I’d better point out the cons right away. The main disadvantage for me was the lack of any stabilization. If in the process of photographing you can still somehow fix your hands, then during video shooting it is extremely difficult to do this. Below, using the example of 4K video, you can clearly see why at least digital stabilization is needed, and even more so in flagship models. I carefully searched all the camera settings menus, but I did not find anything related to image stabilization.
It also remains a mystery to me how to resize a photo. The highest resolution is set by default. There are three image formats: full screen, standard and square. No other changes can be made to the image size. At least, I did not find even such an item. In any case, if there is an urgent need, all these shortcomings can be eliminated by installing a suitable third-party camera application.
As for the quality of photos and videos, here I personally saw a huge leap forward, even in comparison with the current flagships released for the Japanese operator market. Firstly, it is a more realistic color rendering. Unfortunately, I have not yet had the opportunity to compare the results of the AQUOS S2 cameras and the most up-to-date AQUOS R for Japan at the moment, so I will not rashly declare the victory of the Chinese Sharp. But from experience I can say that the Japanese Sharp smartphones do not give a completely believable picture.
The maximum photo resolution is 4032x3024p. The maximum video resolution is 4K (3840x2160p) at 30 fps, with stereo sound (96 kbps). The file extension is MP4.
The second lens is only needed to blur the background (bokeh effect). The LED flash can work as a flashlight. The corresponding button is in the set of icons in the top curtain.
Photo examples
As a conclusion
Having many years of experience in creating and manufacturing completely different smartphones, Foxconn-Sharp, as it seemed to him, put all the best and most advanced into his offspring - a “unique” appearance and almost top-end hardware. The smartphone really turned out to be outstanding and controversial in a good way. Perhaps it would have aroused even more interest if it were not for the Essential Phone presented earlier, especially after the decision was made to reduce the official cost of the latter by 200 USD. Although AQUOS S2 is interesting in itself, after the device from Andy Rubin, he is perceived as his "little brother". And outwardly, many perceive the "American" more attractive. Although I often met the opinion on the net that Essential is more of a non-name brand than something branded.
As for me, to call Sharp AQUOS S2 a revolutionary solution is a stretch. I speak, relying solely on the previous experience of the Japanese division of Sharp. There is nothing here for which users of Japanese smartphones love them - neither traditional protection from external factors, nor proprietary technologies, nor even the Made In Japan label. Only an unusual, and for some, a crazy solution with a front camera, coupled with the now trendy appearance. Yes, Foxconn has introduced something of its own, such as dual-terminality, the ability to choose from two filling options, and, again, for the majority, a controversial decision with a front camera. It is unlikely that such a symbiosis can attract a mass buyer. But it's easy to scare away the true fans of the "traditional" Sharp. We can only hope for the original Sharp models for the local market, where, perhaps, the Japanese will remain true to themselves and continue to produce interesting and in many ways exotic devices.
Today we will look at the TOP 3 best Sharp smartphones of 2017. Powerful 8-core processors, large screens from 5 to 5.7 inches, high-sensitivity cameras - these are the main advantages of the new products from our review. Initially, the devices were presented in the Asian region of the planet, but in the future the manufacturer plans to sell its products in the countries of the European and American continents.
Smartphone Sharp Aquos ea
In 2017, the Japanese manufacturer Sharp brought to the market a budget model of the AguosEA series smartphone, which satisfies the needs of even the most sophisticated user with its technical characteristics and capabilities. Good performance and sufficient information processing speed allow not only to use the device for talking, but also to surf the Internet, watch videos and participate in games.
- Design and equipment. The smartphone is delivered in the basic package: AC adapter, USB cable, stereo headset and user manual. The device is available in 3 colors: black, white and pink. With dimensions of 142x71x808 mm, the weight is only 135 grams. The metal case has no sharp corners. In the upper part of the front side there is a speaker, an auxiliary camera lens, a notification LED and an ambient light sensor. At the top of the back cover is the main camera and LED flash, in the middle - the name of the Aquos series. On the right side, slightly shifted upwards, there is a power button and a volume control. On the left - 2 slots for connecting nanoSIM cards and memory cards. A microJack jack for connecting a stereo headset is conveniently located on the end above the screen, and a microUSB port is on the opposite end. The device is assembled in Japanese quality - the body halves fit perfectly, without gaps, no squeaks were observed when squeezing. Thanks to the IP5X standard, the device is completely protected from dust and moisture.
- Display. The 5-inch screen is made using IGZO technology and is capable of displaying an image with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. Due to the wide viewing angles, color rendition violations were not detected when viewed from different angles. The manufacturer declared a pixel density of at least 294 ppi and a color depth of 24 bits. The maximum brightness level and the contrast ratio tending to the maximum make it comfortable to read information from the screen even in sunlight. The screen is covered with 2.5D glass with beveled corners. Oleophobic coating ensures reliable protection of the display from fingerprints and other similar contaminants.
- Performance. The heart of the gadget is a 64-bit Snapdragon 617 MSM8952 processor with 8 Cortex-A53 cores that support 4x1.5 GHz and 4x1.2 GHz. The image is processed by the Adreno 405 video card. 2 GB of RAM is enough to ensure efficient operation with all non-power-intensive programs and applications. Storage of personal files, music and movies is facilitated by the built-in memory of 16 GB, which, if necessary, can be increased up to 256 GB by connecting additional memory cards such as microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC. The device runs on the 7th version of Android OS.
- Camera and multimedia. The main camera with a sensitivity of 13 megapixels allows you to take high-quality photographs with a resolution of 4160x3120 pixels. The presence of autofocus and digital zoom increases the comfort and scope of the camera. The menu provides many modes of operation and shooting scenes, among which are face recognition, automatic white level adjustment, geotagging. An LED flash is provided for taking pictures in low light. An auxiliary 5 MP camera will provide visual communication in Skype and will allow you to take good quality selfies. Thanks to the FM tuner, you can listen to your favorite radio stations. I also wanted to pay attention to high-quality sound reproduction, with sufficient bass depth.
- Communication and interface. The device supports communication in the format from 2 G to 4G (LTE). The presence of a Bluetooth 4.2 adapter ensures the exchange of information with compatible devices at a distance of up to 10 meters. Internet browsing is possible thanks to Wi-Fi technology. Satellite navigation modules GPS and A-GPS will allow you to determine the location and navigate the terrain. In addition, the smartphone is equipped with an accelerometer, light and proximity sensors, and a gyroscope.
- Offline work. Autonomous talk time for 15 hours will provide a Li-polymer battery with a capacity of 3010 mAh. The battery charge is enough for 580 hours of standby time. To charge the battery, you can use either an AC adapter or use the USB connector of a PC or laptop.
The price of SharpAquos ea in Russia is still unknown. The video presentation of the smartphone is presented below:
Smartphone Sharp Aquos R
Sharp Corporation has launched a premium smartphone on the market, made on the Qualcomm platform and having a powerful filling. In addition, the device is equipped with a display with a minimum bezel width and a fingerprint scanner built into the Home key.
- Appearance and equipment. The non-separable body made of curved glass in silver or black with dimensions of 153x74x8.7 mm has an IP68 degree of protection, which ensures the smartphone is completely waterproof. At the bottom of the front panel, the “Home” button recessed into the case is conveniently located, at the top - the earpiece and the lens of the auxiliary camera. There is practically no bezel on the right and left sides, its size is only 0.33 mm. In the upper left corner of the back side is the main camera, with a non-protruding lens and an LED flash. On the right side there is a power button and a volume rocker, on the left side there is a tray for a SIM card and a memory card. On the bottom end there is a USB connector, on the opposite end there is a headphone jack. In general, the case is made concisely, without inscriptions and logos. Like all the company's equipment, the smartphone has a high-quality assembly and a unique design. The buyer will receive a USB-cable, network adapter, stereo headphones and a user's manual together with the device.
- Display. The manufacturer in his new product used a 5.3-inch screen, made on the basis of an IGZO-matrix with a QuadHD resolution (2560x1440 pixels), a picture change rate of 120 Hz and a high density of up to 554 ppi. The display is covered with glass with semi-circular edges 2.5 D and supports HDR 10. An oleophobic coating is provided to protect against greasy contaminants.
- Performance. The powerful Snapdragon 835 processor, running on 8 Kryo cores and supporting a frequency of 2.45 GHz, is responsible for this parameter. The image is processed and displayed by the Adreno 540 video card. 4 GB of RAM is enough to support all modern programs and energy-intensive applications. To store personal information, there is an internal memory of 64 GB, which can be increased by connecting an additional memory cell. The model runs on Ahdroid 7.1 OS with Emopa voice assistant.
- Cameras. The 23MP main camera lets you capture professional-quality photos. To do this, in addition to the extended menu and lens viewing angles up to 90 °, high-speed autofocus and an image stabilization system, made in optical and digital versions, are provided. A flash will help you shoot in low light. You can communicate in visual mode with friends on Skype using an additional camera with a sensitivity of 16.3 megapixels. The presence of a digital FM-receiver will allow you to listen to news or your favorite radio programs on radio frequencies. The media player supports both audio and video modes. The volume and sound quality is not satisfactory.
- Communication and interface. The smartphone supports all communication protocols - from 2G to 4G. The presence of two SIM-cards will allow you to work with several providers of mobile communications. For wireless communication with compatible external devices at a distance of up to 10 meters, a Bluetooth 5.0 adapter is provided. Wi-Fi technology is supported for Internet access. GPS and Glonass satellite navigation modules will allow to determine the location and navigate the terrain.
- Battery. For autonomous operation, the manufacturer installed a Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 3160 mAh. For recharging, a USB type C connector is provided, there is a QuickCharge 3.0 function that provides fast battery charging.
The price of Sharp Aquos R in Russia is unknown at the moment.
Sharp Z3 Smartphone
The Japanese manufacturer has launched a new smartphone model on the market, characterized by powerful hardware, sufficient RAM and internal memory. Although the company is not a leader in the production of mobile gadgets, the device turned out to be successful.
- Appearance and equipment. The smartphone is made in an all-metal champagne-colored case with dimensions of 157.9 x 78.5 x 7.78 mm. With such dimensions, the device weighs only 185 g. The case has no sharp corners and fits comfortably in the hand. In the left corner of the rear panel is the main camera and flash. The logo of the manufacturing company and the place of assembly are applied at the bottom. At the top left on the front side there is an auxiliary camera and a proximity sensor, in the middle - a conversational speaker. The screen is covered with 2.5 D glass. At the bottom there is a “Home” button, which does not protrude beyond the size of the case. On the bottom side, a microphone, a charging socket and a speaker are successfully located. On the opposite side, there is a headphone jack and a noise canceling microphone. On the left side there is an activation button and a volume control, on the right side there is a tray for 2 nanoSIM-cards and a carriage for a memory card. The device comes with a headset, network adapter, USB cable and user manual.
- Screen 5.7-inch is made using IGZO technology, has a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels and a density of 515 ppi. With a high level of brightness (512 nit) and a maximum contrast ratio, the screen can be viewed even in bright sunlight. To protect against scratches and minor mechanical damage, the display is equipped with GorillaGlass glass. The presence of an ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen.
- Performance. The 64-bit Snapdragon 652 processor has 8 cores running at 1.8GHz each. Image processing is carried out by the Adreno 510 video processor with a frequency of 550 MHz. 4 GB of RAM is enough to work with energy-intensive applications and programs. Personal information (movies, music, photos, games) is stored on the built-in 64 GB disk, which can be increased by connecting additional microSD memory cells. The device does not heat up even during long games and high-quality video viewing. The software shell is the seventh version of the Android Nougat operating system.
- Multimedia. 16 megapixel main camera has a resolution of 4608x3456 pixels and allows you to shoot video in FullHD quality at 30 frames / sec. The presence of autofocus, continuous and panoramic shooting, optical image stabilization and digital zoom increase the functionality of the device. For shooting in low light, an LED flash is provided. You can visually communicate on Skype or take selfies using the front 13 MP camera. The smartphone is equipped with an audio and video player that supports all standard recording formats. In order to keep abreast of the latest news there is an FM receiver. The volume and saturation of the sound is quite sufficient for a device of this class.
- Interface and communication. This device model supports all currently existing cellular communication standards, including from 2G to 4G. The presence of 2 slots for a SIM card allows you to use the services of several mobile operators. For wireless communication with external devices, it is possible to connect via Bluetooth technology. You can surf the Internet thanks to the Wi-Fi module. Satellite adapters GPS and Glonass allow you to navigate the terrain.
- Battery. The smartphone is equipped with a non-removable Li-Polymer battery with a capacity of 3100 mAh, which can be charged both from a regular network adapter and via a USB port. The battery charge is enough for 17-18 hours of communication and 600 hours of standby time.
The price of Sharp Z3 in Russia is still unknown.
After reviewing the TOP-3 of the best Sharp smartphones in 2017, we can conclude that given the manufacturer’s mentality, its technical capabilities and freshness of ideas, the company does not intend to give this part of the market to competitors, and will try to gain popularity not only among Asian consumers, but also users from other countries .
In this review, I propose to get acquainted with the "frameless" AQUOS S2 from the world famous electronics manufacturer - Sharp. The smartphone turned out to be a little controversial, but at the same time quite interesting both outside and inside, and this is even despite the fact that the Japanese “roots” have now become part of the Chinese company Foxconn. It is also worth noting that since its release in August last year, the model quickly fell in love with customers and continues to be very popular to this day.
One of the main distinguishing features of the Aquos S2 was the use of Free Form Display technology, thanks to which the front camera remained in its usual place, being “fitted” into the screen. I don’t know for sure whether it happened on purpose or not, but thanks to this, the appearance of the Aquos S2 very much resembles the Essential PH-1, with which, by the way, it is even sometimes confused with a cursory glance.
In addition, despite the large 5.5-inch display, which occupies almost 85% of the front surface area, there is also a fingerprint scanner under the screen, in general, the list of smartphone features is as follows.
| Operating system (OS) | Android 7.1.1 Nougat |
| Processor (CPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, 4x 2.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, 4x 1.8 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, 8 cores |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) | Qualcomm Adreno 508 |
| Random Access Memory (RAM) | 4 GB LPDDR4 Dual Channel 1333MHz |
| Built-in memory (ROM) | 64 GB |
| Screen | 5.5”, IGZO, 1080 x 2040, 420 ppi, 1.889:1 aspect ratio |
| Screen area | 85% |
| Other characteristics | Multi-touch, Capacitive, Scratch resistant |
| Main camera | |
| Sensor Model | Sony IMX362 Exmor RS, CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Diaphragm | f/1.8 |
| Focal length | 4.28mm |
| Flash type | Double LED |
| Image Resolution | 12.19MP |
| Video filming | 1080p@30fps |
| Camera Options | Touch focus, HDR, Scene selection, Panorama, Geotagging, Self-timer, Exposure compensation, Digital image stabilization, Continuous shooting, ISO setting, Digital zoom, Autofocus, White balance adjustment, Face detection |
| Additional camera | |
| Sensor type | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Diaphragm | f/2.0 |
| Focal length | 3.51mm |
| Image Resolution | 7.99MP |
| Video filming | 1080p@30fps |
| Wireless interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11b, 802.11n 5GHz, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, Wi-Fi Hotspot, 802.11a, 802.11n, Dual band, 802.11g, 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS+GLONAS |
| Mobile technologies | UMTS (384 kbit/s), TD-HSDPA, TD-SCDMA, GPRS, EDGE, LTE Cat 7 (102.0 Mbit/s, 301.5 Mbit/s), HSPA+, EV-DO Rev. A (1.8 Mbit/s, 3.1 Mbit/s) |
Battery | 3020mAh, Li-polymer, Quick charge (Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0), Non-removable |
| Sensors | Compass, Accelerometer, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Fingerprint Scanner, Gyroscope |
| Housing material | Aluminum alloy, Glass, Plastic |
| Colors | White, Green, Black, Blue |
| Dimensions (HxWxT) | 141.8 x 72.04 x 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 140 gr |
Packaging and equipment
The smartphone comes in a rather weighty, very decent-looking box made of hard durable cardboard, the opening of which is also very unusual - on the principle of a matchbox.
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Appearance and controls
The first thing that catches your eye is a very compact size, which, according to impressions, can in no way be correlated with the declared 5.5-inch screen.
When describing the location of the camera, it is usually customary to say “above the screen”, but in this case it would be more correct to say that the camera is located here in the upper part of the screen in the middle, in combination with light and proximity sensors.
Above them, in a narrow space between the screen and the frame, there is a speaker, as well as a small, I would even say hardly noticeable, three-color event indication LED.
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Below, under the screen is the manufacturer's logo, as well as an oval fingerprint scanner.
At the bottom end there is a USB Type-C connector, an external speaker, and a hole for a spoken microphone.
The upper end is free from any connectors, the headset is connected through the same lower usb Type-C using the included adapter.
On the right are the usual unlock and volume buttons, on the left is a combination tray that allows you to place either two nano SIM cards or replace one of them with a microSD memory card.
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At the bottom is the manufacturer's logo, on the top left there is a hole for an external noise-canceling microphone, a convex "island" of the dual main camera and a two-color LED backlight under it.
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I think that the very fact of having a protruding part on the back cover of the smartphone cannot be called the right decision, but from the point of view of scratches on the protective glass of the camera, everything is probably not so bad - the camera is in a small recess and will not touch the surface.
Display
The smartphone received a screen with a diagonal of 5.5 inches. The resolution is very decent for this size of 2040x1080 pixels, 135 percent coverage of the sRGB color space and a maximum brightness of 550 cd / m² are also claimed.
After turning on, there is a complete feeling that you have AMOLED in front of you. Bright, juicy color rendering by default goes into warm shades, which can be corrected if desired using the available software settings.
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Be that as it may, there are no questions about the quality of the screen, the picture is saturated, there is a good margin for brightness, at maximum angles the picture is practically not distorted. In the sun, the screen also looks readable, including sunglasses.
The display itself is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass with smooth rounding around the perimeter (2.5D), there is a high-quality oleophobic coating, so dirt and fingerprints are not so noticeable and are erased without problems.
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The screen with a resolution of 2040x1080p is great for reading, with a density of 420ppi, pixels can only be seen with great desire and magnification.
Dimensions and ergonomics
As I mentioned earlier, the small size of the AQUOS S2 at first makes one doubt that there really is a claimed 5.5” screen. To understand how compact the smartphone is, I suggest taking a look at it next to the full-fledged “frame” Elephone P8 with the same screen size of 5.5”.
The weight and dimensions of the AQUOS S2 make it possible to hold and work with it with one hand, but unfortunately the rounded shape of the case does not allow the device to “hook” securely in the palm of your hand, it slips a little and you constantly catch yourself feeling that the smartphone can simply slip out and fall. The problem is quickly solved with the use of a complete plastic cover-bumper. By the way, it is quite thin and practically does not increase the visual dimensions of the device, but at the same time it has a positive effect on the comfort of holding. True, I would still advise you to use not a plastic, but a silicone bumper of this kind, it is easier to remove and put on, and in case of a fall it will not crack, unlike a plastic counterpart.
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Operating system and interface
Sharp AQUOS S2 runs on Android 7.1.1 OS, and Smile UX is used as the main shell. When turned on, the system setup wizard prompts you to select a language, among the list of which there is also Russian.
Depending on the market, AQUOS S2 comes with two firmware versions - Chinese (CN) and Taiwanese (WW). The reviewed copy was ordered from China, respectively, the Chinese firmware with the prefix CN in the assembly name is preinstalled here, which differs from the Taiwanese one in the absence of Google services, as well as the presence of a certain number of applications in Chinese.
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The next step is to rename the archive by changing the firmware number in it by one up, i.e. if the stock assembly (in the information about the operating system) is called “00CN_1_35H”, then in the name of the archive you need to change “…135H…” to “…136H…”. This is done so that the system accepts this archive as a new firmware version.
After its completion, the smartphone will receive an international firmware with the prefix "WW" with a pre-installed Play app store and other services from Google.
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The standard functionality of a "clean" operating system is supplemented by a number of useful functions, among which are:
- the ability to adjust the font size;
- reading mode (the screen acquires a yellowish tint);
- game mode for selected applications;
- phone control using gestures on the screen, as well as changing its position (somatosensory movement);
- built-in ability to record video from the screen (including sound from a microphone);
- configurable optimization of the use of system resources;
- changing the position of virtual on-screen control buttons;
- battery saving modes, including by switching the screen to black and white mode.
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The scanner itself works just fine, there are practically no false positives, the fingerprint is recognized regardless of the angle at which the finger is applied. The only remark is related to the drop in accuracy if the hands are wet, here the recognition is not always successful.
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How to round the corners of the screen
We must pay tribute to the Sharp engineers, by making the corners of the screen matrix not rounded (like everyone else), but beveled, they certainly managed to attract attention, but I would not be able to say that this solution belongs to the category of successful ones.
In this case, it just “hurts the eye”, you can certainly get used to it and after a while you just stop paying attention, but for those who cannot put up with it, there is a special free application Rounded Corner, with which you can quickly and easily solve this problem .
Download and install the application, in the settings set the Size option to 100, and in the Corners section, deselect the extreme buttons responsible for rounding the bottom corners and thus leave only the top ones. If you wish, you can experiment with the settings yourself, but in the end we get a result similar to the one shown in the photo below. It is worth noting that if earlier in the screenshots all the corners remained straight, then after applying the software rounding, the result will also be noticeable in the screenshots.
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Communication and wireless interfaces
The smartphone supports the following mobile communication standards: GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz), CDMA (800 MHz), WCDMA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), TD-SCDMA (Band 34, 39), FDD-LTE (Band 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28), TDD-LTE (Band 34, 38, 39, 40, 41).
The connection quality is quite good, the audibility of both you and the interlocutor is not satisfactory. If, nevertheless, there is a feeling that the interlocutor is not heard well, the volume of the intercom speaker can be increased using the adjustment rocker, although this should be done without fanaticism, otherwise everyone around at a distance of about one and a half meters will hear it.
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The positioning system supports both American GPS and Russian GLONASS. In addition, although it is not stated in the characteristics, but my copy also detects satellites of the Baidu system.
System and Performance
The hardware of this version of Aquos S2 runs on an 8-core Snapdragon 630 processor (an advanced version of the very popular Snapdragon 625) with a maximum frequency of 2.2 GHz, Adreno 508 is responsible for the graphics component, the amount of RAM is 4 GB (LPDDR4), internal memory is 64 GB, Of these, about 47 GB are free. It is worth noting that the advanced version of this smartphone has a higher-class processor - Snapdragon 660, 6 GB of RAM and a 128 GB drive.
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The smartphone successfully passed the authentication, in terms of performance, according to the results of testing Antutu Benchmark v.7, he managed to score a little over 88,000 points.
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More results from several popular tests.
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Battery and autonomy
The smartphone has a non-removable lithium-polymer battery with a declared capacity of 3020 mAh, which, when tested, showed even a slightly more modest result. Of course, if we recall the large screen resolution, then such a relatively small capacity can already tell in advance about a small autonomy.
This would be true, but in combination with a fairly energy-efficient technology of the screen itself, as well as a very economical processor, everything turns out to be not as bad as it looked at first glance. As a result, in the mode of not very intensive use, the charge is enough for a day, but if you use the smartphone continuously with the screen close to the maximum brightness in online video viewing mode, then the battery will last for about 5-6 hours.
With a complete charger, the smartphone gains 100% charge in about 2.5 hours, but this time can be slightly reduced if “fast charging” is used.
cameras
The main camera with a resolution of 12 megapixels is built on a Sony IMX362 Exmor RS sensor, the aperture is F / 1.75, and the pixel size is 1.4 microns. The second, dual module has a resolution of 8 megapixels (used to create a bokeh background blur effect). The front camera is also 8-megapixel.
By the way, the Sony IMX362 Exmor RS sensor is very famous and needs no introduction. The camera has a very realistic color reproduction, the maximum photo resolution is 4032x3024px, the maximum video resolution is 4K (3840x2160p) at 30 fps, with stereo sound (96 kbps). The file extension is mp4. LED backlight, like most modern smartphones, can work as a flashlight (activated using a button in the top "curtain").
In addition to automatic mode, the built-in camera application supports most of the necessary manual settings, there are various color filters, editing options, as well as overlays and creating photo collages on the fly, including a function to automatically cut out an object to place it on a different background.
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Some examples of photos taken in cloudy weather. By default, each picture is watermarked, but this feature can be turned off if desired through the settings menu.
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In terms of the now popular background blur effect, the smartphone also performed quite well. No, of course, not everything is perfect here, the camera often makes mistakes, but it still cannot be compared with most budget two-camera cameras, where the blur is superimposed stupidly on everything that is not in the center of the picture and goes beyond a certain radius.
The degree of blur can be adjusted independently, thereby achieving quite tolerable and interesting results.
This is what it looks like on medium settings. Below you can see that the automation tried to smudge everything that passes beyond the contour of the shop, but still blurred the image a little in the upper part.
For comparison, three photos of the same object (from left to right) without blurring at all, with blurring at the average and at the maximum value.
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The quality of the pictures is very good, I was especially pleased with the realistic color reproduction, but unfortunately, due to the lack of autofocus of the front camera, the sharpness sometimes leaves much to be desired.
If desired, full-size originals of the above photographs can be downloaded.
As for shooting video, despite a good camera, the recording quality will suffer greatly when shooting handheld, since the smartphone does not have a built-in stabilization system. If, when taking photographs, given the amazing speed, this factor does not play a big role, because. the pictures are still clear, then when shooting a video, any jitter will be very noticeable.
Conclusion
Of course, as noted earlier, the smartphone is not perfect and has a number of disadvantages, such as the lack of a 3.5 mm audio jack, a protruding rear camera, lack of stabilization when recording video, and a relatively small battery. But nevertheless, if we recall all the advantages of AQUOS S2, which include compact dimensions, a magnificent screen, rather powerful hardware, the presence of so many lacking NFC, an excellent camera, a somewhat unusual appearance, and also look at the price that lies in the “less than $200” segment, we can conclude that this model is one of the best options for today.
It is made unlike competitors, has an original appearance, which by itself may seem awkward to many, but this is also attractive.
At the time of writing this review, the Sharp AQUOS S2 in blue is priced at $159.
An advanced version with a Snapdragon 660 processor, 6/128 GB of memory and a glass cover cost $255
Thank you for your attention and all the best!
