Sharp’s Aquos S2 Combines the Best Features of All Android Phones

Sharp has released their latest smartphone, the Aquos S2. The phone was teased by the company a few days ago and rumored to have the highest screen-to-body ratio compared to others.

The phone is currently available in China only. Sharp Aquos S2 comes in 2 different versions, the cheaper variant is priced at Rs. 39,000 (CNY 2,499) while the expensive one will cost you Rs. 55,000 (CNY 3,499).

Design and Display

Remember Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone? Here’s Sharp’s version of it in the shape of Aquos S2.

The phone looks like a mishmash of several famous Android phones rolled into one. As I mentioned earlier, the front looks like the Essential phone, down to the weird looking camera blocking the screen. The top edges of the screen are cut off, which is a little uncoventional. The phone looks great either way.

The back of the Aquos S2 looks like something from HTC U11 or Xiaomi Mi 6, curved on all sides and edges. Another potential similarity is the camera unit which is exactly the same as iPhone 8’s rumored vertical camera orientation.

Aquos S2’s display comes in at 5.5 inches, an IPS panel. The resolution clocks in at slightly higher than Full HD (1080 x 2040) with a 17:9 aspect ratio and 420 PPI pixel density.

Internals and Storage

Despite the looks, the Aquos S2 doesn’t have flagship specifications. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 or 660 depending on the variant. Storage and memory options range from 4 GB/64 GB and 6 GB/128 GB respectively.

It is a dual SIM phone and uses a hybrid SIM/microSD card slot for expandable storage (up to 256 GB).

OS is Android 7.1 Nougat with Sharp’s custom skin.

Camera and Battery

Sharp Aquos 2 has a dual camera setup on the back with 12 MP and 8 MP sensors. Sharp went with a seven level bokeh effect for the cameras, similar to the iPhone 7 Plus. Additionally the primary cameras come with PDAF and a dual LED flash.

The front camera is an 8 MP sensor, same as several other smartphones.

A 3,020 mAh battery powers the Aquos S2 which should be adequate for a mid-range/super mid-range phone. It features Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0, fast charging support.

Sharp Aquos S2 Specifications

• CPU: 4x 2.2 GHz+ 4x 1.8 GHz Cortex A-53/ 4x 2.2 GHz + 4x 1.8 GHz Kryo 260
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 630/660
• GPU: Adreno 508/512
• OS: Android 7.1.1 Nougat
• Supported Networks: 2G, 3G, 4G LTE; hybrid dual SIM
• Design:
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • 3D curved glass back
  • 87.5% screen-to-body ratio (highest ever)
  • Dual camera setup
• Display:
  • 5.5” IPS LCD with 2040 x 1080 resolution (420 PPI)
• Memory:
  • RAM: 4/6 GB
  • Internal: 64/128 GB
  • Card slot: yes, by up to 256 GB
• Camera:
  • Primary: Dual 12 MP (f/1.8, PDAF) + 8 MP, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
  • Secondary: 8 MP, f/2.0
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, GPS, LTE
• Battery: 3,020 mAh, Quick Charge 3.0
• Price: Rs. 39,000 (CNY 2,499)/Rs. 55,000 (CNY 3,499)