entranceSHARP AQUOS S2 Smartphone - Upgrade and Experience. Sharp launches the world's first completely bezel-less smartphone Sharp aquos s2 camera review
On Tuesday, August 8th, Sharp announced the Aquos S2 smartphone, which features a bezel-less display, an ultra-narrow fingerprint scanner and a dual main camera.
The screen of the novelty is made using Free Form Display technology, thanks to which the manufacturer cut off the two upper corners and made a cutout for the front camera.
The 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 2040 x 1080 pixels, 550 nits brightness and 135% sRGB color space covers almost 85% of the device's front surface area. Below is a fingerprint scanner with a width of only 3.6 mm, which, according to the developers, is a record low. The body of the phone is covered with 3D glass and metal edging.
Sharp Aquos S2 is marketed as the first smartphone to be powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor. This SoC contains eight processing cores with a clock speed of up to 2.2 GHz and an Adreno 508 graphics unit. The device will also be offered in a version with an eight-core Snapdragon 660 chip.
The amount of RAM can be 4 or 6 GB, the capacity of the built-in flash drive is 64 or 128 GB. It is possible to connect removable microSD memory cards to the slot where the SIM card is also inserted.
The rear camera features a 12-megapixel primary sensor and an 8-megapixel secondary, f / 1.75 aperture, dual LED flash and phase detection autofocus. For the front camera, the manufacturer chose an 8-megapixel sensor with an f / 2.0 aperture.
Product dimensions 141.8 × 72.04 × 7.9 mm, weight - 140 grams. The handset is powered by a 3020 mAh rechargeable battery and is operated by the operating room. Android system 7.1.1 Nougat.
Sharp Aquos S2 is available in black, white, blue and green. The cost of a smartphone in China will start at 2,500 yuan (about $ 372). The start of sales is scheduled for August 14th.
Hello friends! Some time ago, the frameless smartphone AQUOS S2, long-awaited for all fans of the Sharp brand, fell into my hands. As for me, with all its disadvantages, 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 reprimands against AQUOS S2. But first things first.
It is worth noting that the manufacturer kept 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 about the "full screen" AQUOS S2, which everyone hoped for. The bummer that eventually awaited all Sharp fans can only be compared to the indignation over the very fact of buying the Japanese giant by the Chinese. However, many have even managed to come to terms with this reality. As for the "full-screen case", 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 former: 79.55% versus 78.51%. Of course, no one will measure these numbers in everyday life. But the fact remains that in 2017 the main trend among flagship devices (and not only) is the race for maximum framelessness of the facade.
It's funny that the world has picked up the bezel-less fashion just now. Let me remind you that at the beginning of 2014, the then Japanese Sharp was the first to present its revolutionary solution - the EDGEST technology, according to which several more subsequent generations were produced. 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 has turned out to be the still 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 root immediately, 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 X 403SH
In addition, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that promotional images of Japanese Sharp smartphones have never outwardly diverged from their prototypes. That is, the thickness of the frames for living devices remained the same 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 a picture from the Sharp AQUOS S2 official page, on the right is a real photo. Tricks like this on the part of manufacturers are meant to attract attention. potential buyer distracting from the real picture. But what the owner will say only later, when he gets the coveted gadget in his hands, remains behind the scenes.
Specifications
While work on the Sharp AQUOS S2 was carried out at the same time as the Essential Phone, and both devices clearly have a common design style, in technical terms, 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 8-core Snapdragon 630 processor with A53 cores, as well as 6 GB RAM / 128 GB ROM and 8-core Snapdragon 660 with Kryo cores. I have a top-end 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 has received 4 colors: black, white, blue and menthol blue. The branded logo on the back will be printed with regular paint. The alternative is the top-end version with a glass case and an engraved SHARP logo on the back.
Sharp AQUOS S2 Specifications:
- 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, eight-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;
- Support for memory cards: microSDXC up to 128 GB;
- The fingerprint scanner;
- GPS / GLONASS;
- Wi-Fi a / b / g / n / ac;
- Bluetooth 4.2;
- USB Type-C;
- Qualcomm fast charge function Quick charge 3.0;
- Battery: Li-Ion, 3020 mAh;
- Dimensions: 141.8x72x7.9mm;
- Weight: 140 grams.
In terms of performance, the Sharp AQUOS S2 is able to satisfy the needs of many demanding users. Powerful processor, a lot of memory, a large 5.5-inch display and a 3020 mAh battery will delight the discerning lover of most modern toys.
Equipment
Unlike Japanese cellular operators, actually colluding 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 outer 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 bumper cover;
- instructions and warranty card.
First impressions. Design
And this is where my cognitive dissonance begins. Assuming that the new AQUOS S2 will not be a revelation for me due to the rich experience with Sharp's bezelless smartphones, I understand that the sensations of its presence in the palm of your hand are really new and, importantly, pleasant. It's incredibly lightweight and compact. What I'm used to seeing in third-party photos and what I'm holding in my hand are completely different things. And I like this thing straight away. 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 haven't 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 diagonal is still unnecessary for me. It's time to build up your fingers in order to enjoy just such diagonals, but, apparently, not destined. That is why displays no more than 5 inches are still the ultimate dream for me.
The AQUOS S2 is comfortable in your hand, but its soapy shape can easily play a cruel joke with you. The glossy surface and cool metal frame with smooth edges can easily cause multiple drops, and it costs nothing to drop the phone from your hands. To prevent this from happening, Sharp suggested tucking the phone into 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 stuffing it into a black case.
Palm and fingerprints are just as successful on the matte case.
For some reason, the narrowest HOME button with an integrated fingerprint scanner has become one of the features of the smartphone, which has been emphasized by Chinese marketers. The functionality of the scanner is standard and does not differ in originality from competitors. The settings allow a touch of the button to go back one level, and pressing it drops the user to the desktop.
In the corner between the upper part of the metal end and the display, a barely noticeable earpiece covered with a perforated grille is very elegantly integrated. The interlocutor is heard clearly and without any extraneous noise.
To the right of it is an indicator light neatly located.
Display
For some reason, this time Sharp decided not to use an IGZO matrix. The AQUOS S2 uses a conventional TFT technology... Apparently, Sharp's Japanese Free-form 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 the IGZO matrix. If you pay attention, the top corners of the compact are rounded, unlike the Chinese counterpart.
As for the quality of the picture, I personally had no questions for him. The resolution of 2040x1080p is quite natural with the non-standard aspect ratio of 17: 9. The display itself is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass, but Foxconn did not indicate which generation. The glass has a 2.5D rounded edge and an oleophobic coating that will wipe off dirt and prints. The color scheme changes when viewed from an angle, but only slightly.
The screen works great in the sun. Everything, down to small texts, reads perfectly. In sunglasses, the screen is also readable without problems. I decided to mention this fact, tk. I faced 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 “On the street” checkbox. In sunglasses, the screen is just black. You have to shoot every time to answer a call or write a message.
Now let's talk about what gives rise to a lot of confusion among users who first saw the Sharp AQUOS S2. This, incidentally, also applies to the Essential Phone. One of the controversial nuances when looking at the front of the AQUOS S2 is the unusual positioning of the front camera inside the screen. The lens simply divides the top edge into two halves. On closer inspection, the light and proximity sensors can be seen above the lens. The solution is really unusual. Why in the minds of engineers at Xiaomi and other companies it was decided to place the front-facing camera in the "beard" under the screen remains a mystery. And if we look at Sharp's bezel-less smartphones from the past, we see exactly the same arrangement of the camera under the screen. The future will show whether Foxconn's idea can be considered as a kind of experiment in the field of technologies that allow you to give a display absolutely any shape. At least Sharp 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.
Is this a conspicuous spot when using a smartphone? The issue is controversial. Personally, I stopped paying attention to it almost as soon as I started using the phone. It is only interesting to observe in which scenarios of use the lens "cuts" into the image, and in which it is a harmonious part of the curtain with duty information or a black strip, given that the screen has an aspect ratio of 17: 9. See examples below.
Lock screen saver
Fully open curtain with functional icons
Camera operation in video recording mode
Camera in the mode of photographing with a resolution in the width of the screen
Viewing 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
Playback of widescreen video 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 with the help of morelocale of the Russian language, more appears in the interface than in the case of Russification by the same method of Sharp smartphones (and not only) for the Japanese market. The interface is Russified by about half. Some of the settings menu items are translated into excellent Russian, and not the way it was before on cheap Chinese. Below are some screenshots.
Considering that Sharp AQUOS S2 runs on Android 7.1.1 OS, when you turn it off / on again, the Russian localization fails, and it has to be returned by 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 version of the interface for a smartphone. It has never been used in Japanese versions of smartphones, so those who have never used Sharp's Chinese versions will find something new here.
On this moment Foxconn releases AQUOS S2 with two firmware versions - Chinese and Taiwanese. The difference between the first and the second is the traditional lack of pre-installed Google services... For most Android smartphone owners, this is a huge oversight. However, the craftsmen have already corrected the situation by developing and offering a small instruction for flashing Chinese version to Taiwanese.
Let's now go back to the look of the smartphone. A hybrid SIM / memory card slot is hidden on the left side. Let me remind you that Sharp AQUOS S2 can work with two SIM-cards of absolutely any operators. Unlike Japanese operator devices, there are no hard locks on the corresponding networks. The smartphone supports various frequency bands around the world. As soon as the device catches a cellular signal, the profile of the mobile Internet and MMS is automatically configured. There is no need to manually adjust this menu item, as is the case with most Japanese counterparts. AQUOS S2 uses nano-SIM formatted SIM cards.
The housing is not protected from water or dust. So be careful with liquids. At the bottom end, behind the grilles symmetrical with respect to the USB connector, a microphone and a speaker are hidden. The loudspeaker volume is enough to hear a call on a noisy street or in the subway. USB Type-C is offered as a connector. Through it, using the supplied 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 color of the case. Looks pretty.
I am sure that I, like many others, are upset by such inelegant elements of the exterior of phones as the impractical camera lenses protruding from the body. In AQUOS S2, this solution is striking. It seems that this artifact was emphasized on purpose. Yes, I agree that the thickness of the smartphone is striving for a record low, but the 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.
Monolithic glass surface covers both lenses without tearing.
The back surface has a glossy finish and gets very dirty. We'll have to get used to or dress all this beauty in a case. We are talking, of course, about a smartphone in black. White will always be more practical in this regard.
The SHARP logo is engraved in the glass. I'm not sure if it looks expensive, but anyway, it serves as a feature that was awarded to the expensive version of the AQUOS S2. The manufacturer strongly recommends to be proud of this fact. So...
Camera
In order not to paint in all the details one of the best cameras in the entire history of Sharp smartphones, including the period of its stay in the hands of Chinese owners, it is better to immediately point out the disadvantages. The main disadvantage for me was the lack of any stabilization. If in the process of photographing you can somehow still fix your hands, then during video filming it is extremely difficult to do this. Below, using 4K video as an example, you can clearly see why at least digital stabilization is needed, and even more so in flagship models. I searched thoroughly all the camera settings menus, but I could not find anything related to image stabilization.
It still remains a mystery to me how to resize the photo. The default is the highest resolution. In this case, there are three image formats: full screen, standard and square. You cannot make any other changes to the picture size. At least I have not even found 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 reproduction. Unfortunately, I have not yet had the opportunity to compare the results of the AQUOS S2 cameras and the most relevant at the moment AQUOS R for Japan, so I will not rashly declare the victory of the Chinese Sharp. But from experience I can say that the Japanese operator's smartphones Sharp do not give quite a believable picture.
The maximum photo resolution is 4032x3024p. The maximum video resolution is 4K (3840x2160p) @ 30fps, with stereo audio (96kbps). 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 upper curtain.
Sample photos
As a conclusion
With many years of experience in creating and producing completely different smartphones, Foxconn-Sharp, as it seemed to him, put into his brainchild all the best and most advanced - "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 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 the AQUOS S2 is interesting in itself, after the device from Andy Rubin, it is perceived as his "little brother". And outwardly, many perceive the "American" as more attractive. Although I have often come across the opinion on the Internet that Essential is more of a non-name brand than something branded.
As for me, it would be a stretch to call the Sharp AQUOS S2 a revolutionary solution. I speak based solely on the previous experience of Sharp's Japanese division. There is nothing here for which users of Japanese smartphones love these - neither traditional protection from external factors, nor proprietary technologies, nor even the Made In Japan label. Only an unusual, but for someone crazy solution with a front-facing camera, coupled with the current trendy appearance. Yes, Foxconn has brought something of its own, like a dual-sense, the ability to choose from two filling options, and, again, for most, a controversial decision with a front camera. It is unlikely that such a symbiosis can attract a mass buyer. But to scare away the true fans of the "traditional" Sharp is easy. 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 largely exotic devices.
After all, it is only there that you can buy the device that will be discussed today. Everything went well, the package got to me and today we will take a look at the Sharp Aquos S2. The model is very popular among fans of ordering gadgets from China. Yes, the brand is Japanese, well-known to everyone, but, as usual, China produces these devices. Among the masses modern smartphones Aquos S2 really stands out, it is like that alien who flew from another planet to create a rustle and show what a smartphone should be for one and a half hundred dollars.
EQUIPMENT
In the kit we get:
- protective plastic bumper
- paper clip for the tray
- s / y for 5V and 2A
— USB-C cable
- an adapter from USB-C to 3.5 mm jack.
FIRMWARE
SHARP Aquos S2 comes from China with Chinese firmware. It has Russian, but no Google services, and a bunch of Chinese software is preinstalled. It is advisable to reflash the smartphone to the official international firmware... The process of flashing the Sharp Aquos S2 is so primitive and simple that even a child can handle it. The very international firmware can be downloaded on the forum w3bsit3-dns.com >>. When you turn it on for the first time, do not activate WiFi, otherwise the smart will automatically start downloading updates, but we do not need this. We download the firmware in the form of an archive and upload it to the smartphone's memory, directly to the root of the disk. Next, open the dialer on your smartphone and enter the combination *#*#874#*#* and after that the smartphone will independently detect the firmware and start the software reinstallation process. Everything!
But if you have already connected to WiFi and updated the Chinese firmware, the smartphone will display a message stating that the archive with the firmware was not found. That is, he just won't see new firmware, because its number will be the same as the number of the current firmware. This is not a problem either. We just need to rename the firmware archive, replacing the number in it. For example, if we install the 35th international firmware, and our 35th is already installed, but the Chinese one, we change the number 35 to 36 in the name of the archive, thereby prompting the smartphone, they say, here it is, a more recent firmware. Again, we type the above combination * # * # 874 # * # * and the smartphone will successfully start reflashing. After installing new software, it is recommended to do a factory reset.
DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS
The first thing that makes the Aquos S2 stand out in the smartphone market is its size. Due to the very narrow side and top bezels of the screen, it offers a relatively modest size: 142 mm x 72 mm, moreover, it is thin - its thickness does not exceed 7.5 mm (excluding the protruding camera), and the weight is small - about 140 g. See how much smaller it is than modern shovels:
In terms of dimensions, Aquos S2 is comparable to 5-inch smartphones, and this despite the fact that it has a 5.5-inch screen.
Yes, the glossy back panel is a disadvantage to practicality, so if you want to keep its presentable look longer, you will have to protect the back of your smartphone with a bumper or case. By the way, the older version has a glass back, not a plastic one.
Metal ends, power and volume buttons too. The tray is made of plastic, it is combined - either two nanoSIMs, or 1 SIM + memory card. Assembly without comment. In addition to the blue color, the smartphone is offered in a black version and there is a cool white color with longitudinal gray stripes.
Yes, some people hate this design. But the fact is the value of this device is that it is not like most others. And would it be cool if the Aquos S2 were another clone? No. And do not forget that it was Sharp who set the fashion for this design, which later came to be called frameless. And only then this trend was picked up by other brands. If the protrusion at the top of the screen, which houses the front camera and light and proximity sensors, is annoying, you can hide it with a dark wallpaper. When watching videos and playing games, this protrusion does not interfere at all - the screen is simply cut off before reaching the protrusion. In addition, everything is at your discretion - in the screen settings, you can set the native aspect ratio of 17: 9 for this display, and then the picture will be stretched to fill the entire screen. The choice is up to the user.
On the upper narrow frame, the manufacturer managed to place a classic hearing speaker and even found a place for an event indication LED. The upper corners of the screen have bevels - again, this looks unusual. But if you are not satisfied with these bevels, there are many applications that can be used to make the corners of the display rounded.
To control the smartphone, there is a touch button under the screen, it is multifunctional: a single touch is "back", with a long touch we go to the desktop and a slow swipe to the side - starts the menu background applications... You can also activate the on-screen buttons in the settings. And it's not hard to guess that the fingerprint scanner is built into the multifunction button: it is accurate, and its response speed is good.
DISPLAY
For the first time you turn on your smartphone and you realize that the screen is gorgeous. He's so hard to find fault with him. FullHD + resolution, comfortable brightness range, responsive 10-touch touchscreen and beautiful saturated picture. Sometimes there was even a feeling that it was an AMOLED display - it is so juicy and contrasting. But the matrix, of course, is IPS. The color rendition is correct, you don't want to readjust it, but just in case, there are three presets in the screen settings - you can make the picture warmer or, on the contrary, colder. There is an oleophobic coating on 2.5D glass and it is of good quality.
HARDWARE PART
We're talking about the younger version of Aquos S2, which means we get Snapdragon 630, which is essentially an improved version of the successful 625 "dragon": all the same 8 Cortex-A53 cores, but already with a maximum frequency of 2.2 GHz + Adreno 508 graphics. memory 4 GB and this dual channel memory LPDDR 4. 64 GB storage, of which about 47 GB are free. In the older, more expensive version, you get a higher-end Snapdragon 660 processor, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
The hardware for this price is excellent. In games, he also shows himself with dignity, incl. in the most demanding. Tanks (WOT BLITZ) in many locations can be played even at maximum graphics. But on some maps there are FPS drawdowns, so it would be ideal to set the average graphics or cut the maximum.
Mobile PUBG set low graphics at launch. Everything is playable, there are no critical lags. In games, the smartphone heats up, but does not overheat. The maximum temperature recorded on the cores was 48 degrees.
SOFTWARE AND FUNCTIONAL
The international firmware is based on Android 7.1.1, the shell is not standard, but quite convenient. The firmware is being updated, I have the most fresh version 1-35F, released in March this year. If you have any other questions, something is not clear, or something suddenly does not work as you would like - you will find all the answers in the topic of this smartphone on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum - the model is very popular, has gathered a large community around it, with this no problem. And during my communication with the smartphone, I did not have any questions.
The audibility during conversations is quite normal. As for the LTE frequencies, the main bands for us are supported. I mean first of all the 3rd and 7th bands. Band 20, as far as I understand, is not supported.
The Sharp Aquos S2 is perfect for navigation - the connection with the sky is good, there is GLONASS support. WiFi dual band, OTG works, no hardware radio. Sensors above the roof, including gyroscope, magnetic sensor, etc. But NFC is important to many in our time, and this module is also present here, unlike the vast majority of smartphones in this price category. Google Pay on the smartphone starts and allows you to add a card. Judging by the reviews of other users, wireless payment is working correctly.
Sound - not strong point smartphone. The speaker here is not bad and in terms of the sound quality itself it can be compared with the speaker of the Redmi 4 Pro. The sound through the headphones is the most common, without any frills. The downside is that there is no audio jack, so we connect wired headphones via USB-C port using an adapter from USB-C to audio jack. By the way, not all such adapters are suitable, so you need to take care of your own lace. And nobody canceled wireless headphones.
CAMERAS
The camera is double, 12 + 8 megapixels, with phase detection autofocus, an aperture of f / 1.8, which sensors are used - I have no exact information. There are full-fledged manual settings, there are various color filters and so on. If you get confused, you can put a Google camera here, thereby improving the results. In the video version of the review (presented below) you can familiarize yourself with a detailed test of the cameras, in the same place I compared the Aquos s2 camera with the camera. At good lighting Everything is fine. I am sure that this quality is enough for most users. At night, too, everything is more or less worthy - it is clear that the sensor is decent and the optics are not the cheapest, of course there are noises, but there are not so many of them and they do not irritate the eyes.
It is possible to shoot video not only in FullHD quality, but also in 4K. The frame rate is stable at 30 FPS and the frame rate does not drop with a lack of light. The detailing is good, one thing is missing - electronic stabilization. In addition to the absence of a stub, the video mode has another drawback - the quality of sound recording.
The sound on the video is recorded without low frequencies, which makes it seem somehow plastic and not saturated.
Front camera 8 MP, f / 2.0 aperture, decent quality, but there is a software flaw - the front camera by default makes too saturated photos. This case can be fixed through manual settings.
AUTONOMY
Battery capacity 3020 mA. Yes, in the presence of a FullHD + display and with such a capacity, Aquos S2 does not impress with its autonomy, but I cannot call it a weakling in this respect. Saves energy efficient processor. As a result, we get just normal autonomy, which is quite enough for the whole day with moderate use of the smartphone. For 3 hours of video playback on Youtube over WiFi in 720p quality, 32% of the charge went away, which is about 11% per hour. This is about the same result as or. The smartphone "sleeps" well, the battery does not drain in standby mode. The native charger charges 64% in 1 hour and fully in 2 hours 25 minutes. But the smartphone supports QuickCharge 3.0 fast charging and if you have an appropriate adapter on your farm, you can shorten the charging time.
VERDICT
So, if you look at the price of about $ 160 (at the time of publication of the review) and if we compare it with competitors, then I conclude that we have one of best options... And for those who do not need a large shovel, this is probably the only smart one. Yes, it is not ideal, I have not yet seen ideal smartphones in this price category. The disadvantages include the lack of an audio jack, an impractical glossy panel on the back with a protruding camera and the sound when recording video would be better. To whom all this is critical - we pass by. But the rest of the smartphone is cool. It does not look like its competitors, its appearance is original, it is comfortable due to its size, it has a gorgeous screen, the processor provides decent performance, there is a lot of memory, and the camera did not disappoint. And many will pay attention to it in view of the presence of the NFC module. And for those who consider his appearance to be some kind of awkward, there is a huge selection of the same type of smartphones.
WHERE TO BUY SHARP AQUOS S2:
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VIDEO REVIEW:
In this review, I propose to get acquainted with the "frameless" AQUOS S2 from the world renowned manufacturer electronics - 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 buyers and continues to be very popular to this day.
One of the main distinguishing features of Aquos S2 was the use of Free Form Display technology, thanks to which the front camera remained in its usual place, being "inscribed" into the screen. I don't know exactly whether it happened on purpose or not, but thanks to this, the appearance of the Aquos S2 is very much reminiscent of the Essential PH-1, with which, by the way, it is sometimes even confused at a cursory glance.
In addition, despite the large 5.5-inch display, which occupies almost 85% of the front surface area, a fingerprint scanner is also located under the screen, in general, the list of smartphone characteristics 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, Aspect ratio 1.889: 1 |
| Screen footprint | 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 | Dual LED |
| Image Resolution | 12.19MP |
| Filming | 1080p @ 30 fps |
| Camera options | Touch focus, HDR, Scene selection, Panorama assist, Geotagging, Self-timer, Exposure compensation, Digital image stabilization, Continuous shooting, ISO adjustment, 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 |
| Filming | 1080p @ 30 fps |
| 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 communication 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, Fast Charging (Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0), Non-removable |
| Sensors | Compass, Accelerometer, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Fingerprint Scanner, Gyroscope |
| Body material | Aluminum alloy, Glass, Plastic |
| Colors | White, Green, Black, Blue |
| Dimensions (HxWxT) | 141.8 x 72.04 x 7.9 mm |
| The weight | 140 g |
Packaging and equipment
The smartphone comes in a rather weighty, very decent-looking box made of solid durable cardboard, the opening of which is also very unusual - like a matchbox.
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Appearance and controls
The first thing that catches your eye is the very compact dimensions, which, according to impressions, can in no way be compared 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 most 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 an earpiece, as well as a small, I would even say barely noticeable, three-color LED for indicating events.
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Below, under the screen, there 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 spoken microphone hole.
The upper end is free of any connectors, the headset is connected through the same lower usb Type-C using the supplied adapter.
On the right are the familiar unlock and volume buttons, on the left is a combined 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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In the lower part there is the manufacturer's logo, on the upper left - the hole for the external noise-canceling microphone, the convex "island" of the dual main camera and two-color LED-backlit under it.
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I think that the very fact of the presence of 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 protective glass the camera is probably not so bad - the camera is in a small depression and will not touch the surface.
Display
The smartphone received a 5.5-inch screen. The resolution is very decent for this size 2040x1080 pixels, 135% coverage of the sRGB color space and the maximum brightness of 550 cd / m² are also claimed.
After turning on, there is a complete feeling that you have an AMOLED in front of you. Bright, rich color reproduction by default goes to warm shades, which can be corrected if desired using the existing 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 of brightness, at maximum angles the picture is practically not distorted. The screen also looks readable in the sun, even with sunglasses on.
The display itself is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass with smooth curves around the perimeter (2.5D), there is a high-quality oleophobic coating, so dirt and prints are not so noticeable and are erased without problems.
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The 2040x1080p screen is great for reading, at 420ppi, the pixels can only be seen with a lot of desire and magnification.
Dimensions and ergonomics
As I mentioned earlier, the small size of the AQUOS S2 at first makes you doubt that there really is a declared 5.5 ”screen. To understand how compact the smartphone is, I suggest looking at it next to a full-fledged "frame" Elephone P8 with the same 5.5 ”screen.
The weight and dimensions of AQUOS S2 allow you to hold and work with it with one hand, but unfortunately the rounded shape of the case does not allow the device to reliably "catch" 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 bumper cover. 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 convenience of holding. True, I would still advise using not a plastic, but a silicone bumper of this kind, it is easier to remove and put on and in the event of a fall, it will not crack, unlike its 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 enabled, 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 options - Chinese (CN) and Taiwanese (WW). The monitored copy was ordered from China, so it is preinstalled here chinese firmware with the CN prefix in the name of the assembly, which differs from the Taiwanese one in the absence of Google services, as well as the presence of a 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 in order for the system to take this archive for new version firmware.
After its completion, the smartphone will receive an international firmware with the prefix "WW" with a pre-installed store Play apps and other services from Google.
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Standard functionality "clean" operating system supplemented by some useful functions, among which it can be noted:
- the ability to adjust the font size;
- reading mode (the screen becomes yellowish);
- game mode for selected applications;
- control of the phone using gestures on the screen, as well as changing its position (somatosensory movement);
- built-in ability to record video from the screen (including with sound from a microphone);
- customizable optimization of the use of system resources;
- changing the position of virtual on-screen control buttons;
- modes of saving battery power, including by transferring the screen to the black and former 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 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, making the corners of the screen matrix not rounded (like everyone else's), but beveled, they certainly were able 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 accept this there is a special free app Rounded Corner, with which you can quickly and easily solve this problem.
Download and install the application, set the Size option to 100 in the settings, and in the Corners section, deselect the extreme buttons responsible for rounding the bottom corners and thus leave only the top ones. If you want, you can independently experiment with the settings, but in the end we get a result similar to that 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 standards mobile communications: 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 quality of the connection 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 must be done without fanaticism, otherwise everyone around will hear it at a distance of about one and a half meters.
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The positioning system supports both American GPS and Russian GLONASS. In addition, although it is not stated in the specifications, my copy also detects satellites of the Baidu system.
System and performance
The hardware part of this version of Aquos S2 runs on an 8-core Snapdragon 630 processor (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), 64 GB of internal memory, of which about 47 GB are free. It is worth noting that the advanced version of this smartphone has a higher-end processor - Snapdragon 660, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.
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Smartphone has been successfully authenticated, with regard to performance, according to the results Antutu testing 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 an even slightly more modest result. Of course, if you remember the large screen resolution, then such a relatively small capacity can already tell about a small autonomy in advance.
This would be true, but in combination with the rather 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 quite enough for a day, but if you use the smartphone continuously with a screen close to the maximum brightness in the mode online viewing video, 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 you use "fast charging".
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 blurring effect of the background "bokeh"). The front camera is also 8MP.
By the way, the Sony IMX362 Exmor RS sensor is very well-known and does not need an excessive introduction. The camera has very realistic color reproduction, the maximum photo resolution is 4032x3024px, the maximum video resolution is 4K (3840x2160p) at 30fps, with stereo sound (96kbps). The file extension is mp4. LED illumination, like most modern smartphones, can work as a flashlight (activated by a button in the upper "curtain").
except automatic mode, the built-in camera app supports most of the required manual settings, there are various color filters, editing options, as well as overlay and create photo collages "on the fly", including there is a function to automatically cut an object to place it on a different background.
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Several examples of photos taken in cloudy weather. By default, each image is watermarked, but this function can be disabled via the settings menu if desired.
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In terms of the now popular blurring of the background, the smartphone also performed very well. No, here, of course, not everything is perfect, the camera is often mistaken, but it still cannot be compared with most budget two-cameras, where blur is bluntly imposed 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 a completely bearable and interesting result.
For example, this is how the effect looks at medium settings. Below you can see that the automatics tried to smudge everything that goes beyond the contour of the bench, but still blurred the image a little in the upper part.
For comparison, three photos of the same object (from left to right) have no blur at all, with blur at the middle and maximum values.
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The quality of the images is very good, especially 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 filming a video, despite good camera, the recording quality will suffer greatly when shooting handheld, since the smartphone lacks a built-in stabilization system. If, taking into account the tremendous speed, this factor does not play a big role in photography, because the pictures are still clear, then any jitter will be quite noticeable when filming.
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, 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 great screen, quite powerful hardware, the presence of so many missing NFC, an excellent camera, a somewhat unusual appearance, and also look at the price that lies in the segment "less than $ 200", then we can conclude that this model represents one of the best options available today.
It is made not like competitors, it has an original appearance, which by itself may seem absurd to many, but it also attracts.
At the time of writing of this review Sharp AQUOS S2 in blue was $ 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!
If you run ahead a bit and reveal some of the chips, we can say with confidence that the smartphone, as a result, was a success and pleased with its creative design and robust functionality.
Now that new apparatus is already in use, and some even managed not only to acquire it, but also to use it well and share their impressions, you can examine in detail whether the numerous expectations from AQUOS S2 have been confirmed (both positive and not so).
It is worth mentioning that the new owners of Sharp intrigued until the last minute, without commenting on numerous rumors, not supporting or debunking, at least with a hint, the expectations of the brand's fans from the updated Sharp company.
So, everything turned out more than mysterious, after all, until recently, in fact, the Japanese company more than half passed into the possession of Foxconn and everyone wondered what to expect.
What can you say about the model in general?
By its technical properties new flagship The Sharp AQUOS S2 looks like a worthy competitor in the smartphone market.
It is worth mentioning that it was designed at the same time as, to the creation of which he had a hand in Andy Rubin.
It is interesting that outwardly the models are very similar. The same is true of others. competitive models such as: Elephone S8, and Mix2, or Doogee Mix.
What is typical for Chinese manufacturers is the desire to make the screen even larger and, at the same time, to reduce the body, so that the display frames are becoming miniature.
And the gadget is no exception. But, about the design features a little later.
Honestly, it’s even somehow strange that the global trick didn’t start until recently.
After all, the first such sparrow flew out more than three years ago, when the Japanese company Sharp showed the world the EDGEST technology, which was so innovative at that time, on the basis of which it released another couple of next generations of creative flagship smart phones with three narrow frames at the same time - side and top.
The first to fly was the Sharp AQUOS Zeta SH-04F. The CRYSTAL line devices (Sharp AQUOS Crystal 305SH, the next AQUOS Crystal X 402SH and finally AQUOS Crystal 2 403SH) proved to be the record holders in terms of framelessness.
Then, for about three years, the world as a whole seemed to ignore this technology, did not notice it.
Such smartphones were rarely produced, were expensive and were sold mainly in Japan, sometimes in the USA and some other countries.
And now, finally, relatively recently, they gained wide popularity.
Take a look at the dry specifications AQUOS S2 models in the table below.
Specifications
| Configurations | Meaning |
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| Proprietary operating system | Android 7.1.1 with Nougat shell |
| Screen features | Frameless display, 5.5 inches, resolution - 2040 × 1080 pix, |
| SIM card | 2 SIM-ki |
| Processor features | Qualcomm Snapdragon 630/660 - 8 cores, up to 2.2 GHz |
| Graphic matrix | Qualcomm Snapdragon 630/660 |
| RAM | 64 GB / 128 GB |
| Own memory | 4 gigabyte / 6 gigabyte MicroSDXC up to 128 GB |
| Communication standards | CDMA WCDMA, LTE |
| Main camera features | Two 12 and 8 Mpix modules, CMOS background blur |
| Front camera features | One 8 megapixel module |
| Battery capacity and type | Li-Ion, 3020 mAh, fast charging |
| Dimensions (edit) | 141.8x72x7.9 mm, 140 g |
| Other features | Fingerprint scanner |
Now let's talk about all this in more detail.
Consider the features of this fashionable frameless model, the pros and cons, noticed by the owners when using it.
Unpacking and packaging
We must pay tribute to the Chinese manufacturers of gadgets that they do not skimp on the complete set.
So when you buy AQUOS S2, you will receive: a power adapter for charging, a cable, an adapter for USB-Type C-minijack audio, a translucent hard bumper, a key for ejecting cards, guarantee obligation and instructions printed on unsightly paper.
As you can see, the package bundle pleases. It is complete, but ...
According to modern, either fashion, or technical standard, new owner Sharp, like many Chinese manufacturers today, equips their brainchildren with a modern audio jack instead of the standard one.
An adapter, that is, thanks, but it's better to get a headset with.
It is so convenient to use a frameless anatomical device that one involuntarily begins to think that the future belongs to such smartphones.
But when you move on to using the display, you begin to understand that it is still big! It will not work here to cope on the go with one finger ...
Unwittingly, he begins to want his fingers longer.
That is why many users prefer today's classic 5.0-inch display, and what's more, it's already ... for an amateur.
But there are also amateurs, because the huge display has its unconditional advantages.
The AQUOS S2 fits into the hand very comfortably, but its streamlined shape can play a cruel joke with an unwary user.
The smooth glossy surface and cool texture of the glass, as well as the rounded sides, create all the prerequisites for slipping out of the hand.
Developers from Sharp have proposed a solution to this problem - to avoid slipping, you can put your smartphone in a hard bumper with a rough texture and sharp sides.
Here is such a ridiculous solution, a symbiosis of an elegant, sleek flagship and a rough textured cover!
What then is the point in a frameless case, if it is covered in a hard bumper? But here you really have to choose, either full-fledged operation, or the safety of your smartphone. This is the case.
Now the facade. Here, in the AQUOS S2 model, first of all doubts are caused by the location of the front camera in the center. upper zone screen, as in, for example.
The camera module visually divides the display area in two.
The front panel is a monolithic glass with a chamfer for the front camera and geometrically cut corners at the top.
All standard sensors are located above the camera.
Who knows why the developers came up with such an unconventional idea, but it stuck and has been crowning Sharp smartphones for some time.
Does this module visually interfere with the use of a smartphone, is it striking? Definitely - no!
Very soon you get used to it and completely stop noticing this small speck, so that it does not loom.
Sometimes the module is visible against the background of applications, and sometimes it blends in harmoniously, as if it becomes part of the curtain.
Since the aspect ratio of the device is 17x9, the camera sometimes ends up in the black bar. As in the case of playback full screen video... Who knows, maybe such a design solution is the standard of the future ...
A distinctive feature, or one more feature, is the non-standard narrow button "Home" with built-in fingerprint scanner.
But the functions and settings of the scanner are standard and do not differ much originality. Well, at least something like people!
In a corner, between the metal panel and the glass of the display, there is a barely visible earpiece protected by a perforated grill.
A very elegant solution! By right side from it the indicator light is no less organically fitted.
We sort of figured out the creative front panel, let's move on.
Left end. There is a single hybrid slot for SIM-cards and memory cards.
The slot of this device is designed for.
Bottom end... There is a USB connector on both sides of which a speaker is symmetrically mounted, also covered with grilles.
Right end. The power and volume buttons fit here. They differ in color by half tones from the main one, which also looks very elegant.
Rear panel. This is where trouble will be for many! What's the matter?
Take a look at the device in profile.
The fact is that the main camera module noticeably protrudes above the plane of the rear panel.
One gets the impression that they were worried that this very valuable artifact would not be noticed. Rest assured, now it is noticeable!
And you will not forget about him, not even going to take pictures, you will remember about him, just laying the phone on the table with the back panel down, as is usually done.
Of course, it is clear that the body of the AQUOS S2 smartphone tends to be record-breaking thin and the bulging of the camera is partly a consequence of this.
However, the decisions made by the developers regarding the placement of both cameras will surely seem strange to many.
After all, if we talk about the S2 version made of glass, back cover monolithic, it is a one-piece glass panel that smoothly flows around the camera.
This means that the protrusion of the chamber will take over the main friction, constantly in contact with various surfaces.
Now, while the phone is new, this design looks unusual, even somehow cosmic, but over time, from constant friction, it is on this pretty ledge that the first small scratches and scuffs will appear. And then it won't look so cute.
So, it was the top-end variation of the S2 made of glass that became available first, and not the standard one, oddly enough.
Now the standard one has also gone on sale, which costs, by the way, a third cheaper.
But we'll talk here about how the glass shell behaves and looks like.
The SHARP corporate logo engraved on the glass looks very attractive and expensive. Yes, it is not only worth it, but it looks expensive!
As for the surface itself, it is still glossy, so your greasy fingerprints will remain everywhere here.
Although the top-end version is already on sale, there is a slight hitch here.
For some time, the 6Gb / 128Gb version was not available in the white version, and this is a huge minus, because not all users will like the prospect of constantly drilling a black panel with their eyes.
Moreover, it is on black that these hateful prints are so visible!
Unfortunately, the body of this smartphone is not dustproof or waterproof. So, be careful not to drop it in water or spill coffee on it.
Screen
The smartphone is equipped with a 5.5-inch curly display. Its pixelation is 2040x1080, and its sides are 17x9.
Sharp used the Free Form Display panel, which made it possible to design a cutout for the camera and cut off the top corners.
A little about the useful area of the screen. If we compare it in percentage terms with the useful area of the screen, then the latter's indicator will be higher, but not significantly: the difference in this parameter between the iPhone and Sharp will be less than 1%, the iPhone will win here (79.55% versus 78.51%).
But, to be honest, in reality, such a difference is difficult to detect.
In general, Sharp's characteristic is the desire to reduce the display frame area as much as possible, which is a necessary tribute to modern standards in the fiercest competition in the smartphone market.
Now about the quality of the image. Sharp decided not to use an IGZO sensor in this model.
Perhaps just for the sake of a creative design solution. Be that as it may, the quality of the picture pleases and does not cause any complaints.
The screen resolution of 2040 × 1080 was chosen very understandably for the unusual length-to-width ratio of 17 × 9.
The display protects, for some reason the manufacturer does not specify the panel generation.
The edges are rounded and the sides are saponified. The panel has an oleophobic coating, thanks to which any dirt, both dust and greasy fingerprints, is erased at the first stroke, so cleaning the screen is easy - it will always be beautiful and bright.
Even in radical sunlight, the screen behaves great, even small print can be read from it.
Plus, the display is bright enough to look at without removing your sunglasses. Very convenient.
If you compare it with other smartphones, we can say that it is ideal for outdoor use, because some screens darken and glare without the use of special outdoor modes.
We all know how annoying it is to have to constantly take off your glasses to answer a call or read a notification. With the AQUOS S2, you won't have such problems.
Price
Performance
The use of such a smart smart will delight even discerning customers.
A large amount of RAM and built-in memory in symbiosis with a sickly processor, add to this a spacious 5.5-inch screen, and a powerful 3020 mAh battery (well, are you salivating already?) - and you will get the Sharp AQUOS S2!
I am glad that without any additional settings, the smartphone picks up any communication range around the world.
Wherever you go, you just need to insert the card, and he will find the network himself and connect all the necessary parameters, both for making calls and for using the mobile Internet, or sending messages.
Any toys will go on this smart without problems. Moreover, no matter what else you run there in the background.
The device is able to simultaneously cope with many active applications and tasks.
Let's just say that it is precisely its high performance that attracts a beginner. He fills as much as 70,000!
Today this is just an excellent indicator.
Not every smartphone from the more expensive models can deserve such an assessment.
And given the cost, it seems like we hit the jackpot. In the reviews, by the way, it will also be said about this.
Memory
Sharp Aquos S2 is available in a junior version, which has 4 gigabytes of RAM and 64 gigabytes of built-in; in the older version - 6 gigabytes of RAM and 128 gigabytes of internal memory. Choose for yourself.
As you can see, the phone can be littered with all sorts of photos, videos and other junk for a long time, and the place will remain for a long time. At the same time, the smart will remain the same nimble.
If this is not enough, you can add a memory card up to 128 gigabytes.
Battery
This locomotive needs capacious battery and it is here. The capacity of the battery is 3020 mAh. There is Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology.
In practice, in medium activity mode the battery will last 3 days, in high activity mode - 2 / 2.5 days.
This is more than enough, so there shouldn't be any problems with the battery.
Camera
The main camera is more interesting here. It is two-module in the latest fashion. Not the coolest, but still double.
One of the modules is 12-megapixel, the second is 8-megapixel (rn 1.4; f / 1.75).
The trick of this camera is double focusing and the ability to blur the background, making more artistic shots.
For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that the pictures come out really steeper than on the previous models of the brand.
I am very pleased with the naturalistic color, the photographs are bright, and at the same time vivid. The same is true for videos.
The most high quality photo - 4032 × 3024r. The maximum video quality is 30 kb, picture size 3840x2160p (4K), 96 kb stereo sound.
Now about the sad. The problem with stabilization! As soon as the hand flinches, the frame is blurred.
With the photo, you can still somehow get used to it, but the quality of the video suffers from this fundamentally. In short, everything seems to be fine, until the hands are shaking.
Maybe somewhere in the settings there is this function and someone will be able to find it ... In any case, there is no automatic stabilization at all.
Another problem was the choice of photo size. Where is this option, who knows? And is it provided at all?
Only the photo format changes, the resolution remains at the maximum.
All this, of course, can be solved with the help additional applications, but that the native settings do not provide for this is very sad!
Interface
The Sharp AQUOS S2 is equipped with an operating system. Therefore, let's talk, first of all, about the Russification of the interface.
Let's face it, not everything will be in Russian, but only half of the interface commands, approximately, and not only this causes concern.
The fact is that with a complete shutdown, the localization of the Russian language using morelocale flies and you have to forcibly return it, reselecting your native language in the morelocale settings.
Of course, you can swim in English or Chinese like a fish in water, then you won't have any problems. And so, it is worth considering how often you completely shut down your smartphone.
If this happens only when the battery is completely discharged, nothing.
And if you turn it off at night, the daily mechanical Russification can infuriate.
On the aesthetic side, the Chinese developers only offer one interface option here - Smile UX... In Japanese Sharp, the interface was slightly different, so it looks really updated.
The Home button is tactile, so a touch will throw you back, and a normal press will bring you to the main screen.
- a huge minus - the protruding body of the main camera with two modules - one can only imagine how the coating will wear out in this place;
- not everyone will like the design solution of the front camera landing, the chamfer with the module at the top of the screen causes unusual sensations at first;
- the slippery glass case of the top-end version can lead to the smart slipping out of the hands with all that it implies, of course;
- gloss, as always, will collect all your pretty fatty prints, the phone will have to be wiped often, fortunately, a special coating helps to quickly remove dirt;
- Screen: 8
- Convenience of the interface: 4
- Battery: 10
- Appearance: 8
- Performance: 10
- Evaluation result: 8
Summary of the review
This smartphone was actually able to become something new! Let's just say - the result of joint efforts and vast experience of developers Sharp and Foxconn was able to surprise.
First of all, smart attracts with power and creativity. It looks unusual, even ultra-modern, and works like a beast.
The screen itself of an unusual configuration is also perceived in a non-standard way. It is not like other gadgets.
If you like to surprise and stand out, and also like to play, perhaps this smart is for you.
There are also sides, both in external design and in functionality.
This is a protruding camera module and a chamfer for, and strange camera settings, and a slippery gloss that collects all imprints. All this, albeit trifles, but unpleasant.
By the way, how much is this pleasure worth?
The standard model is around $ 350, and the top model is around $ 550. The difference in price is huge, it makes you think.
Outcomes: