- Sharp has announced its new flagship smartphone, the Aquos R6.
- The device has a 1-inch camera sensor with optics designed by Leica.
- It also features a 240 Hz IGZO OLED display.
A few years ago, it seemed unlikely that a smartphone would contain camera sensors the size of dedicated shooters. Now it seems that Sharp, in collaboration with Leica, has achieved this with its flagship Aquos R6.
Sharp’s latest device has a rear camera array surrounded by a 20-megapixel 1-inch primary camera sensor. This is a milestone for mainstream smartphones considering that many dedicated pocket shooters include 1-inch sensors. Sharp also outperforms its mobile competitors in this regard. Samsung currently offers a 1 / 1.12-inch sensor in the form of the 50MP Isocell GN2, but has not yet exceeded the 1-inch barrier. Sony is also rumored to have a 1-inch sensor under development, but no official release has been made. There’s no clear indication of which company is behind Sharp’s Sensor.
See also: Turn on the arms race of the camera sensor
Even so, Sharp claims that its 1-inch shooter suppresses noise in darker scenes and produces more natural bokeh. This sensor takes up most of the top third of the phone, but a ToF sensor and lightning bolt also connect it. The camera also has a seven-element f / 1.9 lens and EIS designed by Leica.
Sharp is no stranger to bizarre camera innovations. The Aquos R2 has two dedicated cameras on the back – one for still images and the other for videos. The Aquos R3 also packed two notches between a 120 Hz display.
What else does the Aquos R6 offer?
However, the Sharp Aquos R6 is a bit more serious than its predecessors in terms of hardware. The phone has a tapered 6.6-inch Pro IGZO OLED display with WUXGA + resolution and a scalable refresh rate of 240 Hz. Specifically, it can drop to 1 Hz if necessary, reducing the 5,000 mAh battery is unnecessarily relieved. Sharp also claims that the display has a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits – supposedly the highest peak brightness of a mobile display to date. It also includes Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Max ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and a 12.6 megapixel selfie camera mounted in a cutout.
As for silicon, the Snapdragon 888 is present alongside up to 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. There is also a microSD card slot for expansion. 5G Smarts, Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity are also available.
There are some omissions, however. It does not have the IP68 degree of protection like some modern flagships, but an IPX5 / 8 degree of protection for protection against water and dust. The Aquos R6 also lacks wireless charging. However, it does have NFC and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Android 11 also comes branded.
Sharp Aquos R6: price and availability
There’s no word on pricing yet, but expect the phone to bow in black and white after mid-June in Japan. It is unclear if the phone will be released worldwide.
While there’s no global reveal, we’re hoping the Aquos R6 will open the floodgates for larger camera sensors on smartphones.