Sharp Aquos Phone Hybrid (Sofbank 007SH) at a glance | |
Available: | June 2011 |
Network: | UMTS 2100 + GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
Data: | UMTS (3G) + HSPA + WiFi |
Screen: | 3.4" 480 x 854 pixels |
Camera: | 16 megapixels |
Size: | Large clamshell 113 x 52 x 19mm / 140 grams |
Bluetooth: | Yes |
Memory card: | MicroSD |
Infra-red: | Yes |
Polyphonic: | Yes |
Java: | Optional |
GPS: | Yes |
OS: | Android 2.3 |
Battery life: | 3.8 hours talk / 12.5 days standby (3G) |
Sharp are well known for their "Aquos" flat panel TV technology which finds its way into the Aquos Phone Hybrid. It's a fairly compact but very high resolution 3.4" 480 x 854 pixel touchscreen which is 3D capable. The display swivels around, so it can be used as a large clamshell phone or a conventional tablet arrangement. The 3D is a glasses-free affair, whether or not this type of thing on this type of device is anything more than a gimmick is questionable. Outside is a small semi-concealed 0.7 inch panel for displaying the time and status indicators.
On the outside is a 16 megapixel camera, which is probably a bit excessive but then this is Japan we suppose. Video capture is 720p HD, and you can output video clips and media via an HDMI cable to a compatible HD TV or via DLNA.
The Japanese phone ecosystem is pretty much unique. Japanese manufacturers still dominate their domestic market where they have faded in the rest of the world, Symbian is still a very significant player on the NTT DoCoMo network and clamshells never went away.
It's been a while since we last looked at a Sharp device, the SX862 from 2008, and this Aquos phone is very similar in looks, retaining a style that goes all the way back to handsets such as the Sharp 902 which we did see outside of Japan. It's worth pointing out that Softbank's mobile network used to be Vodafone Japan before it was sold off five years ago.. at which point the supply of Japanese-style 3G phones to Europe began to die off.
Back to the matter in hand though - the Aquos Phone Hybrid looks rather odd on the surface, but underneath this is a somewhat familiar Android 2.3 device that isn't a million miles away from the sort of smartphone you might see everyday.
