The mobile phone market is so competitive that it’s only natural that even large companies will eventually exit. Nokia has raised the white flag after multiple failures with both Windows Phone and Android. BlackBerry also closed up shop after failing to find a profitable market for QWERTY phones, while LG chose to focus on non-mobile businesses. On the other hand, some brands have simply scaled back their operations, such as HTC, which operates primarily in China, and Sony, which only operates through online shops. Sharp belongs to the latter group, but its presence is so small that you almost never notice it’s still there. In fact, the company just announced its latest device, the Sharp AQUOS R9, which looks pretty elegant in its simplicity, but unfortunately, one design element spoils its clean look.
Designer: Sharp
When it comes to minimalism, two cultures that are considered to be typical of this style and lifestyle are Scandinavia and Japan. In that regard, it’s no surprise that Sharp’s new smartphone embodies minimalism almost to the extreme. The back of the phone has very little branding, except for small “AQUOS” and “LEICA” letters inside the camera circle. With its flat surface and edges, plain colors, and almost no decorations, the Sharp AQUOS R9 is a breath of fresh air in the smartphone market.
Unfortunately, because of its sheer simplicity, your eye is immediately drawn to one prominent element on the back of the phone: the camera. Although the design is simple, it’s a little distorted and lopsided, making it look uncertain, as if it can’t decide between a square or a circle. These are his two camera designs that are mainstream on the market today. What’s even more unbalanced is that, despite being an even number, the camera lenses are placed diagonally off-center and have slightly different sizes. You have to accept Leica’s unspoken word that this is the best placement for these cameras.
In terms of hardware, the Sharp AQUOS R9 looks pretty competitive, at least on paper. It’s powered by a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor with 12GB of RAM and a massive 5,000mAh battery to keep it running. The 6.5-inch Full HD screen is equipped with TV manufacturer Sharp’s Pro IGZO OLED technology and is capable of a 240Hz refresh rate. These two strange cameras on the back both have his 50MP sensors, and the front camera for selfies and video calls also has his 50MP hardware as well. As previously mentioned, Sharp proudly flaunts his LEICA brand and shows how the company’s imaging systems are endorsed by one of the leading companies in the optical industry.
The price of the Sharp AQUOS R9 and whether it will be released outside of Japan have not yet been announced. It’s definitely an odd design choice, juxtaposing elegant minimalism with an asymmetrical camera bump. It’s certainly not ugly, but it’s a bit confusing and disconcerting in appearance, and every time I try to appreciate its clean appearance, I find it a bit visually jarring.