Sharp Aquos S2: a smartphone with a bezel-less display and the narrowest fingerprint scanner. Sharp Aquos S2 is the new smartphone with the smallest bezels

If we jump ahead a little and reveal some of the features, we can say with confidence that the smartphone as a result was a success and pleased with its creative design and robust functionality.

Now, when the new device is already in use, and some even managed not only to purchase it, but also to use it well and share their impressions, you can consider in detail whether numerous expectations from AQUOS S2 were confirmed (moreover, 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, without supporting or debunking, at least a hint, the expectations of the brand's fans from the updated Sharp company.

So, everything turned out to be more than mysterious, because, until recently, more than half of the Japanese company was actually taken over by Foxconn and everyone was wondering what to expect.

What can be said about the model in general?

According to its technical properties, the new flagship 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 himself had a hand Andy Rubin.

It is interesting that outwardly the models are very similar. The same is true for other 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 case, so that the display frames are becoming miniature.

And the gadget is no exception. But, about the design features a little later.

To be honest, it’s even somehow strange that the global trend has only recently started up.

After all, the first such sparrow fluttered out more than three years ago, when the Japanese company Sharp showed the world such an innovative EDGEST technology at that time, on the basis of which it produced a 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 record holders in terms of framelessness were the CRYSTAL line devices (Sharp AQUOS Crystal 305SH, the next AQUOS Crystal X 402SH and finally AQUOS Crystal 2 403SH).

Then, for about three years, the world as a whole seemed to ignore this technology, did not notice it.

Such smartphones were rare, expensive and sold mainly in Japan, sometimes in the US and some other countries.

And finally, relatively recently gained wide popularity.

To get started, take a look at the dry specifications of the AQUOS S2 in the table below.

Specifications

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 packaging.

So when you buy AQUOS S2, you will get: an AC adapter for charging, a cable, a USB-Type C-minijack audio adapter, a translucent hard bumper, a key for ejecting cards, a warranty certificate and instructions printed on plain paper.

As you can see, the equipment pleases. She's full, but...

According to modern, either fashion, or technical standard, the new owner of Sharp, like many Chinese manufacturers today, equips their offspring with a modern audio connector instead of the standard one.

An adapter, that is, thanks, but it’s better to get a headset with .

Using a frameless anatomical device is so convenient that you involuntarily begin 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! Here it will not work out on the go with one finger ...

Involuntarily, he begins to want his fingers to be longer.

That is why many users prefer the classic 5.0-inch display to date, and more than that, it’s already ... for an amateur.

But there are also fans, because the huge display has its unconditional advantages.

The AQUOS S2 fits very comfortably in the hand, but its streamlined shape can play a trick on the careless user.

The smooth glossy surface and the cool texture of the glass, as well as the rounded edges, create all the prerequisites for slipping out of the hand.

The 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 smooth flagship and a rough textured case!

What then is the point in a frameless case if it is sheathed in a hard bumper? But here you have to choose, either full-fledged operation, or the safety of your smartphone. This is about the hull.

Now the facade. Here, in the AQUOS S2 model, first of all, the location of the front camera in the center of the upper zone of the screen, as in, for example, raises doubts.

The camera module visually, as if, divides the display area into two.

The front panel is a monolithic glass, with a chamfer for the front camera and geometrically cut corners on top.

Above the camera are all standard sensors.

Who knows why the developers came up with such a non-standard idea, but it took root and crowned 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 17×9, the camera sometimes ends up in the black bar area. As, for example, in the case of playing a full-screen video. Who knows, maybe such a design solution is the standard of the future ...

A distinctive feature, or another feature, is an unusually narrow button "Home" with built-in fingerprint scanner.

But the functions and settings of the scanner are standard and do not differ in special originality. Well, at least something like people!

In the corner, between the metal panel and the glass of the display, there is an auditory speaker barely visible to the eye, protected by a perforated mesh.

A very elegant solution! On the right side of it, a light indicator fit no less organically.

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 machine is designed for .

bottom end. There is a USB connector, on both sides of which a speaker is also mounted symmetrically, also covered with grilles.

Right end. The power and volume buttons fit here. In color, they differ by semitones from the main one, which also looks very elegant.

Back panel. This is where a lot of people get in trouble! What's the matter?

Take a look at the device in profile.

The fact is that the main camera module protrudes noticeably above the plane of the rear panel.

One gets the impression that they were worried that this very valuable artifact would not be noticed. Be sure it's visible now!

And you will not forget about it, even if you are not going to take pictures, you will remember about it, 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 is striving for a record-breaking thinness 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, for sure, will seem strange to many.

After all, if we talk about the glass version of the S2, the back cover is monolithic, it is a solid glass panel that smoothly wraps around the camera.

This means that the camera protrusion will take on the main friction, constantly in contact with various surfaces.

Now, while the phone is new, such a design looks unusual, even somehow cosmic, but over time, the first small scratches and scuffs will appear on this pretty ledge from constant friction. And then it won't look so cute anymore.

So, it was the top-end S2 variation made of glass that became available first, and not the standard one, oddly enough.

Now the standard one is also on sale, which costs, by the way, a third cheaper.

But we will talk here about how the glass shell behaves and looks like.

The SHARP logo engraved on the glass looks very attractive and expensive. Yes, it not only costs, but also looks expensive!

As for the surface itself, it's still glossy, so greasy fingerprints of your fingers will remain here everywhere.

Although the top version is already on sale, and there is a slight hitch here.

For a while, the 6Gb/128Gb version was unavailable in white, and this is a huge minus, because not all users will like the prospect of constantly staring at the black panel.

In addition, it is on black that these hated prints are so visible!

Unfortunately, the body of this smartphone is neither dustproof nor waterproof. So, be careful not to drop it in water or spill coffee on it.

Screen

The smartphone is equipped with a display with a curly diagonal of 5.5 inches. Its pixelization is 2040x1080, and the size of the sides is 17x9.

Sharp used the Free Form Display panel, which made possible the design solution with a cutout for the camera and cut off top corners.

A little about the usable screen area. If we compare it in percentage terms with the usable screen area, then the latter will have a higher indicator, but only slightly: the difference in this parameter between the iPhone and Sharp will be less than 1%, the iPhone wins here (79.55% versus 78.51%).

But, frankly, in reality, such a difference is difficult to detect.

All in all, Sharp's hallmark is the desire to keep the display frame area as small as possible, which is a necessary tribute to today's standards in the fiercely competitive smartphone market.

Now about image quality. Sharp has decided not to use the IGZO sensor in this model.

Perhaps it is for the sake of a creative design solution. Be that as it may, the quality of the picture pleases and does not cause complaints.

The screen resolution of 2040×1080 is 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 generation of the panel.

The edges are rounded and the sides are saponified. The panel has an oleophobic coating, thanks to which any contamination, both dust and greasy fingerprints, is erased from the first stroke, so it will not be difficult to clean the screen - it will always be beautiful and bright.

Even in radical sunlight, the screen behaves great, even small print can be easily read from it.

In addition, the display is bright enough to view without taking off your sunglasses. Very convenient.

If we compare it with other smartphones, we can say that it is ideal for outdoor use, because some screens are dark and glare without using special outdoor modes.

We all know how annoying it is when you have to constantly take off your glasses to answer a call or read a notification. With AQUOS S2, you will not have such problems.

Price

Performance

Using such a smart smart will please even demanding customers.

A large amount of RAM and internal 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 get Sharp AQUOS S2!

I am glad that without any additional settings, the smartphone catches any communication range around the world.

Wherever you go, just insert the card, and he will find the network and connect all the necessary parameters, both for making calls and for using mobile Internet, or sending messages.

Any toys will go on this smart without problems. Moreover, regardless of 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 its high performance that attracts the newcomer. In he fills as many as 70,000!

To date, this is just a great indicator.

Not every smartphone from more expensive models can deserve such an assessment.

And given the price, it looks like we've hit the jackpot. In the reviews, by the way, it will also be said about this.

Memory

Sharp Aquos S2 is available in the younger 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 yourself.

As you can see, the phone can be littered with all sorts of photos, videos and other rubbish for a long time, and the place will remain for a long time. At the same time, the smart will remain the same smart.

If this is not enough, you can add a memory card up to 128 gigs.

Battery

Such a locomotive needs a capacious battery, and it is here. Battery capacity 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 should be no problems with the battery.

Camera

The main camera is more interesting here. It is the latest fashion two-module. Not the coolest heaped, but still double.

One of the modules is 12-megapixel, the second is 8-megapixel (pp 1.4; f/1.75).

The feature of this camera is dual focusing and the ability to blur the background due to this, making more artistic shots.

In fairness, it should be noted that the pictures come out really cooler than on previous models of the brand.

Very pleased with the naturalistic color, photos and bright, and at the same time alive. The same is true for videos.

The highest photo quality is 4032×3024p. Maximum video quality - 30-kilobit, picture size 3840x2160p (4K), 96-kilobit stereo sound.

Now about the sad. Problem with stabilization! It is worth trembling hand - and the frame is blurred.

You can somehow get used to the photo, but the quality of the video suffers completely from this. In short, everything seems to be fine until the hands tremble.

Maybe somewhere in the settings there is this function and someone will be able to find it ... In any case, automatic stabilization is completely absent.

Another problem was the choice of photo size. Where is this option, who knows? And is it provided at all?

Only the format of the photo changes, the resolution remains the maximum.

All this, of course, can be solved with the help of additional applications, but that the native settings do not provide for this is very sad!

Interface

The Sharp AQUOS S2 comes 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 this is not the only concern.

The fact is that when you completely turn off the localization of the Russian language using morelocale, it crashes and you have to force it back, re-selecting your native language in the morelocale settings.

Of course, maybe you 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 cut down your smartphone.

If this happens only when the battery is completely discharged, nothing.

And if you turn it off for the night, the daily mechanical Russification can infuriate.

As for the aesthetic side, Chinese developers offer only one interface option here - Smile UX. In Japanese Sharp, the interface was somewhat 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 rub off in this place;
• not everyone will like the design solution for landing the front camera, the chamfer with the module at the top of the screen causes unusual sensations at first;
• the slippery smooth glass case of the top version can lead to the smart phone slipping out of the hands with all the consequences, of course;
• gloss, as always, will collect all your beautiful greasy prints, the phone will often have to be wiped, fortunately, a special coating helps to quickly remove dirt;

Summary of the review

This smartphone actually could become something new! Let's just say - the result of the joint efforts and vast experience of the developers of Sharp and Foxconn was able to surprise.

First of all, smart attracts with power and creativity. It looks unusual, even ultra-modern, but works like a beast.

The screen of an unusual configuration is also non-standardly perceived. 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 bevel under, and strange camera settings, and a slippery gloss that collects all prints. All this, though trifles, but unpleasant.

By the way, how much does this pleasure cost?

The standard model is about $350, and the top model is about $550. The price difference is huge, it makes you think.

Results:

• Screen: 8
• Interface convenience: 4
• Battery: 10
• Appearance: 8
• Productivity: 10
• Grade total: 8

Sharp in 2013 introduced the first frameless smartphone Aquos. It had only one large frame on the bottom, which housed the front camera, which created an inconvenience when taking selfies and making video calls. The smartphone Aquos S2 corrected this defect.

The developers managed to place the camera at the top of the display. But they were not the first to do this: the Essential Phone smartphone has such a solution. Sharp stated that the display takes up 87.5% of the area of ​​the Aquos S2. Allegedly, the record figure belongs to the Mi MIX smartphone - 91.3%. But the measurements of experts showed that Xiaomi cheated in the measurements and the actual ratio of the display area to the panel of the device is no more than 84%. So Aquos S2 became the champion.

The smartphone received a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 2040 × 1080 pixels. It has a non-standard aspect ratio - 17:9. Under the display placed the narrowest fingerprint scanner among all smartphones - only 3.6 mm. Also, the smartphone does not have the usual conversational speaker. A special speaker was built into it, using bone conduction. These were installed in the first generation of Aquos smartphones.

The back panel of the smartphone is made of nine-layer plastic. Such a surface should better cope with scratches. Aquos S2 has a metal frame on the side. The smartphone is comparable in size to the iPhone 6, which has a display that is almost an inch smaller.

The main camera Aquos S2 received a dual module with a resolution of 12 + 8 megapixels, aperture - f / 1.75. The second camera is only for software background blur. The front camera received an 8-megapixel sensor.

Aquos S2 was presented in two versions with different processors and memory sizes. The younger model costs 2,799 yuan (25,000 rubles), the older one costs 3,499 yuan (32,000 rubles). Aquos S2 will be on sale in black, white, blue and blue cases.

Features of Aquos S2:

• Chip - Snapdragon 630 / Snapdragon 660.
• Memory - 4/6 GB RAM and 64/128 GB permanent.
• Battery - 3,020 mAh.
• System - Android 7.0 Nougat.

After all, only there you can buy the device, which will be discussed today. Everything went fine, the package reached me and today we will look at the Sharp Aquos S2. The model is very popular among those who like to order gadgets from China. Yes, the brand is Japanese, well known to everyone, but these devices are manufactured, as usual, in China. Among the mass of modern smartphones, Aquos S2 really stands out, he is like that alien who flew in from another planet to make a rustle and show what a smartphone for one and a half hundred dollars should be like.

EQUIPMENT

In the kit we get:
- protective plastic bumper
- paper clip for the tray
- c / a for 5V and 2A
- USB-C cable
- adapter from USB-C to 3.5 mm jack.

FIRMWARE

From China SHARP Aquos S2 comes with Chinese firmware. It has a Russian language, but no Google services, and a bunch of Chinese software is preinstalled. It is desirable to reflash the smartphone to the official international firmware. The process of flashing Sharp Aquos S2 is so primitive and simple that even a child can handle it. The international firmware itself can be downloaded on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum>>. 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 it. 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 automatically detect the firmware and begin the process of reinstalling the software. Everything!

But if you have already connected to WiFi before and updated the Chinese firmware, then the smartphone will display a message stating that the firmware archive was not found. That is, he simply will not see the new firmware, because its number will match the number of the current firmware. This is not a problem either. We just need to rename the archive with the firmware, replacing the number in it. For example, if we install the 35th international firmware, and we have the 35th already installed, but Chinese, 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 dial the above combination *#*#874#*#* and the smartphone will successfully start flashing. After installing the 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 relatively modest dimensions: 142 mm x 72 mm, besides, it is thin - its thickness does not exceed 7.5 mm (excluding the protruding camera), and its 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, despite the fact that it has a 5.5-inch screen.

Yes, the glossy back panel is a minus for practicality, so if you want to keep it presentable for 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 plastic.

The ends are metal, the power and volume buttons too. The tray is made of plastic, it is combined - either two nanoSIMs or 1 SIM + memory card. Assembly without remarks. In addition to the blue color, the smartphone is offered in black and there is a cool white color with longitudinal gray stripes.

Yes, some hate this design. But that's the value of this device, that it is not like most others. And would it be cool if Aquos S2 became another clone? No. And do not forget that it was Sharp who set the fashion for this design, which later became known as frameless. And then other brands picked up this trend. If the protrusion at the top of the screen is annoying, on which the front camera and light and proximity sensors are sheltered, you can hide it with dark wallpapers. When watching videos and playing games, this protrusion does not interfere at all - the screen is simply cut off without reaching the protrusion. In addition, everything is up to you here - in the screen settings you can set the native aspect ratio for this display to 17:9 and then the picture will be stretched to full 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 top corners of the screen are beveled - again, this looks unusual. But if such bevels do not suit you, there are many applications with which the corners of the display can be made rounded.

To control the smartphone under the screen there is a touch button, it is multifunctional: a single touch is “back”, with a long touch we go to the desktop and a slow swipe to the side launches the menu of background applications. Also in the settings you can activate the on-screen buttons. And it is not difficult to guess that the fingerprint scanner is built into the multifunctional button: it is accurate, and its response speed is good.

DISPLAY

For the first time you turn on the smartphone and understand - the screen is gorgeous. He's the kind of guy that's hard to get a hold of. FullHD+ resolution, a comfortable brightness range, a responsive 10-touch touchscreen and a beautiful rich picture. Sometimes there was even a feeling that it was an AMOLED display - it is so juicy and contrasting. But the matrix, of course, IPS. The color rendition is correct, I don’t want to reconfigure 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

We are talking about the younger version of Aquos S2, which means we get the Snapdragon 630, which is essentially an improved version of the successful 625 “dragon”: all the same 8 Cortex-A53 cores, but with a maximum frequency of 2.2 GHz + Adreno 508 graphics. 4 GB of memory and this is dual-channel LPDDR 4 memory. A 64 GB drive, of which about 47 GB is free. The older, more expensive version will get you a higher-end Snapdragon 660 processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.

Iron for this price is just excellent. In games, it also shows itself worthy, incl. in the most demanding. Tanks (WOT BLITZ) in many locations can be played even at maximum graphics. But on some cards there are FPS drawdowns, so it would be ideal to set the average graphics or cut down 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 FUNCTIONALITY

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 latest version 1-35F, released in March of this year. If there are 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 itself, with this no problem. And during my communication with the smartphone, I did not have any questions.

Hearing during conversations is quite normal. As for LTE frequencies, the main bands for us are supported. I mean first of all the 3rd and 7th band. 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 is dual-band, OTG works, there is no hardware radio. Sensors above the roof, including a gyroscope, a magnetic sensor, etc. But in our time, NFC is important to many, and this module is also present here, unlike the vast majority of smartphones in this price category. Google Pay on your smartphone launches and allows you to add a card. Judging by the feedback from other users, wireless payment works correctly.

Sound is not a strong point of the smartphone. The speaker here is not bad and in terms of the quality of the sound itself, it can be compared with the Redmi 4 Pro speaker. The sound through the headphones is the most ordinary, without any frills. The downside is that there is no audio jack, so we connect wired headphones via the USB-C port, using an adapter from USB-C to an audio jack. By the way, not all such adapters are suitable, so the native cord must be protected. And no one canceled wireless headphones.

CAMERAS

The camera is dual, 12 + 8 MP, with phase detection autofocus, f / 1.8 aperture, which sensors are used - I don’t have exact information. There are full manual settings, there are various color filters, etc. If you get confused, you can also put a Google camera here, thereby improving the results. In the video version of the review (presented below), you can find a detailed test of the cameras, in the same place I compared the Aquos s2 camera with the camera. With good lighting everything is fine. I am sure that for most users this quality is enough. At night, everything is also 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 annoy the eyes.

It is possible to shoot video not only in FullHD quality, but also in 4K. The frame rate is stable - 30 FPS and with a lack of light, the frame rate does not drop. Detailing is not bad, one thing is missing - electronic stabilization. In addition to the lack of a stub, the video mode has another drawback - the quality of the sound recording.
The sound on the video is recorded without low frequencies, which makes it seem somehow plastic and not saturated.

The front camera is 8 megapixels, f / 2.0 aperture, decent quality, but there is a software flaw - the front camera takes overly saturated photos by default. This issue can be fixed through manual settings.

AUTONOMY

Battery capacity 3020 mA. Yes, with a FullHD + display and with such a capacity, Aquos S2 does not impress with autonomy, but I can’t call it a wimp in this regard. Saves energy efficient processor. As a result, we get just normal autonomy, which is enough for the whole day with moderate use of the smartphone. For 3 hours of playing Youtube video over WiFi in 720p quality, 32% of the charge was taken, which is equal to about 11% per hour. This is about the same result as or . The smartphone “sleeps” well, the battery does not die 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 the farm, you can reduce the charging time.

VERDICT

So, if you look at the price of about $ 160 (at the time of the publication of the review) and if you compare it with competitors, then I conclude that we have one of the best options. And for those who don’t need a big shovel, this is probably a no-alternative smart. 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 I would like better sound when recording video. To whom all this is critical - we pass by. But the rest of the smartphone is cool. It does not look like competitors, its appearance is original, it is convenient due to its size, it has a gorgeous screen, the processor gives decent performance, there is a lot of memory, and the camera did not let us down. And many will pay attention to it due to the presence of the NFC module. And for those who think its appearance is somehow awkward, there is a huge selection of the same type of smartphones.

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VIDEO REVIEW:

Hello friends! Some time ago, a frameless smartphone AQUOS S2, long-awaited for all fans of the Sharp brand, fell into my hands. As for me, with all its minuses, 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 censures against AQUOS S2. But first things first.

It is worth noting that the manufacturer withstood 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 with the "full screen" AQUOS S2, which everyone was so hoping for. The bummer that eventually awaited all Sharp fans can only be compared with indignation at the very fact that the Chinese bought the Japanese giant. However, many have even come to terms with this reality. As for the "full-screen body", 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 first: 79.55% versus 78.51%. Of course, no one will measure these figures in everyday life. But the fact remains that in 2017 the main trend among flagship devices (and not only) is the race for the maximum frameless facade.

It's funny that the world has picked up the frameless fashion just now. Let me remind you that at the beginning of 2014, the then Japanese Sharp was the first to introduce its revolutionary solution - EDGEST technology, which was used to produce several subsequent generations of 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 was the hitherto 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 hold right away, 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 X403SH

In addition, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the promotional images of Japanese Sharp smartphones have never outwardly diverged from their prototypes. That is, the frames of live devices remained the same in thickness 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 an image from the official Sharp AQUOS S2 page, on the right is a real photo. Such tricks on the part of manufacturers are designed to attract the attention of a potential buyer, distracting from the real picture. But what the owner will say later, when he gets his hands on the coveted gadget, remains behind the scenes.

Specifications

Despite the fact that work on the Sharp AQUOS S2 was carried out simultaneously with 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 an 8-core Snapdragon 630 processor with A53 cores, as well as 6 GB RAM / 128 GB ROM and an 8-core Snapdragon 660 with Kryo cores. I have the top 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 received 4 colors: black, white, blue and menthol blue. The company logo on the back will be applied with regular paint. The alternative is a top-end version with a glass body and an engraved SHARP logo on the back.

Specifications Sharp AQUOS S2:

• 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, octa-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;
• Memory card support: microSDXC up to 128 GB;
• The fingerprint scanner;
• GPS/GLONASS;
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac;
• Bluetooth 4.2;
• USB Type-C;
• Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging function;
• Battery: Li-Ion, 3020 mAh;
• Dimensions: 141.8x72x7.9mm;
• Weight: 140 grams.

In terms of speed Sharp AQUOS S2 is able to meet the needs of many demanding users. A powerful processor, a lot of memory, a large 5.5-inch display and a 3020 mAh battery will please the sophisticated lover of most modern toys.

Equipment

Unlike Japanese mobile operators, who actually colluded 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 external 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 cover-bumper;
• instructions and warranty card.

First impressions. Design

And this is where the cognitive dissonance starts. Assuming that the new AQUOS S2 will not be a revelation for me due to my rich experience with frameless Sharp smartphones, I understand that the feeling of its presence in the palm of your hand is really new and, importantly, pleasant. It is incredibly light and compact. What I'm used to seeing in third-party photos and what I hold in my hand are completely different things. And I really like this thing. 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 have not 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 size is still redundant for me. It would be time to build up fingers in order to enjoy just such diagonals, but, apparently, it is not destined. That is why displays no larger than 5 inches remain the ultimate dream for me.

The AQUOS S2 feels comfortable in the hand, but its soapy forms can easily play tricks on you. The glossy surface and cold metal frame with smooth edges can easily cause multiple falls, and dropping the phone from your hands costs nothing. To prevent this from happening, Sharp offered to put the phone in 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 sticking it in a black case.

On the matte case, palm and finger prints are just as successful.

For some reason, the narrowest HOME button with an integrated fingerprint scanner has become one of the smartphone features that Chinese marketers have focused on. The functionality of the scanner is standard and does not differ in originality from competitors. The settings allow you to touch the button to go back a level, and pressing the button throws the user to the desktop.

In the corner between the upper part of the metal end and the display, a barely noticeable ear speaker is very elegantly integrated, covered with a perforated grille. The interlocutor is heard clearly and without any extraneous noise.

To the right of it neatly located indicator light.

Display

For some reason, this time Sharp decided not to use a matrix made using IGZO technology. AQUOS S2 uses conventional TFT technology. Apparently, Japanese Free-form Sharp 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 an IGZO matrix. If you pay attention, the upper corners of the compact are rounded, unlike the Chinese counterpart.

As for the quality of the picture, I personally had no questions about it. The resolution of 2040x1080p is quite natural with a non-standard aspect ratio of 17:9. The display itself is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass, but Foxconn did not specify which generation. The glass has 2.5D rounded edges and an oleophobic coating that wipes off dirt and fingerprints at once. When viewed from an angle, the color scheme changes, but only slightly.

In the sun, the screen works great. Everything, down to small texts, is read perfectly. In sunglasses, the screen is also read without problems. I decided to mention this fact, because. faced with 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 "Outdoor" checkbox. In sunglasses, the screen is just black. I have to take it off every time to answer a call or write a message.

Now let's talk about what gives rise to a lot of disagreement among users who first saw the Sharp AQUOS S2. This, by the way, also applies to the Essential Phone. One of the nuances that causes controversy when looking at the facade of AQUOS S2 is the unusual location of the front camera inside the screen. The lens simply divides the top edge into two halves. On closer inspection, you can see the light and proximity sensors above the lens. The solution is really unusual. Why, in the minds of Xiaomi engineers and other companies, the decision was made to place the front camera in the “beard” under the screen remains a mystery. And if you look at frameless Sharp smartphones from the past, we will see exactly the same camera arrangement under the screen. Whether Foxconn's idea can be considered some kind of experiment in the field of technologies that allow you to give the display absolutely any shape, the future will show. At least Sharp has 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.

Does this stain catch your eye when using a smartphone? The question is moot. Personally, I stopped paying attention to him almost as soon as I started using the phone. It only becomes interesting to observe in which particular usage scenarios the lens “cuts” into the image, and in which it is a harmonious part of the curtain with the on-duty information or the black bar, given that the screen has an aspect ratio of 17:9. Examples below.

Lock screen saver

Fully opened curtain with functional icons

Camera operation in video recording mode

Camera in photo mode with screen width resolution

View 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

Widescreen video playback 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 using morelocale, more Russian language appears in the interface than when Russifying Sharp smartphones (and not only) for the Japanese market using the same method. The interface is Russified by about half. Some settings menu items are translated into excellent Russian, and not as it used to be on cheap Chinese. Below are some screenshots.

Considering that Sharp AQUOS S2 runs on Android 7.1.1 OS, the next time you turn it off / on, the Russian localization flies, and you have to return it with 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 interface option for a smartphone. It has never been used in Japanese versions of smartphones, so those who have never used Chinese versions of Sharp will find something new here.

At the moment, Foxconn releases AQUOS S2 with two firmware versions - Chinese and Taiwanese. The difference between the first and the second is the traditional absence of pre-installed Google services. For most Android smartphone owners, this is a huge omission. However, the craftsmen have already corrected the situation by developing and offering a small instruction for flashing the Chinese version to the Taiwanese one.

Let's now return to the appearance of the smartphone. Hidden on the left side is a hybrid SIM/memory card slot. Let me remind you that Sharp AQUOS S2 can work with two SIM-cards of absolutely any operators at once. Unlike Japanese carrier devices, there are no hard locks on the respective networks. The smartphone supports various frequency bands around the world. As soon as the device catches a cellular signal, the mobile Internet and MMS profile is automatically configured. There is no need to manually configure this menu item, as is the case with most Japanese counterparts. AQUOS S2 uses nano-SIM SIM cards.

The case is not protected from water or dust. So be careful with liquids. At the bottom, behind grilles that are symmetrical with respect to the USB connector, there is a microphone and a speaker. The volume of the speaker is quite enough to hear a call on a noisy street or in the subway. USB Type-C is offered as a connector. Through it, using a complete 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 body color. Looks pretty.

I am sure that, like many others, I am frustrated by such inelegant exterior elements of phones as camera lenses that impractically protrude from the body. In AQUOS S2, this solution is very striking. It seems that this artifact was emphasized on purpose. Yes, I agree that the thickness of the smartphone tends to record thin, but what 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.

The monolithic glass surface covers both lenses without breaking.

The back surface has a glossy finish and is very dirty. You'll have to get used to or put all this beauty in a case. We are, of course, talking about a smartphone in black. White in this regard will always be more practical.

The SHARP logo is etched into the glass. I'm not sure if it looks expensive, but anyway, it's presented as a feature that was awarded to the expensive version of AQUOS S2. The manufacturer strongly recommends to be proud of this fact. So...

Camera

In order not to describe in detail one of the best cameras in the history of Sharp smartphones, including the period of its stay in the hands of Chinese owners, I’d better point out the cons right away. The main disadvantage for me was the lack of any stabilization. If in the process of photographing you can still somehow fix your hands, then during video shooting it is extremely difficult to do this. Below, using the example of 4K video, you can clearly see why at least digital stabilization is needed, and even more so in flagship models. I carefully searched all the camera settings menus, but I did not find anything related to image stabilization.

It also remains a mystery to me how to resize a photo. The highest resolution is set by default. There are three image formats: full screen, standard and square. No other changes can be made to the image size. At least, I did not find even 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 rendering. Unfortunately, I have not yet had the opportunity to compare the results of the AQUOS S2 cameras and the most up-to-date AQUOS R for Japan at the moment, so I will not rashly declare the victory of the Chinese Sharp. But from experience I can say that the Japanese Sharp smartphones do not give a completely believable picture.

The maximum photo resolution is 4032x3024p. The maximum video resolution is 4K (3840x2160p) at 30 fps, with stereo sound (96 kbps). 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 top curtain.

Photo examples

As a conclusion

Having many years of experience in creating and manufacturing completely different smartphones, Foxconn-Sharp, as it seemed to him, put all the best and most advanced into his offspring - a “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 it were 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 AQUOS S2 is interesting in itself, after the device from Andy Rubin, he is perceived as his "little brother". And outwardly, many perceive the "American" more attractive. Although I often met the opinion on the net that Essential is more of a non-name brand than something branded.

As for me, to call Sharp AQUOS S2 a revolutionary solution is a stretch. I speak, relying solely on the previous experience of the Japanese division of Sharp. There is nothing here for which users of Japanese smartphones love them - neither traditional protection from external factors, nor proprietary technologies, nor even the Made In Japan label. Only an unusual, and for some, a crazy solution with a front camera, coupled with the now trendy appearance. Yes, Foxconn has introduced something of its own, such as dual-terminality, the ability to choose from two filling options, and, again, for the majority, a controversial decision with a front camera. It is unlikely that such a symbiosis can attract a mass buyer. But it's easy to scare away the true fans of the "traditional" Sharp. 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 in many ways exotic devices.

Having bought a large part of Sharp Corporation, the Chinese giant Foxconn began to think about what to do with its mobile division. First, under the Japanese brand, InFocus smartphones began to appear, and last year timid attempts began to release something more interesting. They started with the Aquos S2, a device that tries to replicate and rethink the almost legendary EDGEST design concept. This spring, Sharp Aquos S2 appeared on the shelves of cross-border trade stores with a very tasty price tag - about ten thousand rubles. We could not resist and ordered a smartphone, and now we are telling you about it.

Specifications Sharp Aquos S2:

• Network: 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)
• Platform: Android 7.1.1 Nougat with Smile UX skin
• Display: 5.5", 2040x1080 pixels, 420 ppi, LCD
• Camera: dual, 12 MP + 8 MP, phase detection autofocus, 6 lenses, f/1.75, 1.4 micron pixels
• Front camera: 8 MP, 5 lenses, f/2.0, 1.4 micron pixels
• Processor: 8 cores, up to 2.2 GHz, 64 bits, Qualcomm Snapdragon 630/660
• RAM: 4/6 GB
• Internal memory: 64/128 GB
• Memory card: microSD (up to 128 GB)
• A-GPS, GLONASS
• Bluetooth 4.2
• Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), 2.4/5 GHz
• The fingerprint scanner
• Battery: 3020 mAh
• Dimensions: 141.8x72.04x7.9 mm
• Weight: 140 g

Equipment and design

The fact that this is not a real Japanese Sharp, but a Chinese Foxconn product, becomes clear as soon as you open the box. No, no, nothing bad appears to the buyer's eyes - on the contrary, in an unusually arranged red and white box, everything is very neatly laid out and there are a lot of all sorts of accessories, although the Japanese prefer to put only documentation and a SIM needle in the smartphone kit (a couple of years ago even flagships were sold with this set). Right there, in addition to the Japanese standard, there is also a 3.5 mm -> Type-C adapter, a USB cable, a 10-W charger with a Chinese plug, and a plastic case.

The case protects all the ends, and the protruding camera, and, thanks to the sides, the front panel. There is only one problem: the sides are made rather rough. Because of this, using the phone with a complete case is not very pleasant.

The smartphone is available in four colors: blue, white, green and black. There is also a top version with a glass back in three colors (black, white, blue) and more powerful hardware. For some reason, it is much more expensive than usual, and the differences are clearly not worth such an overpayment. In the normal version, the back panel of the smartphone is plastic, and it is glossy plastic. Despite this, the panel looks very interesting: a layer of unevenly colored plastic is hidden under a completely transparent layer, giving the visual feeling of a glass backdrop. I especially like the Sharp logo, which is applied over a transparent layer and casts a shadow on the paint - a small thing, but it looks very cool.

No less curious - but what is there, much more curious - the front panel is framed. As I already wrote, Foxconn tried to repeat the design of EDGEST, only this time without sacrificing the location of the front camera. For her, they organized a small cutout in the screen. You can’t call him an eyebrow, rather, a nipple. In order for the screen to fit closer to the edges of the case, which would not be too angular, the manufacturer decided to cut off the corners of the display. Not to round, but to cut off - and this is perhaps the most unfortunate decision of the Aquos S2 designers. Fortunately, there is a program in the Play Store that allows you to round the slices (bevels physically remain, but software rounding appears).

Finally, at the bottom of the screen, in the best traditions of EDGEST, there is a rather big chin. A fingerprint scanner fit in there (it doesn’t work very fast, sometimes it asks to hold your finger longer, but it recognizes even dirty fingers) and another Sharp logo. This chin is very annoying for many, but somehow I did not pay much attention. But what you pay attention to when using the Aquos S2 is ergonomics. The smartphone, despite the 5.5 "display, feels compact. It is very convenient to use it with one hand. All the buttons on the ends are located in convenient places and are easy to find, you don't have to reach for anything. The phone does not slip out of your hands, for which I must say thank you The absence of an oleophobic coating on the back makes it difficult to maintain the phone in its salable condition, but ergonomics are perhaps more important.

The 5.5" screen of Sharp Aquos S2 is made using LCD technology and has a resolution of 2040x1080 pixels (17:9, as in the first Xiaomi Mi Mix). The screen is good. The clarity is high, the brightness range is wide, the color reproduction is accurate, although a little oversaturated. White color quite white, but the black lacks depth - it is much lighter than the frame around it.However, within the limits of LCD technology, it is difficult to do anything about this.

Software

Sharp Aquos S2 came to us with Chinese firmware, which has Russian language, but no Google services. However, it is very easy to upgrade to normal software, we published the instructions. The offered firmware is even GMS-certified! As is often the case with Chinese smartphones, the “green robot” is not given in its purest form, instead Smile UX firmware is offered. Chinese firmware does not often leave a positive impression, but I liked this one. I'll tell you a little more about her.

All application icons are on desktops, there is no separate application menu. However, it is still possible and even easy to get into the full list of programs: when you open any folder of shortcuts, you can scroll left and right, getting into other folders, and the leftmost folder is always "All", which, in fact, is the same menu applications. In the launcher, you can change the grid (4x5 or 5x5), block the movement of shortcuts or press them to the bottom of the screen (handy if the phone still seems big to you). HiBoard can be configured as the leftmost desktop - search by application names, contacts and SMS texts. A swipe from above opens a completely ordinary curtain, and you can swipe from anywhere on the screen. Among the switches you can find a button to capture video from the screen.

The multitasking menu deserves special mention. He has two modes here. In the traditional one, it occupies the entire screen, and at the same time one and a half application previews are visible. In compact mode, four thumbnails are visible at once, and most of the screen on which you opened the menu remains visible. This menu seemed to me much more convenient than the usual one, although this is a matter of taste, of course.

Standard applications are really standard, there is nothing to talk about them. There is a "Themes" app, but it constantly complains about poor Internet (apparently having difficulty connecting to servers in China), and therefore it is impossible to use it. Of the interesting features in the “Settings”, one can note the selection of display parameters, the ability to put a graphic key on applications, useless gesture control chips, the S Boost accelerator (it can defragment the disk!), the function of changing the places of the navigation panel buttons, the shutdown button of the RoboS smart assistant and others little things. You can customize how full-screen apps work at 17:9 - stretch or leave a black cutout bar. Non-fullscreen applications start right below this bar, and the status bar looks very wide and ugly with them.

The firmware is not fully translated, but overall not bad. Many points are missing explanations. For example, I never found any traces of RoboS, because nowhere is it explained what it is at all. Having enabled HiBoard in the launcher settings, I looked for it for quite a long time, thinking that it was a keyboard - if I hadn’t accidentally swiped to the left on the left desktop, I would have written in the review that this thing does not work at all. In the status bar parameters, you can turn off some kind of indicator, but something like that is not explained anywhere. Etc. But even without these mysterious options, Smile UX has enough interesting things. Foxconn was able to make cool firmware. After the terrible software InFocus M810T, I am very surprised by this.

cameras

The main camera of Sharp Aquos S2 is double. The second module is based on an 8-megapixel sensor, but is only needed to blur the background. The main one is more interesting: a 12-megapixel sensor with 1.4 micron pixels, six-lens optics with f / 1.75 aperture. There is a flash: two-diode two-color. The camera app has a professional mode with manual frame settings. There is also a built-in timelapse tool.

But first about the photos. They at Sharp Aquos S2 turn out differently depending on what you shoot. Close-ups and macros come out great. But there are some problems with long-range plans - the noise reduction starts to turn the image into a watercolor, and the sharper unnaturally highlights all sorts of wires and borders. At the same time, sharpening from Sharp definitely works after noise reduction - sometimes it highlights the boundaries of watercolor strokes. But, however, all this is not too striking. If you don't look too closely, you'll like the pictures. Well, I can’t help but note the very fast autofocus - I just pointed at the object, and it is already in focus. It is also worth adding that enthusiasts will be able to squeeze a lot more out of the camera when using Google Camera.

The front camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels and somehow does not stand out at all. The camera, like a camera, takes quite tolerable self-portraits, although it is not easy to get into the focus area with your face. Sharp Aquos S2 cannot be attributed to selfies. It doesn’t justify its cutout in any way - it could have been more interesting to fit the camera into a nipple / pimple / well of this size.

Very fast autofocus pleases even during video shooting, but somehow nothing else pleases. The sound is recorded not too naturally, there is no stabilization. But you can write 4K. Timelapse acceleration is not configurable in any way, but by default it is an acceptable 30x.

Performance and Benchmarks

The basis of the regular version of Sharp Aquos S2 is the Snapdragon 630 chipset, it is accompanied by 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM. The amount of free RAM after a reboot is approximately 2.5 GB. If the built-in memory is not enough, you can insert a microSD memory card up to 128 GB, however, it will take one of the two nano-SIM slots. Let's return, however, to productivity. Benchmarks:

The Snapdragon 630 is a fairly powerful chipset, especially in terms of graphics. Many even demanding games (Injustice 2, Unkilled, Asphalt Extreme, World of Tanks) run on Sharp Aquos S2 flawlessly with the maximum available graphics settings. Jamming happens in rare cases - for example, in Injustice 2 at the first launch, when it seems to be caching something. More demanding games can lag, but there are very few of them and only flagships can handle them.

Sharp Aquos S2 gets hot. It gets hot sometimes. I tried to play Air Attack 2 while World of Tanks downloaded and decompressed its cache and it was quite difficult. The back panel is plastic, it does not heat up too much - but because of it, all the heat output falls on the metal frame, which you don’t want to hold on to at all. But, curiously, there is practically no throttling. AnTuTu did not notice any performance change at all, GFXBench recorded a drop of about 12% 15-20 minutes after the start of the long-term test.

The battery capacity is 3020 mAh. There is a USB Type-C port for charging. The specifications say support for Quick Charge 3.0, but the bundled charger is only 10 watts. With normal use, the smartphone is enough for a day, but no more. Every night Sharp Aquos S2 will spend on charging. The results in our traditional tests: a full discharge when showing a video - 6 hours 45 minutes, a discharge per hour in Asphalt Extreme - 19%. GFXBench predicts 268.5 minutes of play time on a single charge, which is more optimistic than our test results.

The smartphone supports LTE, including many Russian bands. On the forums, many users complain about problems with the quality of communication and find their solutions, but I have not even come across them. (Update: as we were told in the comments, those who upgraded to Oreo have communication problems, which you should not do.) There is NFC, still an infrequent guest in Chinese low-end smartphones, you can use it for shopping.