Notch again! Sharp's Aquos S3 leaks with a cutout and vertical cams

by Daniel Petrov / Feb 09, 2018, 3:43 AM

Image: 1 of 2

After numerous Chinese clones of the iPhone X, culminating with what seem to be Huawei's P20 Lite and Plus models, here comes another copycat, this time from one unexpected place - Japan. What you are seeing here is claimed to be the upcoming Sharp Aquos S3, which is mimicking the iPhone X to the letter.

This most wonderful of intellectual property rebels reflects the front of the X with a top bezel cutout, and its back, with a vertical dual camera set. It even try to improve on Apple's design, placing a round fingerprint scanner comfortably on the back, indicating that the notch here may be used for 2D face scanning at best.

Sharp has been at the forefront of bezel-less designs for years, though, with its EDGEST line of handsets, so it can be forgiven to try and capitalize on an eventual trend Apple may have started. Still, looking at the back of the handset, we can't help but wonder what Cupertino's reaction to all these X-esque phones being prepped for release left and right would be, especially since it has allegedly planned all 2018 models to sport Face ID.

via /Leaks

FEATURED VIDEO

Options

37 Comments

1. Podrick

Posts: 1285; Member since: Aug 19, 2015

https://media.giphy.com/media/ToMjGpx9F5ktZw8qPUQ/giphy.gif

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 3:51 AM 6

2. Kuroki

Posts: 183; Member since: Nov 24, 2013

Wow I was expecting only Chinese companies will copy the useless notch. What a disappointment.

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 3:58 AM 11

19. dimas

Posts: 3380; Member since: Jul 22, 2014

"here comes another copycat, this time from one unexpected place - Japan." Lack of research. Sharp has been experimenting with the bezelless design since 2014. MKBHD have a review video of the early no bezel aquos. Even iphone x back design was from the sharp aquos series. This prototype phone was shown in 2016: https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/7/13197354/sharp-corner-r-curved-screen-phone-concept No doubt apple saw a notch variant and apply it. Stop spreading false news, as if other companies are always at the heel of copying the silver fruit.

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 7:25 AM 2

22. worldpeace

Posts: 3135; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

Sharp released smartphone with notch (Aquos S2) months before Apple releasing iPhoneX. But of course iPhonearena refuse to mention Aquos S2 in this article. They even said it's copying iPhoneX, lol..

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 8:01 AM 5

25. Kuroki

Posts: 183; Member since: Nov 24, 2013

I was referring to the NOTCH and not rounded screen corners nor i was reffering to who was the first one to release a "bezel-less" phone. Yes, sharp has been experimenting screens with non existent top-left-right bezels with a huge chin, but they were not the first one to implement the stupid notch. It was Essential phone. Apple was the one who made it mainstream, that's why I said what I said.

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 10:19 AM 0

30. theviolinist

Posts: 209; Member since: Feb 03, 2018

Dude, calm down, nobody cares. It's still gonna be known as an iPhone X copycat

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 3:09 PM 0

31. Dingy_cellar_dweller

Posts: 339; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

I can't believe I'm saying this but apple should sue them. A notch is such a cheap look why anyone would think its a good idea is beyond me.

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 4:10 PM 1

3. Plasticsh1t

Posts: 3109; Member since: Sep 01, 2014

Monkey see monkey do.

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 4:09 AM 5

15. bucknassty

Posts: 1350; Member since: Mar 24, 2017

but.... aquos had the design... all they had to do was refine it.... this is stupid... i hope the mi miix continues its design

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 7:06 AM 0

21. worldpeace

Posts: 3135; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

Yeah, but Apple is the monkey here.. Sharp released smartphone with notch (Aquos S2) months before Apple releasing iPhoneX.

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 8:00 AM 5

26. Kuroki

Posts: 183; Member since: Nov 24, 2013

Essential was actually the first one to announce a phone with a notch but sharp was the one who released it first. The Sharp S2 was released just a few days before the essential phone. The funny thing is, the s2 has diagonal top corners instead of rounded ones.

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 10:31 AM 1

4. ahmadkun

Posts: 609; Member since: May 02, 2016

now i'm serious when i say what happened to smartphones designers .. i mean see, the top bar is soo important in Android shows notifications and other details you CANT NOT CUT IT OFF TO BUT THE CAMERA THERE .. see in IOS is not a big deal because there was nothing showing but the time .. they moved the time some where else and all OK .. AND THEY DONT BUT A CHIN caboom it dose the trick but you do it totally wrong with ugly chin and notch together .. uuuuuuuugghhh this is sooooo ugly Cant you see ?? oh god why i even talk about this i'm out .

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 4:23 AM 0

5. Firenze91

Posts: 206; Member since: Nov 19, 2014

Now that's just sad!!

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 4:23 AM 2

6. RoboticEngi

Posts: 1251; Member since: Dec 03, 2014

Soo many ugly phones coming this year....

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 4:57 AM 1

7. surethom

Posts: 1714; Member since: Mar 04, 2009

Just STOP ,making mirror finish shiny backs, fingerprint magnet & Ugly.

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 5:10 AM 0

8. SIGPRO

Posts: 2817; Member since: Oct 03, 2012

Sharp was the first who came with bezel less phones some years back, way before the others! But this design, the ugly notch...GTFO!

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 5:35 AM 2

9. midan

Posts: 2972; Member since: Oct 09, 2017

This thing is ugly

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 5:52 AM 1

10. TerryD

Posts: 553; Member since: May 09, 2017

Courage! Ditch the selfie cam!

posted on Feb 09, 2018, 5:55 AM 2

11. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

Chinese phones clone everything, mostly Samsung phones. So no news they clone the iPhone X as well. It's hardly a trend when a few phones feature the same ugly notch. And now one japanese model, woohooo it must be a trend now.