Legendary Japanese brand is back with a new phone that packs Leica cameras, but you won't enjoy it

Remember Sharp? Yeah, this company still makes smartphones, even though we in the west don't enjoy them because they almost always stay at home in Japan and the nearby area.

Soon, Sharp will release the Aquos R11 – a modest, but solid flagship that packs a surprise or two in the form of cameras.

Globalization makes it possible to import one, but you'll have to contact foreign stores and you'll have to put up with long(er) waiting times. Let's see what you're getting out of it, should you snag one from abroad.

Nice specs!

The Sharp Aquos R11 in a nutshell:

• Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
• 12 GB of RAM
• 6.5-inch, 1–240Hz display
• Leica-tuned triple rear camera setup and a 14-channel spectral sensor
• 5,100 mAh battery
• Under 200 g weight

As you can see, the Aquos R11 is a modest flagship that doesn't necessarily strive to stand out too much. It's neither too small or too large at 6.5 inches and its ~195 g weight is perfect for those who detest heavy handsets.

I, personally, am pretty used to ~230 g, ~7-inch flagships by now, but every time I pick up my old Pixel 3a (147 g, 5.6 inches) to check a thing or two on it, I'm on cloud nine – compact phones are so cool.

The Aquos R11 does, however, have an ace or two up its sleeve that drives it one step closer to a flagship. For starters, that 240Hz refresh rate display would ensure buttery smooth animations and graphics. Most of us are perfectly happy with a refresh rate of 120Hz, but that 240Hz figure certainly gives up bragging rights.

The 12 GB of RAM is another hint that the Aquos R11 wants to be considered a serious handset. Anything under 10 GB of RAM on an Android flagship is sketchy nowadays with the AI craze. So, good job, Sharp!

What about the chipset?

OK, Sharp's upcoming phone doesn't pack the latest and greatest by Qualcomm – the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Nor does it pack the Snapdragon 8 Elite (the predecessor of the current high-end chip).

Instead, the Aquos R11 has got the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 under the hood. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is more powerful overall with a 35% higher CPU clock speed, a higher AnTuTu score and improved efficiency. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4's main advantage is a slightly faster GPU frequency, but the Elite chip offers superior performance and memory bandwidth across the board.

That shouldn't scare you, as in virtually all everyday tasks, the Aquos R11 is supposed to perform perfectly well.

Camera bonanza

The Aquos R11's camera setup is developed under the supervision of the legendary Leica company and includes:

• 50.3 MP main camera
• 50.3 MP ultra-wide camera
• 38.5 MP telephoto camera

New AI-powered features include Smart Fit Zoom, which automatically adjusts zoom levels for balanced compositions, and Privacy Safe, which detects and masks text and sensitive information when capturing images.

The camera can also combine multiple shots to create group photos with everyone's eyes open and improve document images by removing shadows and correcting distortion.

More features!

The new Akarium feature combines lighting and sound to create a more relaxing atmosphere. A light integrated into the rear camera ring uses eight nature-inspired colors to provide notifications for calls and messages. Nature sounds supervised by sound designer Shinya Kiyokawa are synchronized with lighting effects based on elements such as streams, campfires, and sunlight through trees.

Another AI feature, called Vocalist, reduces background noise during calls and prioritizes the user's voice for clearer communication in noisy surroundings.

It looks like an interesting phone, so if you're sick and tired of iPhones and Galaxies, make sure to get your Japanese Yen ready! It'll be available on and after July 9 in Japan and Taiwan.

But wait, there's more!

Besides the Aquos R11, Sharp has introduced two new wearables in Japan, including its first smartwatch and a new smart ring.

The Karada Mate Watch offers standard health features such as heart rate, SpO2, sleep and activity tracking, but it also estimates calorie intake using a bioelectrical impedance sensor and can remind users to stay hydrated.

It features a 1.32-inch OLED display, built-in GPS and support for both Android and iOS devices.

The Karada Mate Ring, meanwhile, has a lightweight titanium design, up to 14 days of battery life and tracks heart rate, blood oxygen levels, skin temperature and sleep. Most health features are available without a subscription, although nutrition tracking and personalized advice require a paid plan.

Both devices will go on sale in Japan on July 9, with no details yet on global availability.

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