Sharp just released a pro version of the Aqua R9which was unveiled in May. And similarly, the new model will initially launch (in December) only in Japan before getting a wider release with availability for Taiwan, Indonesia and Singapore.
Sharp Aquos R9 pro
The Sharp Aquos R9 pro has three 50.3 MP cameras on the back and is called the Vario-Summicron camera system developed under the supervision of Leica.
The camera setup now includes a 65mm telephoto lens (f/2.6), something that was missing from the vanilla R9. This camera offers an optical magnification of 2.8x and a digital zoom of 20x. It is based on a fairly large 1/1.56” sensor with Dolby Vision support for video recording. The lens has optical image stabilization (OIS).
But if you want big, the 50.3MP main camera has a huge 1/0.98-inch sensor inside. Yes, it’s larger than the 1-inch type sensor we’ve seen in several flagships. This camera has a 23 mm (86°) f/1.8 lens with OIS.
The third camera on the back is a 50.3 MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 13 mm lens (122°, f/2.2), which can also capture macro images. Finally, on the front there is a fourth 50.3 MP with a 23mm f/2.2 lens (84°). One last thing to mention before we move on to the camera: there’s a physical shutter key on the side of the phone. You can long press it to start the camera and use a half press to focus.
The Sharp Aquos R9 pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. That’s a strange decision on Sharp’s part, considering this phone isn’t cheap and previous professional models have used the flagship Snapdragon. In any case, the company has not cut back on RAM memory and has equipped the phone with 12 GB. There is also 512 GB of storage space.
The chipset is aided by a vapor chamber cooling system that transfers heat to the ring around the camera to dissipate it. Accessories such as ND or polarizing filters for the camera can also be attached to this camera ring.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 with a strange cooling system
On the front, the 6.7-inch QHD+ display (1,440 x 3,120 px) is a Pro IGZO OLED panel with a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 240Hz. A Qualcomm ultrasonic fingerprint reader is built into the display.
The phone will launch with Android 14 out of the box. It will receive up to 3 OS updates and will get security patches for a total of 5 years. The phone has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7 (be) and Bluetooth 5.4. It runs on a 5,000 mAh battery, but we did not see details about the charging speed.
5,000 mAh battery • Intelligent AI
There is some AI built into the software. For example, it can transcribe voicemails and display them as summarized texts. It can also listen to your phone calls and pick out keywords, which are added to your notes app.
The official suitcase has a shoulder strap
The Sharp Aquos R9 pro is launching in Japan with DoCoMo as a carrier partner, but its online store does not mention the price yet. The expected amount is JPY 190,000 (that’s $1,235). Sharp will also sell a trendy bag with a shoulder strap to carry the R9 pro like a real camera.