Skip to main content

Sharp doubles down on the notch trend with Aquos R2 Compact

AQUOS R2 compact CONCEPT MOVIE

Sharp revealed its newest smartphone, the Aquos R2 Compact, which sports a dual-notch design. This may be the first smartphone we’ve seen sporting two notches. There’s a teardrop notch at the top for the front-facing camera, much like the OnePlus 6T and the Essential Phone before it. However, Sharp has also decided to carve a notch out of the bottom of the display to accommodate a fingerprint sensor.

Sharp Aquos R2 Compact
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s an easy-to-handle package, with a 5.2-inch LCD screen that has a resolution of 2,280 x 1,080 pixels and a 19:9 aspect ratio. There’s a Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage inside with room for expansion via a MicroSD card slot. There’s also a 22.6-megapixel main camera and that teardrop notch houses an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It should have decent stamina with a 2,500mAh battery inside and there’s fast charging support via the USB-C port.

The new smartphone will run Android 9.0 Pie, but it’s not due to go on sale in Japan until next January. We don’t know what the price will be, but you can keep an eye on Sharp’s website the latest.

Sharp heralded its intention to get back into the smartphone market with a trio of new smartphones at IFA back in August, but so far it looks unlikely that they will get a U.S. release. The same goes for the Aquos R2 Compact, which is a shame since there’s a real dearth of small smartphones on the market and Sony doesn’t look likely to release a Compact version of the Xperia XZ3 this year.

Sharp Aquos R2 Compact
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sharp’s decision to retain a fingerprint sensor on the front and carve the bottom notch out of the display to make room for it is a strange one, especially since some of its other Aquos phones have moved the fingerprint sensor onto the back like most other manufacturers.

While we watched in horror as Android smartphone makers embraced the notch, we have gotten used to them. Although, we’re still not on board with the deep notch in the Pixel 3 XL. Notches are obviously here to stay, but that doesn’t mean we want more of them. Thankfully, Google has already mandated that two display cutouts is the limit, so fears that Sharp will precipitate an escalating notch war are unnecessary.

Editors' Recommendations

Simon Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
Much-desired iPhone feature may not arrive until 2027
The Apple logo on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

We’ve heard a lot in recent years about an iPhone that ditches the Dynamic Island, placing the selfie camera and FaceID technology beneath the glass for a clean, full display. But despite a growing number of Android phones adopting the design, for the iPhone it still seems a ways off.

In 2022, oft-reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that a full display could arrive with next year's iPhone 16, though others in the same field have since suggested that it may take several more iterations of the iPhone before the tech giant is able to make the change.

Read more
This smart ring maker has some wild product plans for 2024
A person holding the Ultrahuman Air ring, showing the sensors.

“We wanted to chat about what's coming in the near future, as well as some new product launches that are happening over the next couple of months, which I think you'll find really interesting. I wanted to give you a sneak peek into what's coming.”

This was how Mohit Kumar, founder and CEO of Ultrahuman, started our conversation when I spoke to him over Zoom. And in doing so, he definitely had my attention. What followed was a fascinating glimpse at how the Ultrahuman Ring Air that I wore recently is only the start for this four-year-old company.
15 new product releases

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 line prices slashed for the holidays
A Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is held up on top of a desk.

If you're thinking about getting a tablet for a holiday gift -- whether for a loved one or for yourself -- you should check out the discounts that are available for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 line of devices. The previous-generation tablets are still pretty reliable by today's standards, and they offer amazing value because of Samsung's discounts. For their 128GB versions, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is down to $510 from $700 for $190 in savings, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is down to $630 from $900 for $270 in savings, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is down to $720 from $1,100 for $380 in savings. If you're interested in any of these tablet deals, you're going to have to hurry with your purchase if you want the device to arrive before the rush of the holiday season starts.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (128GB) -- $510, was $700

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 features an 11-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate for super smooth movements on the display, and it's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with 8GB of RAM that enables fast performance while you launch and use apps. What makes it stand out from other Android tablets is its suite of productivity features, including the customizable Edge Panel, the versatility of the S Pen, and the ability to function as a portable monitor, among others. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 also has an 8,000 mAh battery and the option to expand its storage capacity by up to 1TB through a microSD card.

Read more