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Sharp Aquos R2 has one camera for photos, a wide-angle camera for videos
- The Sharp Aquos R2 has a dual-camera setup, but one camera is for photos while the other is a wide-angle shooter for video.
- The new phone can automatically take photos while you’re recording a video.
- There’s no word on a release outside of Japan just yet, but Sharp has a mixed record when it comes to Western availability.
The Sharp Aquos R2 has just been announced by the Japanese company, bringing quite a few impressive specs to the table. However, the most interesting feature might be the dual-camera setup.
Sharp offers a 22.6MP camera for stills, while the second camera is a 16.3MP super wide-angle (135 degrees) shooter devoted to video. The company says it’s a world first feature, showing off the setup in several YouTube videos as well.
Phones have been capable of simultaneous image and video capture for years, but they traditionally take a screenshot from the video instead of a full-blown photo. So your image resolution is dependent on your video capture resolution. By dividing the duties between the two cameras, Sharp shows you don’t have to settle for low-resolution screenshots while filming.
If juggling photo and video duties seems a little much, the phone can automatically take photos while you film instead.
Another phone with 120Hz display?
Look at the front of the phone and you’ll find an Essential-style notch for the 16.3MP selfie snapper. The 6-inch IGZO LCD screen is also worth a mention, offering a 19:9 screen ratio and 3,040 x 1,440 resolution. The company also claims it’s a “high speed” display, which suggests a 120Hz refresh rate — last year’s Aquos R packed the tech.
As for horsepower, the device is certainly nippy on paper. There’s a top-flight Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage. A 3,130mAh battery powers everything, which isn’t the biggest flagship battery around.
Other noteworthy specs include water/dust resistance (“IPX5/IPX8/IP6X” to quote Sharp), Android 8.0 Oreo, the ability to use the screen with wet hands, Dolby Vision for HDR content, and Dolby Atmos audio support. Yes, it looks like a headphone jack is present at the top of the device.
It’s unclear whether the Sharp Aquos R2 will see a wider release but, judging by the firm’s recent track record, we shouldn’t hold our breath. Still, the dual-camera setup is intriguing, so here’s hoping we get our hands on it.
We’ve contacted Sharp’s representatives about Western availability and display details, and will update the article when we receive a response.