Sharp unveils Aquos R flagship with Snapdragon 835, 5.3-inch Quad HD display, 22.6MP camera

Japanese manufacturer Sharp has unveiled its new flagship-class smartphone, offering top-of-the-line specs in a fairly compact package.

Sharp says that the Aquos R will offer 'artificial intelligence' features through its EMOPA digital 'partner', which will learn about how its owner uses the device, surfacing relevant and useful information, such as news, weather, and location-aware suggestions. From what little information Sharp has made available, that all sounds rather similar to other digital assistants.

Unlike its original Aquos, and its distinctive Corner R concept device - which has since been emulated in real-world handsets like Xiaomi's Mi MIX - Sharp's new Aquos R looks relatively ordinary, especially alongside stylish devices like Samsung's new Galaxy S8. Like the new Galaxy range-topper, though, the new Sharp phone will be equipped with the latest Snapdragon 835 chipset.

Key specs of the Aquos R include:

5.3-inch IGZO LCD with Quad HD (2560x1440px) resolution and HDR10 support
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 'mobile platform'
4GB RAM
64GB storage
22.6MP rear camera with high-speed autofocus, f/1.9 aperture, wide-angle lens, and optical image stabilization
16MP front-facing camera with wide-angle lens
USB Type-C port with Quick Charge 3.0 support
Non-removable 3,160mAh battery
Fingerprint sensor
153 x 74 x 8.7mm

The Aquos R will also ship with Android 7.1.1 Nougat onboard. Unfortunately, details of pricing and availability haven't yet been announced, and it's still unclear if Sharp plans to offer the device outside of its home market.

You can get a further overview of the device in the video below: