Remember the Sharp Aquos Crystal smartphone from last year? Well, it looks like that model did pretty well for Sharp to create a new version with a bigger display with smaller bezels than its predecessor.

The new Aquos Crystal 2 has a slightly bigger display at 5.2 inches with HD resolution. Under the hood, there’s a 1.2GHz quad-core chipset, 16GB of built-in storage and 2GB of RAM. The display also comes with a feature called Grip Magic, which just like the ZTE Nubia Z9 allows users to control certain functions of the phone by touching the sides of the handset.

There’s also LTE connectivity, mobile wallet support, a digital TV tuner and a 2030mAh battery. In terms of connectivity features, the Aquos Crystal 2 sports Bluetooth v4.0, NFC and Wi-Fi b/g/n. 

At the back sits an 8MP camera, while at the front is where we’ll find the 2.1MP selfie snapper. And since the phone has no top bezels, the front camera has been moved below the screen. Sharp has put some effort into waterproofing the device but it’s not IP certified so it’s not something you can go swimming with.

The Aquos Crystal 2 is expected to go officially in stores by mid-July in Japan. However, there’s no word yet on how much it will cost, but it will most probably have a similar price tag to the original Aquos Crystal.

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Sharp has recently introduced a new member of its Aquos family in Japan – the Aquos Mini. The phone is built around a 4.5-inch IGZO display that of course features Sharp’s EDGEST minimal bezel design.

Under the hood, there’s a Snapdragon 801 chip with a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. It also has a 13MP camera at the back and a 1.2MP selfie snapper on the front.

The phone is running on Android 4.4 KitKat and comes with a 2120mAh battery, which according to Sharp can last for up to two to three days on a single charge. The phone will be available in four different colors including blue, white, black and pink.

Meanwhile, the Sharp Aquos K is a flip phone. It comes with a 13MP camera with auto HDR, LTE connectivity, a touch-sensitive trackpad, a 1410mAh battery and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor.

Both phones will be water proof and sadly will be a Japan-exclusive.

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Back in April, Japanese display manufacturer Sharp released the Aquos Xx 304SH, a 5.2-inch phone with ultra-slim bezels. This week, Sharp has raised the bar even further as it released a new smartphone that features an almost bezel-less display.

The phone comes with a 5-inch display with HD resolution (~294ppi), but thanks to an almost bezel-free design, the phone’s body is quite compact compared to other phones with the same display size.

Under the hood, there’s a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, an Adreno 305 GPU, 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage space that’s expandable via a microSD card. There’s also an 8MP camera at the back with LED flash, a 1.2MP snapper in front.

In terms of connectivity, the Aquos Crystal offers LTE Cat 4 connectivity while battery is rated at 2040mAh. Sharp is also adding a Harman Clari-Fi system on the handset which improves the quality of compressed audio tracks.

For now, the Sharp Aquos Crystal will be a US-exclusive, specifically on Sprint, Boost or Virgin. There’s no word yet if the phone will be offered in other markets but a lot of people will definitely like to see the phone offered in their countries.

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Japan Display’s 4K display from last year is now getting some competition from Sharp, the same manufacturer that brought us the IGZO display. Today, reports came in that the Japanese manufacturer is currently working on a new batch of ultra-dense displays.

According to reports, the new displays will start at 5.5-inches and will have a pixel density of around 600 pixels per inch and will be used for smartphones and tablets. Moreover, the new ultra-dense panels will also allow playback of 4K media especially in tablets.

Just to compare, the iPhone 5S has a pixel density of 326ppi, while the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Oppo Find 7 have a pixel density of 432ppi and 538ppi respectively. Sharp indicated that production of the new panels will start on the first half of next year, so we should expect devices with 600ppi displays during the second half of 2015.

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Sharp’s has long been a name in the field of high-quality displays for consumer electronic goods, especially with its IGZO panels found on high-definition monitors and TVs. This week, the Japanese manufacturer shows another side of its screen-building prowess by releasing a smartphone with ultra-slim bezels.

The Sharp Aquos Xx 304SH comes with a 5.2-inch 1080p display encased in a metal body with dimensions of 135x72x9mm metal-frame body. This gives the Aquos 304SH a screen-to-body ratio of 79% beating LG G2’s 75.7%.

The smartphone comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip with a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, an Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB of RAM and 32GB worth of expandable internal storage. The device also comes with IPX5/IPX7 certification, which means that its water and dustproof.

There’s a 13MP camera with LED flash and a 2.1MP front-facing snapper. The battery is rated at 2600mAh. In the connectivity department, the 304SH has Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth, NFC and an IR blaster.

The phone will go on sale in May under Japan’s Softbank Mobile with pricing information to be announced at a later date.

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Sharp isn’t exactly a household name when it comes to the production of smartphone but its IGZO displays have made a name for itself for its energy-efficient nature. These displays were previously found on high-definition laptops but Sharp is now bringing the technology into more mobile devices – the Aquos Mini and Aquos Pad.

The Aquos Mini (SHL24) is a 4.5-inch smartphone with a display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip with 2GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera, 16GB of internal memory and 2120mAh battery.

The Aquos Pad (SHT22) on the other hand is a 7-inch tablet with a display resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. It also comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip with a 2.3GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, 13MP+2MP camera combo, 16GB of internal storage and 4080mAh battery.

Both Aquos devices will run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Sharp has yet to announce pricing and availability for the two devices but we’ll probably see the two model at this year’s Mobile World Congress in February.

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