Sharp Announces "AQUOS R9 pro": A Pro-Level Camera Experience Beyond a Smartphone – Will it Revitalize the Market?

Sharp announced its new smartphones, the "AQUOS R9 pro" and "AQUOS sense9," on October 29th. The "AQUOS R9 pro," a revival of the pro model, is attracting particular attention. Equipped with a Leica-supervised Summicron lens, it's priced in the low 190,000 yen range and is scheduled for release in early December.

The Revival of the Pro Model: The Evolution of Smartphone Cameras and the Need for Differentiation

In recent years, smartphone camera performance has improved dramatically, and even mid-range models can now shoot high-quality photos and videos. Under these circumstances, how should flagship models differentiate themselves? Sharp found the answer in "surpassing the camera".

Keisuke Imai, Chief of Sharp's Product Planning Department, stated regarding the development background of the R9 pro, "With the performance of reasonably priced smartphones improving, what should flagship models do? The answer we arrived at was 'surpassing the camera.'"

Collaboration with Leica: Adding New Value to Smartphone Cameras

The biggest feature of the R9 pro is its "Summicron lens," supervised by Leica, the long-established German camera manufacturer. The collaboration with Leica, which started with the "R6" announced in May 2021, demonstrates Sharp's strong commitment to smartphone cameras.

The three-lens camera—"standard," "wide-angle," and "telephoto"—all use a 50.3-megapixel image sensor. The standard camera features a large 1/0.98-inch sensor, the wide-angle camera supports macro shooting, and the telephoto camera supports 2.8x optical zoom.

Camera-like Operability: Enhanced Shooting Experience with a Shutter Key and Accessories

The R9 pro also incorporates refinements to bring the feel of shooting closer to a camera. A "shutter key," using parts actually used in digital cameras, is mounted on the side of the body. The shutter key can be half-pressed to lock the focus, enabling camera-like operation.

Furthermore, an attachment that allows for the mounting of commercially available lens filters and a genuine case with a shoulder strap are also available. Users can hold the R9 pro horizontally like a camera and shoot using physical buttons, enjoying an unprecedented smartphone camera experience.

Impact on the Market: Will Camera-focused Smartphones Become a New Trend?

The AQUOS R9 pro is truly a "smartphone that surpasses the camera," combining high-performance cameras with camera-like operability. Sharp's challenge has the potential to bring a new breeze to the smartphone market.

In the future, other manufacturers may accelerate their development of smartphones specializing in camera functions. The AQUOS R9 pro has the potential to be a significant player, showing a new direction in the evolution of smartphone cameras.