Cheaper phones from Sharp to hit the market

With Apple pricing itself out of the market with its ever expensive iPhones, and Samsung collecting itself from its Galaxy Note7 issues, the time is ripe for other brands to enter the market and Japanese electronic company Sharp is doing just that, with the Sharp Z2 and MS1 Android phones.

No, these are not the almost bezel-free Sharp Aquos phones. Alas, Softbank in Japan still retains the global distribution rights to that particular model until the end of the year, so the focus for Sharp’s return to the local market is in its entry level devices.

The SHARP Z2 is Singapore’s first 2.3GHz deca-core smartphone, powered by MediaTek’s Helio X20 flagship processor. For those that labour over tech specs, a deca-core processor has 10-core for handling processes, and two more cores over the current breed of octa-core processors. The processor is split into two quad-core processors, and one dual core one.

The 5.5-inch Z2 powerhouse uses up to 30% less power, and comes with a 3,000mAh fast-charge battery that can be filled up to 50% in 30 minutes. Shutterbugs can to make use of its 16-megapixel Phase Detection Auto Focus Single lens.

But the most amazing thing about this phone is its price. The SHARP Z2 comes in two gold and silver, and retails at S$399.

The MS1 is a Octa-core phone powered by a Mediatek processor. The 5.5-inch full high definition phone offers 3GB of RAM and an internal memory of 64GB, and sports a 13-megapixel rear and front camera, for the selfie lovers in us. It uses a 2,600mAh battery, is available in Hanayome White and Pure Pink, and retails at S$299.

So why are Sharp phones cheaper than other mid-tier handsets? Sure, it uses a MediaTek processor and not the more popular and well known Qualcomm one, but Foxconn, the Taiwanese company that assembles Apple’s iPhones, actually paid US$3.8 billion to buy up the then troubled Japanese electronics maker in Aug, and these phones are a result of that acquisition.

Both phones will be available from Oct 29 2016 from M1, selected Challenger stores, and authorized resellers. Visit www.sharpmobile.com.sg for a full stores listing.