 |
| Aquos R9 pro |
Komputer Jadul-, Sharp introduced its flagship phone Aquos R9 pro in mid-February, with a Leica branded camera. The design of the Sharp Aquos R9 Pro looks professional, sturdy, the back has a vegan leather texture and has a special shutter button like a professional camera.
Compared to the Aquos R8s Pro which was launched at the end of 2023, there is a significant difference, if the previous one only had a single camera, but this time there are three, ultra wide, wide and telephoto.
Camera quality
In terms of quality, the wide angle module has the largest image sensor, type 1 / 0.98 inch with a 23mm lens with an aperture of f / 1.8, so the quality is very good in various conditions, including low light conditions, especially since there is also optical stabilization.
Near the camera, there is the Leica brand. Since the early 2020s, the relationship between Sharp and Leica has been very close, because Leica entrusted Sharp to produce the Leitz Phone, a super luxurious camera designed specifically for Leica.
Unfortunately, the Leitz phone is only sold in Japan. For the global market, Sharp makes slightly different versions, the Aquos R8s and R9 Pro.
The difference between the Leitz Phone and Aquos lies in the design, finishing and software. There is no Leica preset/software found in the Aquos R9 Pro, but the hardware such as the lenses are supervised and approved by Leica.
The next interesting thing is the 2.8x telephoto lens or 65mm equivalent, the sensor is quite large, Type 1/1.56 inch with f/2.6 aperture with optical image stabilization.
This lens is handy for detailed shooting of subjects that are quite far away. When using portrait mode, this lens will automatically activate.
The image quality of this lens depends on the lighting conditions, if the light is good and contrasty, the results are good, but if it is lacking, or low contrast or lack of light, the image quality looks less sharp.
The R9 Pro also has a 13mm f/2.2 equivalent ultra-wide lens with a 1/2.5" Type image sensor with close-up capabilities of up to 2.5cm.
In general, the image quality is very detailed and smooth in tone. All three have a maximum resolution of 50 mp, but the default is around 12mp. For those who like to process images, you can also shoot RAW and then edit them yourself. I personally feel that most of the photos are okay straight from the camera.
The R9 Pro's video performance is also okay, it can record 4k 30p video with Dolby Vision support in Pro Video mode. The video results look sharp and bright, the dynamic range is also good, even when used in all conditions, both bright and dark.
Experience and performance
For the processor, Sharp entrusts it to the Snapdragon 8s gen 3 which in 2025 is classified as high-performance. In general, taking pictures and recording videos is smooth and the image rendering process is also fast.
What's special about the R9 Pro is that it has a shutter button that functions like a camera DSLR/mirrorless: Half press for autofocus, and press fully to take a photo or start recording a video. The volume up and down buttons are useful as zoom functions on the lens.
Shooting with a camera-style shutter button certainly helps with handling, better stability and makes it easier to shoot with one hand.
Sharp's Android software is arguably simple, arguably similar to stock Android with just a little Sharp touch. Good for those who like minimalism but for those who like a more complex user interface and many functions, it seems like this phone will feel too simple.
Sharp R9 Pro's Disadvantages
After using the R9 Pro for about a week, I feel that there are several things that can be improved in the next generation.
First, about the telephoto lens, although I am happy that there is a telephoto module that can help when taking video photos of distant subjects or portraits, I feel that this lens is a bit half-hearted, not far enough and the aperture is not large enough.
I expect this lens to be longer, for example 85 to 135mm, with an image sensor and if possible with a larger lens aperture of course.
The second is the absence of a micro card slot, and Android updates are only three years, although security patches are up to years.
Other phone features
For example, the R9 pro has a large 6.7-inch QHD+ Pro IGZO OLED screen with a 240Hz refresh rate, with a brightness of 2,000 nits, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Sharp has the expertise to manage heat on its phones, when I use it for intensive photo-video, the phone body does not feel hot relative to using other flagship phones.
Sharp uses designs and technologies that help reduce heat, such as a special internal cooling space and a path for heat to escape from the camera ring.
This phone also has an IP rating of 68 which means it is dust and water resistant. even resistant to being immersed in water with a depth of about 1 meter for 30 minutes.
Conclusion
From the specs and design, the Sharp Aquos R9 Pro seems to be targeting photography enthusiasts with videography with three camera modules, one of which has a 1/0.98" image sensor type and video support from Dolby Atmos.
The R9 pro also has supporting features such as a shutter button, a bright IGZO OLED screen with accurate colors, a design that is resistant to various conditions, both hot and wet.
No comments
Post a Comment