Sharp AQUOS Crystal review: mid-range brains meet striking looks

 

Pop quiz, hotshot: When’s the last time you saw a Sharp phone in the United States? The Sharp FX from years back? Maybe the FX Plus? If you’re anything like me, your mind will hearken back to chunky clamshell classics like this one. Long story short, it’s been ages since Sharp has had any kind of mobile presence around these parts. That’s something the Japanese company is finally ready to change, and it’s aiming to do it with a splash. Enter the AQUOS Crystal, one of the most striking phones you’ll ever see. It’s finally available for $149 on Boost Mobile now and Sprint will get it come October 17th, but we have questions — so many questions. Has Sharp figured out a way to crack the all-too-fickle US market? Are we looking at a classic case of style over substance?

Sharp AQUOS Crystal review

 

  

  

AQUOS Crystal

PROS

  • Striking bezel-less screen
  • Decent performer
  • Above-average battery life
  • Can be had for a low price

CONS

  • Both cameras are mediocre
  • Lots of bloatware
  • Exclusive to Sprint and its MVNOs
SUMMARY

The AQUOS Crystal is Sharp’s first phone to land in the US in ages, and it’s a looker thanks to that amazing screen design. It isn’t just handsome, though: The Snapdragon 400 ticking away inside gives it enough oomph to keep up with most people’s daily grinds. Alas, if you’re not a fan of Sprint, you’ll have to look elsewhere for your bezel-less phone fix.

Read full post here:
https://www.engadget.com/2014-10-14-sharp-aquos-crystal-review.html