Reviews

Sharp Aquos Crystal (Sprint)


A couple of weeks ago I was looking to grab a new smartphone to replace my iPhone 5c. After doing a bit of research, I stumbled onto a promotional deal that was offering the Aquos Crystal by Sharp for $50 with a $50 mail-in rebate. Couldn't pass up an opportunity like that, and you should check with your local Sprint retailer to see if the offer exists in your area.

Performance:
For the price of essentially free, this phone is an absolute dream. While computer geeks will tell you that it offers only mid-range specs in terms of the current smartphone market, it runs a very clean version of android and it's processor is speedy, very noticeably quicker than my iPhone 5c. However, the downside is that it only offers 8GB of internal storage, and therefore, once you install all of your favorite apps and other media, the phone's performance begins to freeze and slow. Even worse, the current version of android is not cooperating with adding additional storage via an SD card.

Display:
This phone's display is undoubtedly it's "wow" factor. With the bezel ledge, edgeless glass display, it is sure to turn some gawkers heads. It is absolutely beautiful, and the stunning pixel resolution even somewhat gives a 3D feel to the experience. There are no physical buttons on the entire front surface panel, with only a small banner along the bottom of the screen displaying 3 virtual buttons: back/previous, home, and quick switch between apps. Simply put, the display alone is enough incentive to purchase this phone. In a market dominated that is starved for innovation, the Sharp Aquos Crystal certainly is one of the most unique products you could buy.

Camera:
Fairly average, sort of clunky feeling. Pretty slow. If the camera is a make-or-break aspect of your smartphone, you may need to look elsewhere. But for casual use, it does the job, and the picture quality is good enough.

For Root Users:
This is the most frustrating aspect of owning this phone that I have found (along with the SD card issue)... as of yet, there is no root available, and Sharp has been fairly reserved and withdrawn from answering questions regarding the possibility of releasing the information needed to root it. As of now, the future of rooting the Sprint Aquos Crystal 306SH seems bleak.

Conclusion:
This is an absolutely beautiful and stunning phone that will surely draw attention due to it's sleekness and incredible display. It is plenty powerful enough for the casual smartphone user, although if you have a ton of apps or content, it may start to give you some annoyances. If you can grab it while it's promotional deal lasts at Sprint, it is certainly worth the change, unless you'd rather shell out 6-8 times more money for the iPhone 6 or 6+. But that's your choice.

Rating:  8.5/10

No comments:

Post a Comment