This was posted 6 years 7 months 15 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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SHARP Aquos S2 Mobile Phone - Blue 64/4GB, 5.5", Android 7.1.1, NFC, B28, USD $159 (~AUD $211.90) Shipped (China) @ Joybuy

1560

This is a mid range, dual SIM handset with better than midrange features such as 87.5% screen/body ratio (5.5 inch display in a body that would previously had a 5 inch display), power efficient Snapdragon SD630, NFC, Nice bright IGZO display, F1.75 camera and very good battery life. 140g and the small size make it easy to use one handed.

As a bonus you get Android Nougat 7.1.1 with Android 8.0 Oreo coming soon) microSD support, Band 5 and Band 28 LTE support!

Downsides are that it has "the notch", Smile UX is not the best launcher, the 630 models have a plastic back, it is shipped with Chinese firmware, you need to install Taiwan firmware for Google Services, which seems straightforward and is explained on the Joybuy page.

Other models available
Snapdragon 630 4/64GB White plastic/Silver alloy AUD ~$241
Snapdragon 630 4/64GB Black plastic/Black alloy AUD ~$266
Snapdragon 660 6/128GB Black glass/Black alloy AUD ~$340

Review
https://www.mistertechs.com/2018/02/sharp-aquos-s2-review-en…

Detailed review video (in Russian, in youtube, turn on auto caption, then click on the settings gear and select auto-translate to English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LApguNp_WYU
There is a review of the camera from 25:07

Whirlpool thread
https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2664378
xda developers thread
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/sharp-aquos…
For additional info (and if you speak Russian and/or have translate working in Chrome), you can check out the (huge) 4pda forum thread where the Aquos S2 4/64 appears to be very popular.
https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=838807
Great close up images showing detail of the 6/128 glass and 4/64 plastic backs, as well as the anodised (for non-white models) alluminium frame
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeekmag/with/36539406016/

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closed Comments

  • +2

    Anyone have this phone (rooted). Working well or has glitches?

    • +1

      I do not have one of these phones, but the xda forum post seems to show rooting procedure for the 4/64 model (FS8010) and not the 6/128 (FS8016)
      https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/sharp-aquos…

      • Ive seen that, I know it can be rooted.

        I just want to know if it's worth getting.

        The past experiences from cheap phones (Xiaomi) have left me scared to make another attempt.

        • +16

          Most people are very happy with Xiaomi.

        • -7

          @trinkasharma:

          Most not me, Ive gone through 3 of them. Nothing but rubbish.

          That's y asking bout this phone

        • -1

          @bti_jet:
          this one is worse, at least xiaomi has MIUI

        • -1

          @bti_jet:
          Mate get a Meizu note 6

        • @bti_jet:

          What did you not like about xiaomi? Was it MIUI? Or the specs/fluidity?

          I found MIUI pretty fluid on my xiaomi redmi 3s compared to my HTC One S that I replaced it with.

          My next phone used an MT6737 - Those are rubbish. Back to snapdragon for me.

          Heavily considering going back to the redmi3s or getting this phone now.

        • -4

          @aong152:

          Neither miui or specs, just a really shit phone. Constant boot loops, freezing, resetting.

          Tried global and custom ROMs with all. The same outcome everytime.
          No more Xiaomi shit for me, phones that is.

          Specs look nice on paper, but if my phone boot loops and constantly resets, specs mean nothing

        • +12

          @bti_jet:
          The only reason I can think for these bad experiences is that you guys have been buyng the cheap MTK powered versions of Xiaomi phones.
          Our Qualcomm Snapdragon powered Xiaomi's are running brilliantly on custom ROM's, better than stock and better than phones 3 times the price!

        • +1

          @bti_jet:

          You had 3 phones doing that? What phones?

        • -4

          @stonkered:

          2 rmn3 and 1 Kate. Never again will I buy a Xiaomi pos

        • +4

          @bti_jet:
          So of the 3 devices, 2 appear to be MTK devices, unless you mean 2 RMN3P

          If all 3 are Snapdragons, I'd guess that you can't be that unlucky and the problem is actually user error.

        • -1

          @mirek: MIUI is alright. Probably my favourite custom rom. I like their included apps. But I go straight back to the Google Now launcher for every phone I've ever had, Xiaomi or otherwise. I just like the simplicity of of it.

        • +2

          @bti_jet: Fair enough. But you're the first person I know who has any complaints about Xiaomi phones. Were you doing any techy stuff to them? Flashing, etc?

        • @scubacoles:

          Yes must be user error, even tho I gave it to a friend of mine to re-install ROMs and I still had the same problems

        • +1

          @flaminglemon:

          I'm not the first, other people have complained about the same issues I had, when everyone was posting rmn3 deals I commented a couple of times and had others support my claim as they had same experiences.

          I gave up commenting on the phone because of all the hype on here and I couldn't be bother repeating the same shit over and over.

          First global ROMs, then flashed with about 6-7 custom ROMs. All had the same issues

        • @bti_jet:
          It's not just hype here though.
          The phone was the most popular handset on xda for a good length of time.

          The biggest problems I've seen on xda have been from people running devices with hacked bootloaders.
          Reliability has never been a major issue.

          I get the once bitten, twice shy attitude though.

        • +2

          @trinkasharma:

          I love my Sharp S3, which I've only had for a few days as it has just been released, I previously had this Sharp S2 and it was a rock solid performer for me and of a decent build quality.

        • @bti_jet:

          Thanks for confirming this and saving me $$$

        • @simmomelb:
          What are your thoughts on the S3 v S2, what in particular do you enjoy the most about the new one?

        • +1

          @pete2: prefer the premium look and feel of the S3, it's definitely a big step up on this front in addition to the better screen, RAM and processor upgrade. This doesn't mean I didn't like my S2 though and I never had any issues with it 😁

        • @simmomelb: where'd you get yours from mate?

        • @simmomelb: Thanks, best of luck with it. cheers.

        • +1

          @bti_jet:

          Well, I guess it's really bad luck?

          I've had 3 Xiaomi phones now + 1 for my mum and never had any issues. RN3Pro X 2, mi A1 and RN4x.

          Also, all the commenting and reviews in these phones has been overwhelmingly positive.

          Didn't neg you BTW.

        • @simmomelb:
          Where's the processor upgrade?
          It appears to be identical according to GSMArena
          https://www.gsmarena.com/sharp_aquos_s3-9138.php
          https://www.gsmarena.com/sharp_aquos_s2-8797.php

          In fact a downgrade from the 6Gb S2 which has the SD660

          I do like the full screen (no chin) with FP on the back.
          FP on the back feels more natural than on the front to me.

        • +1

          @Food: ebay store.

    • Yeah I'd second this. Any first hand experience on the QUALITY of custom roms?

      • +2

        I dont think there are custom roms for this handset.

        • +2

          This is confirmed to have Treble on 8.0.

          So long as you unlock your bootloader before upgrading, you should be good with AOSP roms after (hopefully)!

        • @raven2000: I think only the 4/64 has had the bootloader unlocked on xda so far, so maybe the 6/128 will not have as many options available as the 4/64.

        • +2

          @pete2: Yeah, that's why I'm buying the 4/64. Though snapdragon 660 would have been really sweet :(

        • @raven2000:I was hoping someone could modify the approach for the 6/128 but it looks like the majority have the 4/64 model, I dont think the 6/128 is available with the language support of the 4/64.

          For additional info (and if you speak Russian and/or have translate working in Chrome), you can check out the (huge) 4pda forum thread where the Aquos S2 4/64 appears to be very popular.
          https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=838807&st=3640

      • chances are if you root the phone you won't get OTA updates anymore , so depends if you like to tinker and load own updates, or just get a phone and use it.

  • +2

    Looks like a fantastic budget handset to me.
    Only downside is the lack of MicroSD slot.
    With data plans getting quite healthy these days though, 64Gb is probably quite liveable for many people.

    • +10

      It has microsd support! Dual SIM with hybrid SIM/microSD in the SIM2 space.

      • +4

        Thanks, I only looked into this handset last week (admittedly whilst sick) and could find no reference to a MicroSD slot.
        Looks like it's back into top place as my current go-to device should my Redmi Note 3 Pro die.

        Only remaining downsides for me are lack of 3.5mm Jack and lack of Custom Rom's

        • +6

          Sounds like the same downsides for me and sounds like we're after a similar phone! I definitely want a 3.5mm jack and I would love to be able to install LineageOS.

          Summary of desires:

          • Ability to install LineageOS
          • Dual SIM
          • NFC
          • B5 and B28
          • 3.5mm headphone jack
          • Not crappy battery life (i.e. can last 1 day+ comfortably)

          What's the best value phone you can think of that includes these?

          The closest I can think of is the Redmi Note 4, but this lacks NFC and B28 - which I can live with, but if there was a phone that could actually do it all at a higher cost, I would strongly consider it.

          The Redmi 5 Plus (successor to Redmi Note 4) is close, but also lacks NFC, B28 and I don't think LineageOS is available for it yet.

        • +1

          @illumination: Moto G5 Plus ?

        • @billy_bob: Yep that pretty much fits the bill, but I'm after something newer haha.

          Willing to spend more of course. I think I'd be crazy to say I wanted to spend <$250 for something that satisfies all this.

        • @illumination: Moto G5s Plus is newer haha.

        • +2

          @billy_bob: Moto G5s Plus is a step backwards because the second Sim slot is shared with microSD slot.

        • +1

          @illumination: Pixel 1 XL

        • +1

          @illumination: +1, after the same. Except I can probably live without the 3.5mm.

          I think your best bet is Xiaomi Mi Mix 2. Cheapest relatively new non-shit phone I found to meet all those criteria.

          However, I think we may get some custom roms via Treble on this Sharp S2. According to XDA GSM & Fingerprint aren't working, but they (apparently) can be fixed easily in the future.

        • +1

          @illumination:
          Yeah, certainly nothing in this price range.
          The ZTE Axon 7 has to be right up there if you can still find one.
          It's old but former flagship specs so quite comparable to this.

        • @illumination: I have all the same criteria, plus want to be able to have an SD card, without giving up the SIM 2 slot :-)

          E.g.:
          Sharp Aquos S2: Have to give up 2nd SIM slot to use SD card (unless there's a hack of gluing them together)
          Xiaomi Mi Mix 2: Has no SD card slot according to gsmarena.
          ZTE Axon 7: Have to give up 2nd SIM slot to use SD card unless you glue them together.

          Only the Moto G5 plus meets everything. Pity that it's an older processor. E.g. The
          Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro looks great, with the power-efficient and decent grunt 636 processor, long battery life, but it also has no separate SD card slot, no band 28, and no NFC.

        • @mathew42: And only 3GB of RAM instead of 4GB for the G5s Plus!

  • +2

    Yeah Chinese firmware means it needs a flash straight out of the box. Does seem possible if you have some experience and time.

    • +9

      It appears you need to download the WW (Taiwan) firmware (about 1.5GB), make sure you get the correct version (SS2- for the 4/64 or SAT- for the 6/128) rename the file according to joybuy's instructions (keeping in mind SS2 or SAT prefix), copy it to the handset, then the handset should start the upgrade.

  • +1

    Joybuy any good?

    • +4

      It's the English portal of JD.com who are massive.

      I've ordered a dozen times from Joybuy and the experience has been good. Fast dispatch and a lot of larger orders arrive 1-4 weeks with EMS.

    • +3

      Forget warranty. Burnt.

      • Interesting story?

  • Wow. An awesome mid range Android phone that's not Chinese (though seems to be for the Taiwan market, with B28).
    Specs look very attractive for the price.

    • Sharp is owned by a Taiwanese company now, called Foxconn.

      • Yep, and Sharp along with Foxconn have been manufacturing Apple iPhone's for years. So they know what they are doing :)

        • +1

          exactly :)

  • As a bonus you get Android Nougat 7.1.1 with Android 8.0 Oreo coming soon)

    I guess that means no official project treble support which will suck for updated in the future unless this magically develops a strong XDA following or someone finds a way to port treble.

    • +1

      Supports treble according to this link here:

      https://www.xda-developers.com/list-android-devices-project-…

      • Yeah supports Treble. Hopefully someone will be able to iron the kinks and get a stable Treble rom!

        • Oh really that's pretty good. Then yeah this would be a steal.

        • Literally every custom ROM I've used has been unstable so I doubt that will happen.

        • @Diji1:
          Literally every Android phone I've owned since 2010 has run Custom ROMs stably for all or the vast majority of its life.
          Having said that all my phones were deliberately selected for being a sibling model to a Nexus apart from the Redmi Note 3 Pro, which already had a well developed dev community when I bought in.

  • Are there more than one shipping option for anyone? Only option is free shipping for me, but I would like to pay for another option if it gets here faster. Don't want to wait 20-30 days for it.

    • That's the only option you'll get unfortunately. Typically takes 2-3 weeks.

  • This is a killer deal! i thought they were normally going for around $400-500 aud before.

  • +2

    "with Android 8.0 Oreo coming soon"

    Will they time it so it arrives when Android P officially launches?

    • There are still tons of phones with 7.1.1 and 8.0 nowhere in sight. So 8.0 update for a $200 phone is pretty impressive. Redmi Note 5 Plus just launched with 7.1.1.

  • +1

    I was excited for a while, then I saw the specs…

    The Sharp Aquos series were the first to bring "bezel-less" (except a chin, and no notches) smartphones, like 4-5 years ago, always with IP68 waterproofing and flagship specs. But they were always exclusive to Japan, and I've always dreamed of getting one one day (without paying like $2000)

    Now they add a notch, lose the water resistance, headphone jack, and specs, and sullied the reputation of one of the most prestigious lines in smartphones, just to copy the iPhone/Essential?

    • Now they add a notch, lose the water resistance, headphone jack, and specs, and sullied the reputation of one of the most prestigious lines in smartphones, just to copy the iPhone/Essential?

      Are you unsure?

      Cool story.

  • +1

    Notch must die!

    • +1

      You must have really hated minecraft.

  • +1

    This looks insane. I am seriously tempted to get one just for shits and gigs.

  • +1

    Not sure how many of you use Kimovil, I've been using it tonbarrow down my next purchase.

    This the link for my selection filter:
    http://kmv.to/f/nwRdsW

    Between Mi Note 3 and This (128G) seems SHARP is a better option as you can add SD Card.

    At 1/3 the price of upcoming P20pro, I may just pull the trigger on this deal….

    • +3

      You think the p20pro will be $600 lol? Dreaming.

      • And I though I am blind…please read what I wrote.

        The 128G is $340 so I think P20 Pro can be have for 1K. Very possible with eBay discount.

        • You think P20 Pro will be 1k lol? Dreaming.

          Hint, its RRP is 899 Euros.

        • @Cronium: Why are you on ozb when you are so rich that you shop on RRP in Europe No one here does that.

          Feel like wasting my breath with you but here is the number:
          Flag ship go for about 1.4K on ebay. There is $140 you get get back from TRS and the typical 20% ebay discount which is about $280.

          You want to but in europe on RRP? Go ahead, no one is stopping you.

    • I dont think the Aquos S2 has optical image stabilisation, though.

      • +1

        That seems to be the case from youtube review. That's why I didn't buy this or the Nubia z17 lite.

        These phone selector are not always accurate like the one of GSMARENA. So always double check and triple check.

        • Yep. OIS doesn't always guarantee a good camera though. I always liked the Nexus 5x camera(no OIS) much better than the Nexus 5(which has OIS), for example. If the Aquos S2 camera is like the 5x, then I'll be happy.

  • +6

    Don't see how plastic back is a downside if you are using a case. Makes the phone lighter and thinner than using metal.

    Also dropping a phone with a plastic vs glass back, the plastic will definitely not shatter.

    If you're rocking it naked i can see how plastic is a disadvantage though.

  • +4

    Seems like a nice alternative to the Xiaomi phones that are always posted here.

  • My suggestion for future design. Get rid of the camera notch. Put the camera on the bottom bezel. If you don't like it looking up your nose and revealing your boogers, you can turn the phone upside down when you need to use the selfie cam.

    What do you think?

    • +2

      Read: Xiaomi Mi Mix

      • Yeah I know about that one. Surprised no one else has adopted the design.

    • +5

      The notch is just an unfortunate era before we are able to have completely bezel free phones. It's like how charmeleon is ugly AF compared to charmander but is a necessary evil to get to Charizard.

      • +1

        Unless we get rid of selfie cams and sensors, there's got to be a bezel of some sort.

        Top and bottom bezels don't bother me that much. It gives you something to hold without covering the screen.

        • All sensors can be hidden or within a 1mm bezel.

          Fingerprint - back or through screen (vivo apex)
          Headphone - bone conduction (mi mix 1) or very small speaker (e.g. xiaomi mi mix 2)
          proximity - upwards firing instead of front firing

          Camera - slide (Doogee mix 4), flip (Bluboo s2), automatic eject (vivo apex)

          A Bezelless phone has already been manufactured (vivo apex).

        • @aong152: Yeah good point. I forgot about the pop out camera. It does sound like through wear and tear that pop out mechanism is eventually going to fail.

          I have not experienced the bone conduction speaker, so I don't know how good or loud that is.

          Upward firing proximity sensor sounds like a compromise? You can move all the sensors and speakers elsewhere but I feel like some of them won't work as good, especially if you have a phone like HTC One that has dual front facing speakers. These will always sound worse when you move the speakers to outwards facing position.

          You might be right that it's possible. iPhoneX almost did it, but there's still a slight black border and the matter of that notch.

        • @lostn:

          Upwards firing proximity sensor works fine from all the things I've read about it. The speaker is at the top edge front face of the phone so having a proximity sensor there will still accurately hit your ear/face. It'll be bad for games that use the proximity sensor to sense your hand but for phone calls it's fine.

          My current phone doesn't even have a proximity sensor and uses a hack with the gyroscope and even that works perfectly.

          The front firing speakers is a definite downside, however a reasonable solution has been found too. Have huge speakers that go through a tunnel and then the rotates 90° so the sound comes out the front. the main pro of this is you can now have larger better speakers since you don't have to put them next to the speaker grill, though due to the 90° bend there is sound quality loss. I'm sure some company will optimise it though.

        • @aong152: Don't forget that your USB port and headphone jack are on the bottom, so the lower speaker can't be as wide, or needs to be broken up. Unless you don't have a headphone jack, which it is looking like might be a continuing trend.

  • +4

    Thanks OP, just ordered one! Make sure to pay in USD and use 28 degrees or similar card to pay, mine ended up being AUD $207.07

  • +1

    Does it support dual 4G standby? Or only 2G reception for the secondary SIM?

  • +2

    Just ordered, thanks alot OP! Been looking for a phone and I think this ticks all the boxes for me - with the exception of Android One / Custom Roms. But i'm holding out hope that Treble pulls through.

    • +2

      I hope it does too.
      Personally torn between the 6/128 for acceptable performance, double the storage and better performance (but 50% extra $), or the 4/64 for amazing price and (hopefully) hackability.

      • I found it really hard to find a closeup of the "High Version" "5 surface 3d glass back", however looking at this picture of the glass one vs this picture of the plastic one, I think the camera glass is more likely to be flat, and is better protected on the cheaper plastic model.

    • Unless you've heard that this phone is specifically getting treble support, it's probably not coming. Treble is only mandated for phones that release with 8.0 Oreo… If a phone manufacturer just upgrades their software then treble isn't a requirement.

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