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SHARP Aquos S2 Mobile Phone Blue 4GB+64GB, 5.5", Android 8.0, NFC, B28, USD $164.75 (~AUD $227) Shipped (China) @ Joybuy

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SHARP Aquos S2 Mobile Phone Blue 4GB+64GB, 5.5", Android 8.0, NFC, B28, USD $164.75 (~AUD $227) Shipped (China) @ Joybuy
Go to Deal
Zidago on 13/07/2018 - 09:56 joybuy.com (1284 clicks)
Last edited 13/07/2018 - 14:37 by 2 other users

It's that phone and it's on sale again.

Here is all the information from the previous posts about it to help you save some time.

As a bonus you get Android Nougat 7.1.1 (and can update to Android 8.0 Oreo (third tab)(sharpmobile.com.tw)) 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.

Reviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZopH4KrMqQo

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

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/

Whirlpool thread
https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2664378

additional info in Russian
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

Important Notice

Be careful not to let the phone update itself via OTA to Chinese Oreo 8 before you flash it to Taiwanese ROM. It will update itself automatically if you connect it to Wi-Fi during setup, and then you'll be stuck without Google Play Store until a solution is found. See https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/388912 — editor

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closed Comments

  • xmchen on 13/07/2018 - 09:59
    +4

    It's still possibly the best phone you could get for $200 bucks. I had my for two months now and very happy with it.

    • Dr Techno on 16/07/2018 - 16:54

      Is it laggy at all swiping between screens ?

  • c64 on 13/07/2018 - 10:00
    +2

    i'm pretty sure it's always "on sale"

  • hummel on 13/07/2018 - 10:05
    +2

    They're charging 10% GST on this too?

    I've already ordered 2 of these, 1 has been recieved and AusPost lost the other one. Waiting to hear back from JoyBuy on this but I am running out of time!

    • GreenGuava on 13/07/2018 - 10:07

      Yes I could be mistaken but I think GST is added on checkout

      • Clear on 13/07/2018 - 10:11
        +3

        It is.

  • sinners007 on 13/07/2018 - 10:07

    Joybuy (JD) now charge GST. So $165 USD.

  • Pricebeat on 13/07/2018 - 10:17
    +8

    Eff GST. Harvey can suck a sharp

    • BadGiraffe on 13/07/2018 - 10:22
      +2

      It's not going to change my shopping habits. Things online are still cheaper even with GST slapped on.

    • Diji1 on 13/07/2018 - 11:02
      -1

      It isn't Gerry's fault.

      The fault lies with the brain dead Australian voter who continues to vote in Liberal or Labour despite both parties repeatedly demonstrating by their actions that they're interested in transferring their money to wealthier people while the wealthy people pay almost no tax.

      And if the brain dead vote for either of these scum next election, guess what, it's going to get worse and you will lose even more money.

      • Cheapo Moose on 13/07/2018 - 13:15

        Yeah OK… Who should we for vote for?

        The Greens???

        Give me a break…

        • tonyjzx on 13/07/2018 - 15:28

          One Nation bro.

          The only choice. They will print more money.

          /s

        • skoondi on 14/07/2018 - 21:19

          Not sure why the down vote, seemed funny to me :)

      • Raynes on 13/07/2018 - 17:04

        You sound super woke thinking both major parties are the same.

      • skoondi on 14/07/2018 - 21:18

        Have a plus from me, I'd say you got that basically spot on, hasn't been much difference in parties for a while just right wing and slightly more right wing.

        But back on topic, this still does seem like a good deal been eyeing it off for a while should have jumped before GST but still a very good deal compared to what you get locally.

  • Zidago on 13/07/2018 - 10:19

    Pre checkout it was coming up with the initial price and I was surprised to see they now charge GST.

  • onlinepred on 13/07/2018 - 10:39
    +1

    Why get this over MIA1?

    • Jaduqimon on 13/07/2018 - 10:48
      +1

      Do u even b28?

      • onlinepred on 13/07/2018 - 11:13

        Not on cheapo phones, I don't really care. Having had a old Xiaomi phone for a while I haven't really noticed anything where I live and work (Sydney) compared to my P2Xl.

        • skoondi on 14/07/2018 - 21:26
          +1

          Try living in the country, B28 or no sale. No reception where I live without it and not that great even with it but I can't really complain 'cause it sure is beautiful here and nice and quiet.

        • onlinepred on 14/07/2018 - 22:59
          +1

          @skoondi: yep, although it does sound great, I'm enjoying my uber eats too much

    • Bappy on 13/07/2018 - 10:55

      Do you even NFC? :D

      • onlinepred on 13/07/2018 - 11:13
        +1

        NFC for what? Credit cards? I just use my cards, feel too douchy to use my phone.

        • ilikeit on 13/07/2018 - 11:19
          +3

          Really, you're over-thinking it. No one really cares, they might even think you're clever.

        • onlinepred on 13/07/2018 - 12:05

          @ilikeit: Card or cash? … phone or watch?….
          I have NFC on my watch, I might use that, although I still reach for my wallet anyway as it's habit.

    • hawkeye93 on 13/07/2018 - 11:02
      +1

      B28, NFC, small form, nice screen

      • onlinepred on 13/07/2018 - 11:12

        No global roms though? When will it get 8.1 or 9.0?

        MIA1 seems to get much better battery life also.

        MIA1 has a headphone jack.

        MIA1 is thinner, while being barely bigger and not having a notch = more screen real-estate.

        • StuBalls on 13/07/2018 - 11:26

          Once you add English to the Taiwanese ROM, it is effectively a global rom.

          Battery is 3020 vs 3080, with the A1 probably having better software optimization as well.

          Having a headphone jack is good, but NFC, B28, screen-to-body ration all outweigh headphone jack, IMO.

          The S2 has usable surface of 79%, the A1 only 70%.

        • onlinepred on 13/07/2018 - 11:43

          @StuBalls: The appearance of the huge chin on the S2 though… Screen to body doesn't mean much when you got a notch in the way, so A1 gets more usable screen. I listen to music more than I use NFC or even notice B28 benefits.

          Call me cautious, but I wouldn't touch a chinese rom phone that I can't flash a global rom or custom rom on.

          And you really can't ignore updates, of which I'm sure the A1 will be well ahead with.

          Either way, I'd wait for the A2 which will be out soon and will be well ahead of the S2 and A1

        • BadGiraffe on 13/07/2018 - 14:28

          @OnlinePred: 24 July. It's going to be a little out of my price range, but I'll get it anyway. The A2 Lite or whatever has that stupid notch. Might be in my price range, but I think notches are stupid. I'll pay a little more to not have one.

  • Make it so on 13/07/2018 - 11:11
    +3

    The Xiaomi A2 will be out soon, which is the international version of the MI6X. Will that be a better phone? It has the Snapdragon 660.
    I have heard people have had different degrees of success flashing this phone.

    • Clear on 13/07/2018 - 16:47
      +1

      Aquos S2 64GB is using a Snapdragon 630 so the SD660 in the Xiaomi is a step up in every direction. In terms of ROM support it will definitely be a massive step up. English out of the box and a good selection of custom ROMs like Lineage OS will soon follow. I doubt the Mi A2 will have B28 though :P

  • ilikeit on 13/07/2018 - 11:18

    Very happy with mine. The camera is excellent for a phone just over $200. The included protective cover looks very nice. But it is slippery and mine has already started to crack in two spots at the bottom of the phone cover. Get a cheap cover from Aliexpress.

  • mudguppy1 on 13/07/2018 - 11:22

    anyone get a TAX INVOICE ??

  • Todes Angst on 13/07/2018 - 11:31
    +1

    I'm using one of these as my daily driver. Hands down the best phone I have ever had. Period. Easily updated to Android 8.0 and after installing the rounded corner app and Nova launcher the phone is phenomenally good. Dual sim or sim/SDcard, 4GB RAM, NFC, band 28, Aquos screen, usb-c charging all for ~$200 is a no-brainer.

    • kuikui on 13/07/2018 - 12:15
      +2

      hi, appreciate if you can provide the name of rounded corner app. thanks

      • Todes Angst on 13/07/2018 - 14:24
        +2

        "Round Screen Corners Pro"

        • kuikui on 24/07/2018 - 07:42

          Thank you!

  • jassssone on 13/07/2018 - 12:53

    Bought from last deal, have been using for 2 weeks already, great phone.

  • goose25 on 13/07/2018 - 12:58

    I'm still awaiting delivery of mine, but hopefully someone who has already got one can answer my question. While using Nova launcher, does the phone screen remain full? Or does it create a black bar at the top?

  • alvian on 13/07/2018 - 14:08
    +4

    Be careful not to let the phone update itself via OTA to Chinese Oreo 8 before you flash it to Taiwanese ROM. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/388912

    • shiznit on 13/07/2018 - 14:33
      +2

      Yes, this should be added to the post. It will update itself automatically if you connect wifi during setup, then you'll be stuck without Play Store until a solution is found.

    • slackme on 13/07/2018 - 16:12

      all u have to do is disable WiFi.

    • Helenn on 13/07/2018 - 17:07

      Oh crap, I have already connected to Wi-Fi.. Bought from last deal but have been waiting for new laptop charger to come so I could flash rom. Didn't say anything about update but maybe it's automatic. Should I duo a factory reset prior to flashing ROM? Wouldn't this fix problem?

      • Helenn on 14/07/2018 - 12:10

        Phew it hadn't updated. Can anyone help please though, have never flashed a ROM to a phone before and am following the instructions from whirlpool but I'm stuck on the 'copy file to phone' stage, it just days not enough memory on phone

        • Helenn on 14/07/2018 - 13:12

          Never mind, think the issue was with my computer, the usb ports are a bit dodgy. I did install the driver from the phone also. Everything else went smoothly and I now have google apps. It is currently downloading a system update - is this ok? or do I need to install updates using the same process?

  • jcrew on 13/07/2018 - 20:17

    I got the phone from the last deal. Pretty happy with it until yesterday when the front ear speaker (next to the notch) stopped working and I haven't been able to find a solution. Has anybody experienced this?

  • Dr Techno on 16/07/2018 - 16:58

    actually the blue one has been on ever lasting sale since the last . countdown just keeps on resetting and price goes up and down $1 or $2

  • Bargein on 26/07/2018 - 16:07

    Can anyone confirm QC3.0 on these? Just received a tronsmart car charger qc3.0, but ampere app only shows 5v 2.1a max, tested with sharp cable and another I had lying around. Is it due to screen on? or need a better cable?

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