Sharp Aquos K SHF31 - new clamshell for Japanese

The clamshell craze took hold in Korea, but also Japan. The Japanese manufacturer Sharp, known for its beautiful IGZO panels, formalizes the Aquos K SHF31, a clamshell smartphone for the operator by KDDI.

 For nearly a year, the Asian manufacturers have realized that some users tried to recall the feeling of mobile telephony in the early 2000s. The clamshell phones, with a decent screen and a physical keyboard phone, have a strong following both in Korea and Japan. A study relayed last week in our columns shows that the feature phone has progressed in the Japanese archipelago in 2014, while the smartphone has declined. A paradoxical phenomenon, Asians having the image particularly tech savvy consumers.

 A clamshell smartphone for Japan

 If Samsung and LG have taken advantage of this craze to introduce mobile clamshell Android (Ice Cream Smart, Wine Smart, Golden 2, etc.), Sharp also captured the subject to its domestic market with Aquos K SHF31. Officially presented last Thursday by the manufacturer and its operator partner by KDDI, this smartphone has all the physical trappings of clamshell, namely a moderately large screen (3.4-inch qHD resolution) and a physical phone. You will also find the back of the camera a small LCD screen for notifications, a typical feature of this type of mobile, since once closed their screen is not visible without opening it.

 Side platform, you find a fairly traditional entry smartphone: Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz, 4G connectivity, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable storage via microSD, a 1410 mAh battery, WiFi n and Bluetooth 4.0 and 13.1 megapixel photo sensor (compatible Full HD video). The brand is available in a certified IPX7 chassis and weighs 128 grams.

 A sensitive keyboard to replace the touch screen

 A special feature of the model is its keyboard which replaces the touch screen to navigate the Android interface and applications. Just like the keyboard of the BlackBerry Passport, that of Aquos K is sensitive. It is thus transformed into track pad to control a mouse, for example, zoom and swiper in all directions. Note that the mobile also includes 5-and-pad shortcuts to certain functions (like connection sharing mode that is on the bottom right).

 The smartphone is available in Japan since February 20, exclusively from the by KDDI. The price was not disclosed, but its price should be quite economical, particularly with subscription. This should please the Japanese, who already pay relatively expensive access to mobile Internet.

Sharp Aquos K SHF31 - new clamshell for Japanese