Android One is still alive and kicking: Sharp launches One S3 in Japan

Sharp’s new Android One S3 comes with IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.

By: HT CORRESPONDENT
| Updated on: Feb 01 2018, 13:55 IST
Sharp S3 runs Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box
Sharp S3 runs Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box (Sharp)

After launching Mi A1 in India in partnership with Xiaomi, Google has introduced another Android One smartphone. Launched in Japan, the new Android One is Sharp Android One S3, running the latest Android iteration v8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box.

Android One was launched in 2014 with a special focus on entry-level smartphones in emerging markets, similar to Google's philosophy for its latest Android Go platform. The idea behind the project is to deliver pure and timely latest Android updates and patches to the low-end smartphones, a big pain point for this category.

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In fact, India was the launchpad for the ambitious platform wherein OEMs follow certain hardware and software standard set by Google.

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While Android One failed to take off in the country, Google has sporadically launched a few Android One phones over the years in different markets. Xiaomi Mi A1 and Moto X4 Android One were a few notable devices to launch in 2017.

Shift in focus

With Xiaomi Mi A1, Google hinted at a big shift in focus with its Android One Platform. The Xiaomi phone came with top-end features such as dual-camera and a premium design. The smartphone is available for 13,999, targeted at the lower tier of the mid-range category.

Sharp Android One S3: Specifications, features

The smartphone features a 5-inch IGZO Full HD display. It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 430 processor which is quite disappointing considering its price tag of JPY 32,400 which translates to roughly 18,900.

The smartphone packs 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage which is further expandable up to 256GB via a microSD card. For photography, Sharp S3 sports a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera.

Fueling the smartphone is a 2,700mAh battery, along with a USB Type-C port for charging. Its connectivity options include 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.2, and Wi-Fi. Sharp S3 also comes with IP68 certification making it resistant to water and dust.

Sharp S3 comes in four colour options of green, black, white, and a pastel pink. In terms of design, it's hard to ignore that the smartphone looks eerily similar to Apple's plastic 5C iPhones.

This isn't the first Android One smartphone from Sharp. The series consists of Sharp S1, Sharp S2 and Sharp S3.

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First Published Date: 01 Feb, 13:22 IST
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