Over the years, smartphones have become increasingly capable in their photographic capacities, gaining secondary lenses, longer ranges, and sharper imaging thanks to the involvement of optics specialists like Zeiss and Hasselblad. Sure, a dedicated DSLR setup is still very much the weapon of choice for a seasoned shutter bug, but give it 10 years and the results will be almost indistinguishable.
Just take the camera on Sharp’s latest Aquos R6 smartphone, for instance. Developed in collaboration with Leica, it sports a massive (for a phone) 1-inch CMOS sensor and a 19mm f/1.9 wide-angle lens, a combination that enables 20MP stills with little distortion, impressive low-light performance, and even reduced noise. However, the R6 is much more than a one-trick photo pony; it’s also a pretty robust device in its own right. For instance, elsewhere you’ll find a 6.6-inch, 2,730 x 1,260 HDR display, a Snapdragon 888 octacore processor, as well as an innovative new fingerprint identification system that allows users to log in using two simultaneous prints for an added element of security. While pricing details have yet to be announced, unfortunately, it’ll only be available in Japan.
