Sharp, best known to U.S. consumers for its TV sets, has partnered with SoftBank to develop two low-cost Aquos Crystal smartphones for release in Japan—and possibly the U.S.
Both handsets boast a virtually bezel-less design, and reportedly come with the new App Pass service that allows unlimited app downloads for a monthly rate.
First up, the Aquos Crystal comes with a 5-inch, 1,280-by-720 edge-to-edge display, with 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. Running Android 4.4.2 KitKat on a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, the phone also sports a 2,040mAh battery, with a suggested three-day lifespan between charges, Phandroid reported.
The more powerful Crystal X rocks a 5.5-inch, 1080p screen, a Snapdragon 801 process, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 2,610mAh battery with Android 4.4.4 KitKat. According to SoftBank, it will come in red, white, or black—but only in Japan, where the device is scheduled to hit shelves sometime after December.
The smaller sibling, however, is expected for an Aug. 29 SoftBank release in Japan, ahead of a later U.S. rollout via Sprint, in which Softbank has a majority stake. Sprint is holding an event in New York City this week, which could include the announcement of a launch date for the Aquos Crystal.
At that event, Sprint's new CEO Marcelo Claure is also expected to announce new, aggressive pricing plans. "We're going to change our plans to make sure they are simple and attractive and make sure every customer in America thinks twice about signing up to a competitor," Claure said during a Sprint town hall meeting, as reported by LightReading.
Neither Sprint nor Sharp immediately responded to a request for comment.
For more, see After T-Mobile, Where Now for Sprint?