Created: 23 January 2013 · Last edited: 14 September 2026

The AQUOS PHONE EX SH-04E is Sharp's latest addition to the Docomo Spring 2013 collection. Whilst the hardware is quite the cutting-edge thing, it won't fail to grab attention design-wise either.

The “EX” designation denotes the phone's focus on an exceptional camera and multimedia experience, reflecting its high-end specifications and advanced imaging features.

"Sophisticated design and luxurious comfort": sleek curves are complemented by an illuminated crystal at the bottom of the phone, while the glass and surrounding frame are seamlessly joined to create a shape that is comfortable to hold. The SH-04E is available in White, Pink and Black.

The SH-04E is equipped with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, accompanied by a generous 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in storage. Additional storage can be provided using microSDXC memory cards.

The display measures 4.5 inches and has an HD resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels. Rather than using Sharp's newer IGZO technology, the SH-04E employs an S-CG Silicon LCD system. Sharp has nevertheless continued to improve its CG Silicon technology, with the display incorporating memory circuitry that allows static images to be retained without continuous image-data transfer from the processor, helping to reduce power consumption.

The camera department is equally impressive. The rear camera uses a 13.1-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor with Sharp's ProPix image-processing technology and optical image stabilisation. The combination of optical and electronic correction forms Sharp's triple anti-shake system, helping to reduce camera shake when taking photographs and recording video. A 1.2-megapixel camera is provided on the front.

The SH-04E supports LTE at 800, 1500 and 2100 MHz, as well as W-CDMA at 850 and 2100 MHz and GSM at 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz. Wireless connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi tethering and Bluetooth 4.0. DLNA, infrared communication, One Seg, FeliCa and NFC are also supported.

Sharp has also equipped the phone with its Direct Wave Receiver, which transmits the sound of an incoming call through vibrations in the phone's body, making conversations easier to hear in noisy environments. USB host functionality is also supported.

As expected from a contemporary Japanese flagship smartphone, the SH-04E is both water- and dust-resistant. It also supports Qi wireless charging.

The phone is powered by a 2000 mAh non-removable battery, measures 128 × 64 × 10.9 mm and weighs approximately 145 grams.

The AQUOS PHONE EX SH-04E runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with Sharp's Feel UX user interface.