Created: 2 October 2013 · Last edited: 15 September 2026

Sharp and AU KDDI are launching only one phone in the Winter 2013/2014 collection: the AQUOS Phone Serie SHL23.

The AQUOS Phone Serie SHL23 comes with a 4.8-inch Full HD IGZO LCD display with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels and a 460 ppi density. The display supports the HSV colour space and can automatically adjust image quality depending on the time of day, type of lighting (incandescent or fluorescent) and level of ambient brightness.

This phone boasts the same type of camera we find on SoftBank's top model, the 302SH and 303SH, and Docomo's top-tier phone of the new collection: a 16.3 megapixel CMOS shooter featuring the BrightEye + NightCatch technology and an impressive f/1.9 aperture. The camera also features Sharp's new multifocal capture capable of producing an image with several focus points – in both close and distant view – for even better images. There is also support for HDR shooting, high-speed shutter and 16x digital zoom. The phone's front-facing camera is 2.1 megapixels.

The AQUOS Phone Serie SHL23 is powered by the same 2.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor found on Sharp's new releases. The RAM is 2 GB and the built-in storage is 16 GB, with microSDXC cards up to 64 GB supported. The four cores and the IGZO display, coupled with the 3,000 mAh battery should guarantee smooth and long operation with only one charge.

A new feature called "Grip Magic" allows us to use the two sensors on both sides of the phone to only power the display (without sound) or vice versa, as well as change screen rotation settings.

Also supported is "Air Operation" where we can interact with the phone without touching it, only making "air" gestures.

An additional option allows the display to be powered on by sliding a finger on the display. And the "Bright Keep" feature will not allow the display to turn off as long as some interaction is detected, e.g. when reading something.

Also featured is the Quick Launcher found on SoftBank's 302SH and 303SH, as well as the latest version of Feel UX with more customisation options and sound effect feedback on certain UI interactions.

The AQUOS Phone Serie SHL23 brings Full Seg digital television with Full HD playback & recording, optional external antenna connection, 4G LTE support which promises download speeds of up to 150 Mbps, as well as Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac support. Other standard features include water resistance and dust resistance, NFC/Felica, Bluetooth 4.0, wireless printing, USB host function for mouse/keyboard and even the ability to remotely control your Cocorobo robot vacuum cleaner, if you have one.

It will be offered in white, blue and black.

And finally a Sharp phone on which the brand name is printed (on the side)!