Created: 17 January 2014 · Last edited: 16 September 2026

In mid-January 2014, Sharp announced a new ultra-portable tablet having a 15.6-inch screen that utilises IGZO LCD technology for reduced power consumption. The tablet started selling in March.

The screen boasts the amazing WQHD (3200 x 1800 pixel) resolution which amounts to 235 ppi density. This is a 10-point capacitive touchscreen with a 256-level pressure-sensitive digitiser, making it suitable for drawing detailed graphics or CAD (Computer-Aided Design).

Code-named RW-16G1, this tablet is powered by an Intel Core i5-4200U processor: dual-core with four threads, clocked at 1.6 GHz, which features Intel's Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 for up to 2.60 GHz clock speed. The processor has 2 x 256 KB of L2 cache and 3 MB of L3 cache.

The operating memory is 4 GB, non-upgradeable. Graphics are handled by the integrated Intel ® HD Graphics 4400. Storage is provided by a 128 GB SSD.

Connectivity is ensured by a wireless card supporting IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (draft) standards and Bluetooth® 4.0 + HS. The tablet has built-in wireless access point (tethering) functionality and NFC support.

The RW-16G1 has built-in stereo speakers and a dual microphone, as well as an accelerometer, geomagnetic sensor, gyroscope and illumination sensor. A 2-megapixel front-facing camera is also provided.

Onboard is also a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) ver. 1.2 for hardware-based security and cryptographic key storage.

The tablet comes with Windows 8.1 Pro x64 pre-installed, which can be downgraded to Windows 7 Professional x32, should the client so desire. Microsoft Office Home or Business 2013 editions can be purchased additionally.

The RW-16G1 measures 382.8 mm x 244.5 mm x 12.5 mm, and weighs 1250 grams. The bundled accessories include a touch pen and an AC charger. It is powered by a 44 Wh lithium-ion polymer built-in battery that should allow up to 9 hours of operation.

Like the Mebius Pad, this tablet will be extremely difficult to sell despite the special features which make it suitable for truly professional deployment – 260,000 Yen or approx. 2,500 USD (at the time).

* Price update: Checked on 14 September 2018, there is only one sale ad on Yahoo Japan with an asking price of almost 65,000 Yen or 580 USD.