Created: 20 October 2026 · Last edited: 22 October 2026

The Zaurus Color Pocket MI-310, released in September 1998, brings colour to the compact Zaurus Pocket concept.

The MI-310 introduces a significant display innovation: the first commercially available front-lit reflective TFT LCD – Sharp's marketing name for this is the Super Mobile. Unlike the unlit reflective display used in Sharp’s earlier Business Zaurus, which is difficult to see under indoor fluorescent lighting, the new screen uses a light guide plate to direct light onto the LCD surface, improving indoor visibility while retaining the low power consumption of reflective displays. Although colour saturation remains limited, Sharp plans to improve reflectivity and colour reproduction in future displays.

Sharp has also placed particular emphasis on simplifying Internet and PC connectivity. Setup wizards are provided for both functions, reflecting the company's attempt to make the increasingly capable Zaurus platform accessible to less technically experienced users.

The MI-310 is powered by the familiar Hitachi SH7708S processor but now clocked at 66 MHz, which is double the frequency of the monochrome Zaurus Pocket from the previous year.

The amount of installed RAM remains unchanged (2 MB) and onboard storage is 8 MB, where about 7 MB are available to the user.

The modem is built-in and supports a maximum speed of 33.6 Kbps.

The MI-310 has four interfaces: a 16-bit expansion port for optional accessories, an RJ-11 telephone jack for the built-in modem, a dedicated connector for an optional portable keyboard, and an IrDA infrared port for wireless data transfer.

To give this Zaurus Color Pocket juice, you simply needed two AA alkaline batteries or a rechargeable Ni-MH one.