Created: 27 March 2018 · Last edited: 21 September 2026

Whereas Japanese models are mostly branded AQUOS and usually carry the AQUOS logo on their bodies, Foxconn-built models sold outside Japan use SHARP AQUOS for some higher-end devices and simply SHARP for lower-end ones. These phones do not carry the AQUOS logo on their bodies, but instead display the SHARP brand.

Since they acquired the majority of shares in Sharp, Foxconn have been trying to show Sharp that cool smartphones aren't necessarily all made in Japan. The SHARP AQUOS S3 is their third attempt and the second model in the S-series (don't get me started on how they choose their model numbers).

The S3 series comes in three flavours: the S3 mini (FS8018), the S3 (FS8032), and the S3 High Edition (FS8015). This article is about the "mini".

The SHARP AQUOS S3 mini was initially scheduled for announcement on 16 January 2018 but it took two more months to get there. For a while, leaks on the Google Play supported devices list had us believe the phone had been renamed to Aquos V1 mini – but that's apparently not the case, now that it was officially announced on 22 March. Sales are beginning (in China) on 30 March, prices starting from 1,599 Yuan (approx. 252 USD) – this is cheaper than any mid-range "bezelless" notched-display Chinese phone.

The SHARP AQUOS S3 has a 5.5-inch FullHD+ (2040 x 1080 px) notched in-cell-touch-sensor LTPS LCD manufactured by Sharp China. The notch is in the top middle edge of the screen and is wide enough to house the front-facing camera and sensors. The 550-nit high-brightness display ensures support for 135% of sRGB colour gamut, like on the previous model, the SHARP AQUOS S2.

The very thin bezels on the three sides resolve to a display occupancy rate of 87.5% – not as impressive as it could have been, and already beaten by some emerging Chinese brands.

The front camera is better than the rear, meaning this must be a model targeting selfie maniacs rather than curious photographers of what surrounds us: a 20-megapixel shooter (2 μm large-pixel sensor, f/2.0); it sports a new "AI portrait shots" feature (reminiscent to the iPhone X Portrait Mode). The front camera is also used for the Face Unlock system that is advertised to unlock the phone in 0.1 seconds.

The rear (main) camera has a 16-megapixel sensor with aperture f/2.0, phase detection auto focus (PDAF), HDR.

The SHARP AQUOS S3 mini is powered by the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor that has 4 x 2.2 GHz and 4 x 1.8 GHz cores. Initial information suggested that two versions would be released – one having 4 GB of RAM/64 GB of ROM and another having 6 GB of RAM/128 GB of ROM. Today's official announcement, however, only features one version having 6 GB of RAM (LPDDR4X) and 64 GB of ROM (EMMC 5.0). The phone has a microSDXC card slot allowing expanded storage.

The battery capacity is 3020 mAh.

Connectivity is ensured via USB Type-C, 3.5-mm audio jack, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, 4G VoLTE, GPS. NFC is not supported. The Aquos S3 mini is a dual-SIM phone with 4G + 3G standby capability.

Supported radio frequencies include:
WCDMA: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
GSM: 900/1800/1900 MHz
CDMA: 800 MHz 1X & EVDO
TD-SCDMA: 1880/2010
4G: TD-LTE, FDD-LTE

The fingerprint sensor is mounted in the bottom bezel and doubles as a Home button.

The phone's back cover is made of 2.5D hardened glass.

The SHARP AQUOS S3 mini rolls out with Android 7.1.1 Nougat (the S3/S3 High Edition has Android 8.0 Oreo). Ontop of the Android is Sharp China's Smile UX user interface.

The device measures 142.7 x 73 x 7.8 mm and weighs 140 grams. It is offered in black, blue, and gold.