Created: 29 October 2022 · Last edited: 26 September 2026

It is indeed a surprise to see Sharp release a new flip phone towards the end of 2022, now that flat-screen smartphones are as ubiquitous as they can be. Nevertheless, behold the new AQUOS Keitai4, announced by SoftBank and its subsidiary Y!mobile under model number A206SH.

The phone comes with the traditional 3.4-inch display with the traditional 540 x 960-pixel resolution. It is not a touchscreen display as in the flagship flip Keitai of some ten years ago.

The external display is also the traditional 0.9-inch organic EL display with 36 x 128 dots.

Evidently, the Keitai series is aimed at the elderly who still obstinately refuse to get a normal smartphone – and don't even fancy the Simple Smartphone terminals. The A206SH comes with an independent speaker on the back of the phone to increase (twice, according to Sharp) the ringtone volume, making it easier to hear even when the phone is closed. The earpiece (located above the display) is larger, too: now 15 x 11 mm to ensure you hear the other party's voice more clearly and not worry about the earpiece's position against your ear. VoLTE (HD+) is also supported for improved call quality. The AQUOS Keitai4 also supports "clear talk" and "smooth talk" features that convey your voice to the other party more clearly and make it possible to hear your own voice through the earpiece for a natural conversation.

The "clear view" mode makes it easier for seniors to see maps, use the internet and other functionality.

The A206SH is waterproof, dust-proof, and shock-resistant.

The Keitai4 is also equipped with Intelligent Charge, previously only found on slab smartphones – to guarantee long battery life. Sharp claim that a year later, the battery will retain 90% of its capacity.

Other features include data encryption (on both the phone and the SD card, normally only found on business/corporate models), and a voice recorder with the option to easily attach recordings to emails.

Another security feature is the "I'm fine mail" – this is sent automatically to a pre-registered contact the first time the phone is used in the morning. It contains the date and time, the number of steps walked, the battery level in percentage, etc.

A high-performance CPU is installed, Sharp say: the Qualcomm 215 quad-core 1.3 GHz processor. This is the first processor in the Qualcomm 2 series to feature a 64-bit CPU and dual ISP support.

This is coupled with 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of onboard storage, expandable using microSDHC cards.

The AQUOS Keitai4 has an 8-megapixel camera that is capable of shooting HDR-enhanced still images, recording time-lapse video, and stabilising the image using a software anti-shake mechanism. Video can be recorded at up to 1280 x 720 pixels.

The built-in 1680 mAh battery provides plenty of capacity for a phone of this type.

The A206SH measures 115 x 51 x 16.9 mm when folded and weighs 121 grams.

It is offered in white or black.