Created: 21 October 2026

In late 1996, Sharp expanded its Zaurus K-PDA range with the ZR-3000 and ZR-3500. These compact clamshell organisers combine a miniature QWERTY keyboard with pen-based touchscreen input, offering a practical way to manage information and communicate while on the move.

Both models feature a 4-inch monochrome LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels and 1 MB of RAM, of which approximately 600 KB is available for user data and applications. The built-in software includes personal information management tools, note-taking and document applications, while the touchscreen and keyboard provide complementary ways to enter information. An infrared port enables wireless data exchange with compatible devices.

The main difference is that the ZR-3500 adds an integrated 14.4 kbps data / 9.6 kbps fax modem, allowing users to connect to online services and send faxes without carrying a separate modem accessory. The ZR-3000 lacks this built-in modem, making the ZR-3500 the more communication-oriented option.

Both the ZR-3000 and the ZR-3500 support optional accessories such as SRAM and Flash memory cards, external fax/modems for the ZR-3000, additional PC Card modems, serial connection cables, level converters and an AC adapter. Compatible printers and other peripherals can also be connected, depending on the interface and accessory used.

Both models retain the compact design and productivity-focused approach of the earlier Zaurus K-PDAs, combining a physical keyboard, touchscreen and dedicated applications in a portable device. The ZR-3500 brings these features together with built-in communications, foreshadowing the increasingly connected handheld computers that follow.