Sharp AQUOS R9 pro Film black 512GB

The Sharp AQUOS R9 pro is a camera-first flagship with a stunning 240Hz IGZO OLED display and a versatile triple-50MP setup. Performance is just average, and the $1,799 price puts it against much more polished competitors. It's a niche pick for display and camera enthusiasts who want something different. Most people should look at the Galaxy S24 Ultra or Pixel 9 Pro XL instead.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is a capable chip, but it's not Qualcomm's absolute best. Our benchmarks put overall performance in the 47th percentile, which is solidly middle of the pack. For everyday tasks, the 12GB of RAM keeps things snappy, and app switching is fluid. But if you're coming from a phone with a standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, you might notice slightly slower load times in heavy games or during 4K video exports.

Real-world use tells a similar story. The phone handles multitasking without breaking a sweat, and the 240Hz display makes every swipe feel absurdly responsive. But the benchmark scores suggest this isn't the phone for someone who needs to eke out every last frame in Genshin Impact at max settings. It's a weird mismatch: a screen that's faster than almost anything else paired with a processor that's just kind of fine. For most people, it'll be more than enough. Power users might want to look elsewhere.

Stacked against the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Sharp wins on display refresh rate but loses almost everywhere else. The S24 Ultra has a more versatile zoom range, an S Pen, and Samsung's seven-year update promise. Performance is also notably better on the Samsung. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is the more direct camera competitor, and it undercuts the Sharp on price while offering Google's computational photography magic. The Sharp's hardware is impressive, but Google's software tends to produce more consistently great shots with less effort.

The OnePlus 13 is another interesting alternative. It's cheaper, has a faster processor, and charges way quicker. But its camera system, while good, doesn't quite match the Sharp's triple-50MP setup on paper. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the elephant in the room. If you're in the Apple ecosystem, there's no contest. But for Android die-hards who want something different, the Sharp offers a display and camera combo you literally can't get anywhere else. Just know you're trading away performance and long-term software support.

Value is a tricky conversation when the price tag reads $1,799. That's iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra money, and both of those phones offer more polished software experiences, better performance, and far stronger accessory ecosystems. What you're getting here is a unique display and a camera system that genuinely competes with the best. But you're also getting a processor that's a tier below what Samsung and Apple are shipping at this price.

If camera and display are your absolute top priorities, the price might be justifiable. The 512GB of storage is a nice inclusion that softens the blow a bit. But for most people, the value proposition is tough. You can get a Pixel 9 Pro XL with a cleaner Android experience and better AI features for less, or a OnePlus 13 with faster charging and a more powerful chip. The Sharp is a niche pick, and the price reflects that.

Sharp is back with a phone that feels like it was designed by a committee of camera nerds who also really love smooth scrolling. The AQUOS R9 pro packs a triple 50MP camera setup, a 240Hz IGZO OLED display, and a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 into a fairly understated slab. It's clearly aimed at people who want a photography-first Android experience without jumping to the usual Samsung or Google flagships, and it brings some genuinely unique hardware to the table.

That 240Hz screen is the immediate conversation starter. Most phones top out at 120Hz, so this thing is in a different league for responsiveness. Paired with the 6.7-inch Pro IGZO OLED panel, it's a showcase for Sharp's display tech. But the real story here is the camera array. Three 50MP sensors covering main, ultrawide, and telephoto duties, all with OIS on the main shooter. Our database puts the camera system in the 91st percentile, which means it's one of the best on the market right now.

At $1,799, this phone is priced to compete directly with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max. That's a bold move for a brand that doesn't have the same mindshare in the US. The spec sheet is loaded, but the performance benchmarks land in a surprisingly average spot. So you're really paying for that display and camera combo, and you'll need to be okay with some trade-offs elsewhere.

If you care about raw processing power or long-term software support, this phone isn't for you. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is fine, but at this price, you can get a phone with a standard 8 Gen 3 or even an A18 Pro chip that will age much better. The feature set is also bare, ranking in the 17th percentile, so if you want things like DeX mode, advanced AI features, or a robust accessory ecosystem, look at Samsung or Google.

Battery-conscious users should also steer clear. Despite the 5000mAh cell, the battery score sits at a mediocre 66th percentile. That 240Hz display is thirsty, and you'll likely need a midday top-up with heavy use. If endurance matters, the OnePlus 13 or iPhone 16 Pro Max will serve you better. And if you want a compact phone, this isn't it. The compact score of 40.8 means it's a big, chunky device that won't play nice with small hands or tight pockets.

If you're a photographer who values hardware versatility above all else, the AQUOS R9 pro makes a compelling case. That triple-50MP array with OIS is rare, and the 240Hz screen makes reviewing your shots a joy. It's also built like a tank, with IP68 and a rugged build score that suggests it can handle a drop or two. For a very specific type of user, this phone is a hidden gem.

For everyone else, the compromises are hard to ignore. Average performance, a sparse feature set, and a sky-high price make it a tough sell against more polished flagships. Unless that 240Hz screen is a must-have, you're probably better served by a Galaxy S24 Ultra or Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Sharp is a cool phone, but cool doesn't always mean practical.