Leica Camera AG and Sharp Corporation announced the establishment of a long-term technology partnership and presented the first AQUOS R6 Smartphone ‘co-engineered with Leica’ for the Japanese market. Both companies are working in close collaboration in the field of optical engineering and the development of innovative solutions for the achievement of the best possible imaging quality in the smartphone photography segment. This smartphone impresses with an exceptionally large 1-inch sensor. In combination with integrated Leica lens technology, this not only ensures excellent picture quality on the end device but also enables the production of outstanding quality prints.

Shigeru Kobayashi, General Manager of SHARP Personal Communications Division: “We are thrilled to unveil the AQUOS R6, which has the world’s largest 1-inch-sensor camera. Sharp couldn’t have got to this milestone without the great contribution of Leica Camera AG. With this long-term partnership, our companies will bring stunning smartphones with outstanding camera capability and user experience to market.”

“Sharp and Leica share a strong sense of tradition that is paired with the pursuit of technical innovation of the highest quality. I am very pleased about the partnership with Sharp and its first result – the new smartphone, the AQUOS R6 ‘co-engineered with Leica’,” says Andreas Kaufmann, Majority Shareholder und Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG.

Matthias Harsch, CEO of Leica Camera AG, adds: “The strategic technology partnership between Sharp and Leica demonstrates a shared passion for continually pushing the boundaries of what is technologically possible. Based on the premium standards we both set and our mutual commitment to uncompromising quality, the AQUOS R6 ‘co-engineered with Leica’ is a smartphone that reflects the success of our collaboration and more than fulfills the extremely high expectations of Japanese customers in every respect.”

The smartphone’s f/1.9 Leica Summicron ultra-wide lens has a focal length equivalent of 19mm and is especially wide compared to other smartphones on the market. The upside to this design is that photos taken with this sensor and bright lens will no doubt look much better than what smartphones thus far have been able to accomplish, but the downside is significant as well: this is the only rear-facing camera the smartphone offers. In order to achieve any other focal lengths, digital zoom is the only recourse.

Moving onto the display, Sharp is using a variable-framerate ‘Pro IGZO OLED’ 6.6” display that Sharp claims can achieve a max 2,000-nits of brightness. Other featured include a 12.6-megapixels f/2.3 front-facing camera, IPX5 / IPX8 / IP6X ratings for dust and water resistance, and a USB-C port to charge and transfer data.

Below are a collection of sample photographs:

The device, which will ship with Andriod 11 installed, is set to launch in Japan in June in black and white color options. There’s no information yet on when, if at all, this device will become available outside the Japan region.

More info on Sharp’s website.