Sharp Aquos Crystal shows what we can expect from next-gen near-bezel-less phones

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A mid-range phone powered by a Snapdragon 400 processor isn’t going to excite many people, but the Sharp Aquos Crystal coming later this year to Sprint does have one very appealing feature: a near-invisible bezel … 

The 5-inch model, with a 720p display, is being launched in Japan on 29th August. Sprint can’t tell us when it might reach the USA, simply saying that “it is expected to be released in the United States.” The 5.5-inch model, with a more respectable 1080p display, isn’t expected until the end of the year.

Sharp isn’t particularly noted for handsets outside Japan, but is a major player on its home turf with shipments second only to Apple. These particular models will be exclusive to Sprint, but those ultra-thin bezels likely show what we can expect from the next-generation handsets from other manufacturers.

Sprint says that the handsets will be launched with an option allowing unlimited downloads from a selection of apps for a fixed monthly fee. If you’re looking for an affordable, decent-spec phone on Sprint in the meantime, it recently announced that it will be offering the HTC One E8, a plastic-bodied version of the HTC flagship.

Sprint was recently forced to give up its hopes of buying rival T-Mobile over regulatory concerns.

Via WSJ via GigaOM