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2011 Winter NTTDocomo Smartphone Roundup
The day is October 18, 2011 and NTTdocomo has announced its slew of winter/spring 2011 line of cell phones.
The biggest attraction this year is the expanded range of Smartphones. A worldwide phenomenon, smartphones are also catching on in Japan recently, with iOS and Android being the major driving force.
Though the Japanese manufacturers took much longer than established heavyweights like HTC and Samsung to enter the Android smartphone business, the 2011 winter/spring lineup proves that Japanese makers can be the best in the world when pushed to the edge.
Let’s cover some of the models in detail.
2011 Summer NTTdocomo PRIME Series Roundup
Yes, the apex of high-spec phones, uncontested across the globe. These are perhaps the highest spec phones one can buy at this very moment. Now with the new unlock policies, all phones sold by NTTdocomo are available unlocked – meaning gone are the days of hypersim instability and weak signals.
Well, lets get to it.
SHARP AQUOS SHOT SH-10C
Representing the the latest in advanced phones from SHARP, the AQUOS SHOT SH-10C is packed with the latest technology. Featuring a 16.1MP CCD sensor as well as a 3D-capable LCD complemented by a high IPX5/IPX7 waterproofing & IP5X dustproofing, this phone has it all.
The style is reminiscent of STYLE-series models while signaling a break from traditional SHARP design. In fact, the exterior reminds me of a CASIO CA003 from au by KDDI whereas the interior is similar to that of Fujitsu F-03B.
- 16.1MP CCD sensor, 1080p FULL HD video recording capable, 3D image capable
- 3.4” New Mobile ASV LCD, FWVGA resolution (854×480), 3D-capable
- 15.5mm thick (22mm maximum), 139g
- IPX5/IPX7 waterproofing, IP5X dustproofing
- 3G/GSM WORLD WING compatible (usable in Canada)
- Rotating axis display, can be used as touchscreen when folded
- WiFi (802.11b/g/n)
Fujitsu F-09C
Fujitsu has been a minor player in the handset market prior to its major breakthrough, the F-01A. Since then, it has grown rapidly, setting the benchmark with F-01B, F-04B and the F-06B. The F-09C is Fujitsu’s latest attempt to further raise the bar.
The F-09C is the successor of the F-06B, which introduced their proprietary “Yoko-motion” technology to a waterproof, slider form.
Befitting of the PRIME Series tag, the F-09C features IPX5/IPX8 waterproofing (the highest level achievable commercially). It means that you can immerse this phone in water deeper than 1m for prolonged periods and the phone will still function.
The camera sensor is now soured from Sony, using the 16.3MP Exmor R for Mobile featuring 3D image and video capability, as well as HDR photography.
- 3.5” FWVGA resolution (854×480), 3D-capable, touchscreen
- 16.3MP CMOS sensor, 3D image/video capable
- 15.8mm thick, 138g
- IPX5/IPX8 waterproofing
- 3G/GSM WORLD WING compatible (usable in Canada)
- Yoko-motion display, can turn 180degrees horizontally
- WiFi (802.11b/g/n)
Casio EXILIM keitai CA-01C
The CA-01C is Casio’s first ever phone produced for NTTdocomo. Before this, Casio was most often associated with au by KDDI for producing many eye-catching models over the last couple of years.
Visually, the CA-01C resembles a CA003/CA005 from about a year ago. However, its specs have seen a great boost in comparison to the two models. The camera is the same Sony unit as the one in the Fujitsu, with the 16.3MP unit that is capable of recording 1080p FULL HD video.
The 3.4” FWVGA display supports glasses-free 3D display and the ability to switch between 2D/3D mode. The phone is protected by IPX5/IPX8 waterproofing, an industry benchmark comparable to the Fujitsu F-09C.
- 3.4” FWVGA resolution (854×480), 3D-capable
- 16.3MP CMOS sensor, 3D image/video capable
- 16.9mm thick, 149g
- IPX5/IPX8 waterproofing
- 3G/GSM WORLD WING compatible (usable in Canada)
- Rotating axis display, can be used as touchscreen when folded
- FM Transmitter
Panasonic LUMIX Phone P-05C
Panasonic stirred the keitai world with the introduction of its first branded phone, aptly called LUMIX Phone P-03C half a year ago. Since then, the team at Panasonic has worked to improve the user experience while maintaining the familiar shape of the phone.
The biggest news is in the camera. As a first ever for Japanese keitai phones, P-05C features optical image stabilization. This means better looking photos that won’t be affected by vibration and hand movements. This feature becomes most apparent during photo session in low-light conditions, as well as during the capture of 1080p FULL HD video.
- 3.3” FWVGA resolution (854×480)
- 13.2MP CMOS sensor, optical image stabilization
- 17.7mm thick, 149g
- 3G/GSM WORLD WING compatible (usable in Canada)
- WiFi (802.11b/g/n)
NTTdocomo PRIME Series Roundup
So here it is. The cutting edge of cellphone hardware in the world. Leading in camera quality, resolution and the sheer number of features incorporated into one, tiny hardware in your hands. The NTTdocomo PRIME Series gives you all.
This year’s lineup has been significantly trimmed. The four major makers threw in one contestant each. Let’s take a detailed look at all four.
Fujitsu F-01C
The highest-specced phone that Fujitsu offers at the time of this writing, the F-01C is an evolution of the F-01B offered last year. While some may scream for a revolution instead, I think evolution is a better thing. Certainly, the F-01B was an excellent phone. It brought Fujitsu back into the high-spec keitai game after losing out with the F90xi series.
This impressive keitai features a 3.4” FWVGA display coupled to a slim body of 13.9mm, while still increasing the camera size to 13.2MP. This is a big improvement from the F-01B which was 17.3mm thick. Even more impressively, Fujitsu managed to do all this while keeping the F-01C water and dustproof – something missing on many phones worldwide (*ahem* iPhone).
Camera features have been strengthened. It can take 7.5 photos/second in VGA mode, and it also allows users to take photos continuously until there is no more room in the microSD. Full HD video recording is supported, and if you buy the HDMI cable you can output it to any phone or monitor you’d like. Wi-Fi, which was missing, is now part of the impressive feature set.
Features
- 3.4” 854X480 16.7M LCD
- 1.4” 174X64 External OLED
- 13.2MP CMOS Full HD camera
- IPX5/IPX7 water/dustproofing
- 13.9mm thin
- Global GSM Support
NEC N-03C
NEC is a company that I think really hits or misses the design. The N-01B was a good design, but I disliked the N-04B and N-02B for its clunky design. It seems like that trend will continue with the N-03C, a phone that looks tough but very unwieldy.
The phone is focused on shock resistance while incorporating water/dustproofing. There’s also a collaboration model with BURTON, the snowboard maker. The shock resistance is rated at US MIL standard, so its claims aren’t bogus for sure. It supports IPX5/IPX8 waterproofing which allows it to operate the camera/calls at 1m deep for at least 30 min. Impressive!
Features
- 3.2” 854X480 LCD
- 0.8” 96X35 External OLED
- 8.1MP CMOS camera with 0.5second startup
- IPX5/IPX8 waterproofing
Panasonic P-03C
Yes, the SoftBank 001P “Lumix Phone” makes its debut on NTTdocomo as well – as the P-03C “Lumix Phone”. Good news for overseas keitai enthusiasts, since NTTdocomo models are easier to coax into functioning mode using a hyperSIM.
It has all the features explained in my SoftBank 001P post, but here’s a quick recap -
- 13.2MP Lumix camera featuring Mobile VenusEngine
- 27mm wide angle lens
- 3.3” 854X480 LCD touchscreen display
- 720p HD recording
- Internal Wi-Fi
Check this photo gallery out for more photos!
SHARP SH-01C
SH-01C carries on the famed AQUOS SHOT label into its fourth generation. It’s build a formidable reputation in both Japan and among overseas users for its superior image quality compared to any mobile phone out there.
The design of the SH-01C takes some cues from the older days of 90xi series. In fact, the two-tone gradient is reminiscent of the earlier FOMA handset days like the SH904i. The overall rounded also has an aura of the earlier days to it. Personally, I don’t like it – I’d much prefer having angular, sharp edges in a design (like the SH-06A and SH-01B).
The phone’s features have been improved over its predecessor, SH-07B. For one, the camera’s now a 14.1MP CCD unit, still capable of 1080p video capture. Another big improvement is the inclusion of a Wi-Fi module. Overall, the improvements in this generation seems to be in enhancing camera experience and overall operation speed, so there isn’t a big “must-get” sort of feature with the SH-01C.
Features
- 3.4” 854X480 MobileASV display
- 14.1MP CCD camera with 1080p video capture
- Internal Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n)
- HDMI-out/DLNA
- IPX5/IPX7 waterproofing
The NTTdocomo STYLE Series article will be coming online tomorrow. Stay tuned!
NTTDocomo Winter/Spring 2011 Collection Debut!
Today marked the debut of the much-awaited “C” series of NTTdocomo phones.
With all Japanese carriers focusing more on smartphones these days, the launch of several smartphones was inevitable. But the traditional keitai lineup from NTTdocomo was much more impressive than from SoftBank just a few days earlier.
Style Series
The Style series focuses on females more than ever before. From left to right, F-02C, F-04C, F-05C, L-01C, N-01C, N-02C, P-02C, SH-02C and SH-04C.
PRIME Series
As I predicted, the SoftBank 001P “Lumix Phone” also made it to NTTdocomo as the P-03C. The PRIME Series as a whole continues the cutting-edge, male-oriented design that has defined the Japanese mobile market for the last 10 years.
From left to right, F-01C, N-03C, P-03C, SH-01C.
SMART Series
The SMART Series is mainly aimed at professionals and businessmen who prefers having a slim, lean phone for productivity. These models both feature slim design and an extraordinarily long battery life.
From left to right, F-03C and P-01C.
PRO Series
The PRO series continue the tradition of Japanese-based “smarter” phones. These are based on the OS that all Japanese people know and have gotten used to over the last 10 years.
From left to right, top to bottom: L-03C, SH-05C, SH-06C, SH-05C, SH-07C, SH-08C.
Individual articles are coming soon!
NTTdocomo to remove SIM lock!
This was the surprising announcement from NTTdocomo President Yamada Ryuuji:
We will remove the SIM-lock on all our models starting with the Spring 2011 collection.
What does this mean for us keitai enthusiasts outside Japan?
For one, an unlocked docomo handset will no longer require a hyperSIM to operate, which should improve signal stability and eliminate the constant CPR (cell phone reviving) headache for many users.
Secondly, it opens up the possibility of using packets. This would take a lot more engineering to work out, but it’s not impossible.
I’m looking forward to the day that I can simply stick my Rogers SIM into a NTTdocomo handset and have it work right off the bat. Good times are coming for keitai enthusiasts!
