Review: Sharp Aquos Crystal for Boost Mobile
The Sharp Aquos Crystal is a decent handset, especially when you consider the price. Boost is selling it for $150 without a contract, and that goes a long way to ease some of the pain points afflicting the Crystal.
The novel design is certainly interesting and takes some getting used to. It stands out, offering an alternative to more mainstream handsets. The screen is OK, but not as impressive as it should be. The network and call performance is on par with other Sprint and Boost Mobile devices, but battery life could be a wee bit improved. Perhaps the device's biggest detractor is the camera. It's frustrating to use and produces only mediocre results.
I like that Sprint and Boost Mobile keep most of their devices close to stock Android. That means it has a familiar set of apps and services aboard that perform exactly as they do on competing phones. The flip side of that is there's nothing overly special — as far as the software goes — to set the Crystal apart.
Only a few other phones hover around the $150 mark in Boost's lineup, such as the LG Volt, ZTE Warp Sync, and the Samsung Galaxy Prevail 2. For my money, the only reason to go with the Crystal over these alternatives is for its unique, edgeless design. Some might say the Moto G, which costs $130, is a better option and I'd be inlined to agree.
Would I recommend the Sharp Aquos Crystal? If you're willing to take a chance on its oddities, then sure. If you're not a risk-taker, maybe it's best to stick to Boost's other phones.
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Sharp Aquos Crystal
