Kyocera is making heads turn with its new smartphone that can be washed. Yes, the mobile device is washable with soap and water and it has been named as Kyocera Rafre. A foam wash is also possible for this device so it can be kept clean at all times.

On Jan. 26, via press release, Kyocera Corporation president Goro Yamaguchi, announced the launch of the unique mobile phone for Japanese service provider KDDI Corporation. However, it was revealed that it is only available in Japan.

Most probably, the reason why Rafre is not coming to the U.S. or Europe is because the smartphone was especially made for Japanese telecommunications service provider named KDDI. Thus, it is something that is Japan exclusive.

The Rafre smartphone is not the first washable gadget that was released by Kyocera. This version is actually the successor of the prototype model called DIGNO Rafre which was introduced in Dec. 2015. Upon released, the unit became the world's first soap washable phone.

Unique Features

Aside from being soap and hot & cold water resistant, the Kyocera Rafre features a special touch screen that will still work even if the user's hands are wet or have gloves on. The device is also fitted with Kyocera's Smart Sonic Receiver technology that allows the transmission of sound to the eardrum via vibrations.

Moreover, the new mobile phone comes with a cooking app and users can use hand gestures to set timers, scroll through the recipes and even answer calls. This means that even without touching the device, the user can command functions by mere hand movements.

Specs

Kyocera Rafre have a 5-inch screen display and 2GB of RAM. According to Device Specifications, this device will run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor while the 16GB of internal storage is expandable with microSD. What's more, it already have the latest Android 7.0 Nougat O.S. and powered by 3,000mAh battery.

For the camera, it boasts of 13 MP back camera and 5MP on the front. The smart phone measures 142 x 71 x 10.4mm and weighs just 158 grams.

Release Date and Price

Kyocera did not reveal any price details for the Rafre, so buyers will have to wait until the units are available on KDDI. The second washable phone has been predicted to arrive in March and it will come in three color choices like white, light blue and pale pink.