Coupled with its retractable lens, the GR is potentially the slimmest of any camera in its class when powered off.

Aside from portability, reviewers praised the GR for its lens quality and ergonomics.

[1] The Ricoh GR series has been compared against the Nikon Coolpix A and the Fujifilm X70, other large sensor compacts with the same fixed focal length (28mm).

[2] The Ricoh GR III was announced as "under development" on September 25, 2018, immediately prior to Photokina that year.

Ricoh indicated that several key components, including the sensor and the lens, would be upgraded.