RED's 3D-enabled ‘holographic' smartphone is finally here

RED’s Hydrogen One smartphone is here. Verizon and AT&T announce to begin selling the mobile phone this Friday, for $1, 295. The success of the device, however, seems doubtful with its poor specs. But the big deal here is Hydrogen One’s much-hyped “holographic” screen, which again, will have a tough time competing with the iPhone XS and other handsets for this price.

RED’s new smartphone has one thing that’s unlike anything else in the market – its screen. The holographic display simulates a sense of depth rather than producing pop-out images. The handset can capture video and stills in both 2D and 3D modes. But it isn’t very appealing – because – the 3D imagery effect can only be played back on other Hydrogen Ones.

California-based Red is quite famous for missing its deadlines and its Hydrogen One smartphone, which was supposed to be released months ago, features an already-old gen processor – a Snapdragon 835 chip – as a result.

However, for those who wondered if the Hydrogen One handset might prove to be the third sector RED would disrupt, after cameras and sunglasses, there’s one more key selling point of the device. RED is reportedly working on adding the ability to snap additional modules to transform the device into a higher-end video camera. The same is not due to be released until late 2019. So users attracted by this idea of converting an Android phone into a movie camera might want to wait a little longer.