Last year the mobile world was abuzz over the announcement of the RED HYDROGEN ONE “holographic” smartphone. At first, the Red Hydrogen One seemed like a bit of a stretch and perhaps a marketing stunt on RED’s part. The RED HYDROGEN ONE was billed as a device that did not need a wearable to enjoy multi-dimensional content.
The company promised you could experience depth in the palm of your hand without glasses or headsets. YouTube vlogger Marques Brownlee, a user of RED’s other camera products, was able to get a hands-on with a prototype of the device early last year. Check out his coverage of the prototype device below.
Since Marques’s hands on the company has been hard at work to go from prototype to production. According to an announcement made by AT&T and Verizon, they will start selling the smartphone this year. The holographic display will project images you can see from all angles and interact with through hand gestures. The cameras will also be capable of capturing custom 3D images making your photos more personal.
No pricing was announced but RED was taking pre-orders all year for $1,295USD (aluminum) and $1,595USD (titanium). During that pre-order, the company said that pricing was available for a limited time only. That leads us to believe the RED HYDROGEN ONE is going to be significantly more expensive than the pre-order price. The company is said to be coming out with a hands-on demo of the device soon.
It will be interesting to see how consumers view this device. As a tech writer, I’m excited to check it out because the smartphone market has become stagnant and boring. The holographic display is something new and fresh. It’s very possible that the RED HYDROGEN ONE will be an extremely niche product. But it’s also possible that the technology in this device may lead to new features in more mainstream smartphones.
What do you think of this new holographic smartphone from RED? Would you be interested in getting one for yourself? Do you think this is a gimmick or a real viable device? Let us know in the comments below, or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.
