A new smartphone capable of displaying ‘holographic multi-view content’ along with 2D and 3D content has been unveiled by RED.
The company, which is best known for its digital cinema cameras used to shoot movies like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, said virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality content can also be viewed on the Hydrogen One’s 5.7-inch display.
Jim Jannard, the billionaire founder of RED as well as glasses and clothing manufacturer Oakley, said the “incredible” holographic display is driven by technology that consumers haven’t seen before.
“It is not lenticular, which is inferior tech in every way, has been tried many times before and failed for good reason,” Jannard said in a forum post, referring to products that promised similar features like Amazon’s Fire Phone and LG’s Optimus.
“Lenticular display dramatically lowers resolution, cannot be turned off for standard 2D content, only works in one direction (usually landscape), has color crosstalk… to name just a few issues.”
Hydrogen One will also be compatible with modular attachments similar to smartphones like the Moto Z Play, which RED is planning to use to add “image quality well beyond any other camera short of our professional cameras” according to Jannard.
He also explained why RED had chosen to enter the competitive smartphone market at this point in time.
“Because we are doing everything different and (we feel) better. That is the only way to enter a market. That was the thinking behind Oakley. It was the thinking when we released the RED ONE. Same formula. Make something significantly better and you have a reason to be,” Jannard said.
RED will begin shipping the Hydrogen One in early 2018. Prices are initially set at US$1,195 ($1576) for an aluminium version and $1,595 ($2,104), but could be subject to change in the future. The modular attachments won’t be available at launch. Australian pricing and availability has not been announced.
