RED Unveils $1,600 Holographic Smartphone

RED, the company famous for its high-end digital cinema cameras, is releasing a premium smartphone which boasts a “holographic display”. The Hydrogen One’s 5.7-inch screen is capable of switching between 2D, 3D, VR, AR, and “multi-view” content. How does this work? Short of RED tossing off a few platitudes, we don’t know. Sadly, we’re yet to see images – either still or in motion – of the “holographic display” in action, so your guess is as good as ours. Hydrogen One allows users to both view and create holographic content and boasts “multi-dimensional” sound, whatever that is. The phone will also with RED’s famous digital film cameras (like the RED EPIC DRAGON, pictured below), though we don’t know exactly how.

Glasses Obsolete

“Wearable displays not spoken here. It is no longer necessary to carry (or charge) another device to enjoy multi-dimensional content. Experience “look around depth” in the palm of your hand. No glasses or headsets in sight.”

5.7” Professional Hydrogen Holographic Display

“This incredible retina-riveting display advancement features nanotechnology that seamlessly switches between 2D content, holographic mute-view content, 3D content, and interactive games – both landscape and portrait modes supported.”

According to RED, users can view:

• All traditional 2D content morally at full-screen resolution
• Holographic RED Hydrogen 4-View content (H4V)
• Stereo 3D content
• 2D/3D VR, AR and MR

Assault Your Senses

“Embedded in the OS is a proprietary H3O algorithm that converts stereo sound into expansive multi-dimensional audio. Think 5.1 on your headphones. The perfect match for holographic H4V or just listening to your favourite tunes. The difference this makes would be enough to justify the entire system.”

Price and Availability

The Hydrogen One ships early 2018. The aluminium version costs $1,195, while the titanium model is priced $1,595. Pre-orders are now open. A video demo before release would be nice, though.