The third dimension
Still picture resolution drops from 5Mp to 2Mp in 3D mode and while there’s certainly a 3D effect, it does strain the eyes a little to see it. As is often the case with glasses-free 3D screens, the viewing angle is very tight. Tilt the phone by a fraction of an inch and you’ll lose it.
And once you’ve got your 3D pictures, there isn’t an awful lot you can do with them. Folk you email snaps to won't see the effect on a standard 2D screen, and although I didn’t have a chance to transfer any pics to a 3D TV, HTC couldn’t confirm that this would even be possible.
The camera isn’t the best when it comes to shooting 2D, either. As is too common with HTC cameras, picture quality isn’t great: colour balance is unreliable and a little washed out and it’s all too easy to get blurred results.
The Evo's Gallery app highlights 3D content (left) and lets you create albums of snaps (right)
Video recording can go up to 720p HD resolution, a step down from the 1080p quality you’ll find on most other dual-core handsets.
Call quality is decent enough, delivering voices loud and clear, but the Evo's battery life is very poor indeed, even by smartphone standards. I never managed to get a full day’s use out of it, at least not one that involved playback or capture of 3D content. So it’s best to leave the 3D switch off when you can.
Verdict
The HTC Evo 3D is a powerful smartphone with an interesting party piece, but unless you’re desperate to take 3D pics, watch 3D movies or play 3D games - and you're willing to take a big hit on battery life - you’ll be better off with HTC’s Sensation or Desire. ®
Thanks to Clove for the review sample
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HTC Evo 3D Android smartphone
COMMENTS
The Evo won’t allow you to take portrait shots in 3D.
umm.
Do you know many people with one eye above the other?
... No, the D is for "don't touch it with a bargepole until it's safe"
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/10/01/massive-security-vulnerability-in-htc-android-devices-evo-3d-4g-thunderbolt-others-exposes-phone-numbers-gps-sms-emails-addresses-much-more/
Talk of the town, that one...
Of course, if you're going to root and remove the HTC malware that's all good. I thought it was only operators who indulged in that miserable pastime, but I see now it's everybody. They all think they're frickin Facebook.
My next phones going to be an old GSM feature phone at this rate.
The eye of the beholder
Given the "GO POV" camera you use daily says "Go Pro" on the back of it in big letters I can appreciate how maybe 3DTV isn't working out for you.
I hate glasses-free 3D
Ironically if I used glasses-free 3D much, I would end up needing to use glasses all the time, because glasses-free 3D hurts my eyes a lot.
