Boutique Android phone makers didn’t have a good 2017, but RED aims to reverse that trend with its high-end Hydrogen handset, which founder Jim Jannard talks up in a recent post[1] on the company’s forums. The chunky, unique device will ship in the summer, but those who have pre-ordered will be able to test out its “4-view” display in April.
Jannard crows about the quality of the display, the quality of the audio, the quality of the build, the versatility of the module system, and the “cool as hell” scalloped sides. He admits it’s big: 2 ounces more than other 5.7″ devices, as well as broader and thicker. “Think SOLID,” he concludes. At least that leaves room for a big battery (4500mAh) and dual SIM slots.
More importantly for some, the phone enjoys “unprecedented” carrier support. I’m not sure what that could really mean; it would be hard for it to outdo the iPhone, which is offered by pretty much every carrier. That’s a pretty strong precedent.
Let’s just take that at face value and assume it’ll be on most carriers — Jannard’s a good salesman, and the carriers likely want a fun up-sell device like this. Once customers hold this enormous, expensive phone in their hands, everything else will seem light and cheap.
The post does little to allay the apprehensions of those who have seen Jannard occasionally oversell RED’s offerings in posts just like this one.
The fact that still very few people have actually seen the vaunted “holographic” 4V display is cause for worry. Jannard’s claims here, that it’s better than 3D, immersive, spectacular etc, only count for so much.
The time of 3D content of whatever sort appears to have come and gone,...