HTC Evo 3D - Evolutionary Gimmick?
As a smartphone, the HTC Evo 3D is more than capable with its impressive hardware. But is its headline 3D features nothing more than a gimmick? Here's what we think of this Google Android 2.3 smartphone.
By HardwareZone Team -
Android Evolution
Smartphone differentiation can be a tough order, especially when there’s a competitor that always tries to go one step further. Many a time, it's a faster processor, or a larger screen with better display technology. The HTC Evo 3D is, by all accounts, one such device.
Following the latest trend of having a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and a 4.3-inch display, this Android 2.3 device might seem like your run-of-the-mill high-end smartphone. Its name, much like the LG Optimus 3D, should provide a not so subtle hint to its unique feature: 3D. More specifically, 3D capture (photos and videos) and viewing. Question is, will 3D technology (especially on a phone) become a passing fad, or is it a key component that's now setting the bar for future smartphones? Before we proceed with our verdict, here are the highlights of the Evo 3D.
Key Highlights of the HTCEvo 3D
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If you’re expecting a thin and light smartphone, manage your expectations, for the Evo 3D doesn’t fall into that category. Its massive 4.3-inch display is matched with a thick profile of 12.05mm and a hefty weight of 170g. Suffice to say, these make the Evo 3D far from being a portable smartphone. That being said, we were surprised at how sturdy and comfortable it felt in our hands. The grip is aided by the grooved design on its rear, providing us with a firmer grip. We do have pretty large hands; that makes us more forgiving with the phone's lengthier and wider profile. But we foresee that it could get a little troubling for those with a limited grip.
Handling the Evo 3D’s overly large profile can be a challenge if your hands are not as gigantic as ours.
A grooved casing gave us a firmer grip on the Evo 3D.
The various shortcut buttons on the Evo 3D are clearly marked, starting with the four standard shortcuts, such as home, back, search and menu. With sufficient room to navigate, we had no problems interacting with these shortcuts. Multimedia controls, such as the volume and camera buttons, are isolated to the right. Incidentally, this is where you’ll find the physical slider that lets you switch between the 2D and 3D imaging capabilities of this HTC device. This leaves the fully exposed micro-USB port clear of any obstruction on the left of its profile.
Four evenly-spaced touch-sensitive buttons are located right below the 4.3-inch display, which also sports a qHD screen resolution of 960 x 540 pixels.
Most of its controls, such as the volume, 2D/3D toggle and camera buttons are located on the right profile...
...with the micro-USB port (which has no cover to protect it) situated on the left.
The rear of the Evo 3D presents a pair of stereoscopic cameras, with a red border framed over both cameras. The design does bring up some nostalgia, with its uncanny resemblance to the good old cassette tape. Removal of the Evo 3D’s casing is not as tough as we expected; there's an obvious notch for us to hook and pry the casing off the main body. Underneath the casing, you’ll find a hot-swappable microSD card. But remember, always unmount the card to prevent data corruption. As usual, you’ll have to remove the battery to access the SIM card.
The innards of the Evo 3D throws up no surprises: a hot-swappable microSD card, with a SIM card locked down by the battery.
Giddy 3D
Given how this is a HTC device, you shouldn’t be surprised to see HTC Sense 3.0 on the Evo 3D. We have covered the main mechanics of Sense 3.0 extensively in our earlier reviews, and it is still as well-received by us with its intuitive interface. As such, we’ll be focusing on the one feature that sets it apart against the competition: its 3D capabilities.
The 4.3-inch display is no mere S-LCD screen. What you have here is a lenticular display that allows you to view 3D images and videos with your naked eye. Yes, that means you don’t have to wear 3D glasses as if you were watching a 3D movie in the cinema. The upside to not wearing 3D glasses and attracting attention also comes with a closely related disadvantage: very limited viewing angle. In order to fully enjoy the 3D effects, you shouldn’t deviate too much from the sweet spot.
Keeping the Evo 3D still (well, not exactly like this) is crucial to getting the best 3D experience from its 4.3-inch display.
Earlier on, we’ve also mentioned the stereoscopic camera, used to complement its 3D display. However, there's one point to note with regards to the actual resolution of your 3D images. Capped at 2-megapixels, the Evo 3D is slightly disadvantaged over the Optimus 3D's higher 3-megapixel resolution. Moreover, the LG Optimus 3D comes with additional features such as 2D to 3D image and video conversion. And by Q4 2011, 2D to 3D apps conversion will be made available on the LG smartphone. Considering all that, the Evo 3D has less appeal if you are really keen on mobile 3D features.
Unlike the Optimus 3D, the Evo 3D uses a physical switch to alternate between 2D and 3D imaging modes.
3D games are a given on the Evo 3D, with three for you to choose from. Once again, the Optimus 3D takes the lead, with at least ten 3D games in the pipeline. Similar to the Optimus 3D, the games for the Evo 3D come with depth control for those who prefer to keep their heads from swooning with the 3D effects. And that is another point of contention: 3D games might not be your cup of tea. Or at least, it isn't for yours truly. While most of us were able to handle the 3D videos and images, after a session of 3D gaming, a nauseating effect was felt by some. While your mileage may vary, it's never wise to play any game too long at one go, 3D or not.
Depth control for its 3D games are a given, and we found ourselves pushing it back to 2D quite often to avoid nausea from prolonged 3D gaming.
The 3D Benchmark
Our usual synthetic benchmarks provide a rough estimate of where the Evo 3D stands against similar devices. With sufficient dual-core devices already in the market, we will focus on how the Evo 3D’s Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8660 dual-core 1.2GHz processor fares. One such comparison is made against the Optimus 3D, which opts to use a Texas Instrument OMAP4 dual-core 1GHz processor. To give a more rounded view of the dual-core situation, we’ve also included two such devices in the recent lineup, namely the Samsung Galaxy S II and HTC Sensation. These four Android smartphones are subjected to the following benchmarks:
- Quadrant: It measures the device's performance based on its CPU, I/O and GPU. Simply put, Quadrant is a benchmark that gives you a general idea of how your device performs against other Android devices.
- NeoCore: It is targeted towards the device's GPU performance. This is especially important given how smartphones of today have evolved into an alternative, high-powered device that dabbles in heavy graphical interfaces and gaming.
Both benchmarks are downloadable via the Android Market for you to compare your own set against our results, but do note that these results are not absolute in performance measurement. Should you wish to conduct your own benchmarks, do follow our lead and run it on a fresh reboot with the stock firmware.
We’ve provided our detailed analysis of the scores in our earlier Optimus 3D review, so don’t expect any major changes in the results. To recap, the Optimus 3D fares slightly better than the HTC option, with Quadrant scores being the most obvious differentiator. Considering how the Evo 3D has a higher RAM capacity at 1GB and a higher clock speed of 1.2GHz, one possible explanation would be HTC Sense 3.0 affecting the overall scores. The Evo 3D's GPU performance matches up with the compared models, though we do have our doubts on whether the benchmark caps the results at 60FPS.
If it’s raw power you’re looking for, based on these benchmarks, the Samsung Galaxy S II is the clear lead for the Android lineup. But this is only one of the few indicators to determine the Evo 3D’s overall performance. The use of HTC Sense might have slightly dampened the numbers, but that’s not a true indicator for its actual performance either. Beyond the smooth screen transition and speedy apps loading time, we were also satisfied with how the Evo 3D didn’t throw any tantrums when it was heavily loaded with apps. Word of caution: though the Evo 3D does come with 1GB of RAM, it would be prudent to end any apps that aren’t in use to enhance its performance.
3D Glasses Not Included (Nor Required)
Part of the Evo 3D’s job, is to deliver a decent multimedia experience on its 4.3-inch display. From the hardware perspective, the massive screen real estate is further complemented by a qHD resolution of 960 x 540 pixels, which is a smidge higher than most other devices running on an 800 x 480 WVGA resolution. Case in point: the Optimus 3D with its 4.3-inch screen and WVGA resolution translates to a pixel density of 216.97 pixels per inch. Though the Evo 3D does come with a larger 4.3-inch display, the higher resolution of 960 x 540 pixels results in a higher pixel density of 256.15 pixels per inch. The difference isn't substantial, but it does help with the overall clarity of the display.
And that also somewhat enhances the movie viewing experience. To state the obvious, we had a much easier time viewing movies on the generous 4.3-inch display. Admittedly, it isn’t what you'd expect from devices with AMOLED displays, but the colors are sufficiently well-balanced and rich. Audio-wise, we got quite a kick out of its SRS audio enhancement, which delivered a strong and punchy bass without drowning out the vocal clarity. This makes us wonder if HTC can do better with its upcoming Beats Audio devices such as the HTC Sensation XE.
Before we proceed with the verdict on its imaging performance, do remember that we are looking at a pair of stereoscopic cameras, with a maximum resolution of 5 megapixels. Should you opt to take 3D images, the resolution will be adjusted to 2 megapixels, which is decent for the 4.3-inch 3D display. Nonetheless, our focus is on the 2D imaging performance, so here’s our usual sample shots.
Even with its lower imaging resolution, the Evo 3D's camera did perform up to our expectations, with no odd color hues and sufficient details in the test charts.
The Evo 3D's 5-megapixel camera, like most other cameras out there, won't fare well under low lighting conditions.
While its 5-megapixel resolution won’t show up stronger than its competitors, it did perform up to our expectations from what we see on the test charts (approximately 800 on its vertical and horizontal LPH). The only thing we are concerned with is its perfromance under low lighting conditions. Delving deeper, the details between finer areas won’t report strong results, though the overall imaging quality is still decent for a tiny 5-megapixel smartphone camera sensor.
Our final performance test will pound the battery with the standard video test. Our testing methodology involves testing a video with a 480 x 800-pixel resolution looping under the following conditions:
- Screen brightness and volume at 100%
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections active
- Constant data stream via email and Twitter
The LG Optimus 3D, with its similar hardware and software options, will be compared with the Evo 3D. For a better reflection of its overall power management and battery mileage, we’ve also included similar dual-core Android devices such as the HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S II.
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The Evo 3D shares the same problem as the Optimus 3D, that being a significantly low battery mileage. With nearly identical specifications except for a higher battery capacity and a faster 1.2GHz clock speed on the Evo 3D, this gives the HTC device a slight edge over its LG counterpart. However, considering the fact that both devices are neck-to-neck when it comes to power consumption, we gather that the Evo 3D doesn’t exactly come off stronger in power management either.
With the low battery mileage and extra weight in mind, the portability index for the Evo 3D takes a dip, much like the Optimus 3D. While the 170g weight is still manageable, some might shun at the low numbers reported from the portability index. Charging the Evo 3D constantly should become a top priority, but should you forget, don’t worry. For the most part, the Evo 3D's battery is able to last a day. Compared to the Optimus 3D’s lackluster half-day usage, this is a vast improvement.
3D Smartphones: Practical or Fad?
3D capabilities on smartphones might sound like a gimmick, and we tend to agree with that. Nonetheless, in our evaluation of the HTC Evo 3D, we put its various features under consideration. With most phones making a dash to keep their profiles thinner and lighter, the Evo 3D presents a solid build quality. The hefty 170g weight and 12.05mm profile is a niche form factor that is favored by users who want a firmer feel out of their devices.
As expected for a top-of-the-line Android smartphone, the Evo 3D’s hardware configuration is impressive, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8660 dual-core 1.2GHz processor complemented by an Adreno 220 GPU. More importantly, the Evo 3D comes with 1GB of RAM to handle your daily multi-tasking. This is exemplified by the speedy experience we got out of HTC Sense 3.0, which ran seamlessly with Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
True to its 3D moniker, the Evo 3D comes with a few 3D tricks up its sleeves, such as the stereoscopic camera employed for 3D imaging. However, the resulting 3D images have its resolution downsized to 2-megapixels. In fact, we noticed that 3D imaging can be a tricky affair, with most images not turning out with an optimum amount of depth to display the 3D effect. Fortunately, 2D images (with a 5-megapixel resolution) performed decently well, making it a viable option for photography on-the-go.
The Evo 3D comes with three 3D games preloaded, and this is where users not accustomed to 3D gaming may experience dizziness. Spending an extended amount of time with the 3D games could get you into a spin. Fortunately, games such as The Sims 3, Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem and Need for Speed: Shift come with a depth control to either further enhance the 3D effect or push it back to the flatter 2D style.
3D content is displayed without the use of special 3D glasses, thanks to the lenticular array used in the 4.3-inch display that sports a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. Various sweet spots to view the 3D content in its entirety is possible, but there is a limit to its viewing angle. Finding that particular angle is the real challenge.
Though it comes with a 1730mAh battery, mileage per full charge based on the usual routine of data downloads, cellular functions and multimedia playback including 3D imaging is relatively low at nearly 18 hours. Compared to the earlier HTC Sensation, which utilizes the same display size and screen resolution with a slightly lower battery capacity at 1520mAH, the similar mileage shows a slight increase in power consumption.
So the real question is: do you really need 3D features from devices such as the HTC Evo 3D and the LG Optimus 3D? Perhaps not, but it doesn't hurt to pay just a bit more for that extra option.
Priced at $895, the HTC Evo 3D has the pricing advantage over its direct competitor, the LG Optimus 3D which is tagged at $938. While you get less games and lack the 2D to 3D conversion for images, videos and (in a future update) games that’s found on the LG option, additional features such as the 1GB RAM, a higher screen resolution and the intuitive HTC Sense 3.0 puts the ball back in HTC’s court. In short, if you’re looking for a phone that has a solid build quality and are not too nitpicky with its 3D capabilities, the reasonably priced HTC Evo 3D fits the bill.
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