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Amazon’s Fire Phone isn’t just the e-tailer’s first attempt at cracking the rock-hard smartphone market, it’s also the first we’ve seen or heard of 3D on a mobile device in a very long time.
While
, Amazon’s holographic interfaces shy away from the sins of the past — namely photography and limited gaming — in these 3D products that never quite caught on. Let’s hope that its 3D gaming pans out better than that of the four listed below.
HTC Evo 3D
Pictured above, the HTC Evo 3D was released in the US in mid-2011, and featured dual 5-megapixel cameras on the back for capturing 3D photos and 720p HD video. Its stereoscopic screen meant that you could play select games in 3D without the need for special glasses.
The theme with all these 3D devices, however, is that photo quality was never quite as satisfying, 3D gameplay didn’t blow us away, and general, there just wasn’t a compelling enough use for 3D media.
Sarah Tew/CNET
LG Optimus 3D
Known as the LG Thrill 4G in the US and the LG Optimus 3D in the rest of the world, this phone, also released in the summer of 2011, mirrored HTC’s. Like the Evo 3D, the Optimus 3D packed in a 5-megapixel camera duo capable of capturing 720p 3D video, and a glasses-free 3D display fit for gaming and viewing other 3D content.
Josh Miller/CNET
LG Optimus Pad
Along with its 3D phone, LG also doubled-up on rear cameras and 3D content on a larger device, 2011’s LG Optimus Pad (aka T-Mobile G-Slate in the US.) Its 8.9-inch screen and 4G support were bright sides, but the tablet’s poor 3D implementation and quick battery drain left us cold.
Josh Miller/CNET
LG Optimus 3D Max
With its 4.3-inch display and dual-core processor, the LG Optimus 3D Max was a decent Android handset for 2012. Its 3D convenience key, for pulling up apps like YouTube 3D and a handful of gaming titles, was a good idea. Unfortunately, its 3D apps were buggy and bogged down the phone’s performance in general.
We’ll see what Amazon has in store for its foray into 3D, if anything. At the very least, we know that the company is planning to make a splash with a new device. Join us during our live blog on Wednesday, June 18 at 10:30am PT/6:30pm UK.
