Red raised many an eyebrow last month when it announced the Hydrogen , a $1,200 ‘holographic’ phone for filmmakers. Sticker shock aside, there were so few concrete details (and many lofty claims) that some thought it might be a vaporware concept. But now we have proof it’s a serious endeavor.
MKBHD , probably the most prominent tech YouTuber, got his hands on early prototypes of the phone. Yeah, that’s prototype s plural, with each one showing off some of the different features that are supposed to make their way to the final device.
It really weird by 2017 standards, and I kind of dig it. Though the video doesn’t show the phone turned on it does reveal a few more details about it’s design. It’s made of a combination of metal and kevlar, with notched grips on the side. It’s a pretty chunky phone, with a 5.7-inch display and average bezels, but still seems pocketable.
There’s a headphone jack, stereo speakers (the bezels aren’t going to waste) and a module that adds a lens mount(!). Unfortunately, one of the most exciting features – the holographic display – is blurred out. Not like you’d be able to show that over the web anyway.
I’ve got to say, I’ve gone from skeptical to intrigued; it’s nice to see a phone that’s so radically different from the crowd, even if it does command such a price tag. Check out the hands-on below and judge for yourself: