Enter another dimension with HTC’s Evo 3D

HTC’s Evo 3D is one of the very few mobile phones that can shoot in 3D, also features other top-notch innards.

But while the Optimus feels big and gigantic in your palm, the Evo 3D is a better fit. The front portion harks back to the Incredible S with the same rubber coating around the edges and at the back. The phone's 4.3-inch screen sports a higher resolution than LG's at 540x960, which makes visuals appear sharper and clearer. The Evo also sports a physical shutter button for the camera and a slider to toggle between 2D and 3D modes. Overall, we prefer the Evo 3D's styling compared to the Optimus3D.

Powerful processor
Qualcomm's dual-core processor running at 1.2GHz powers the phone, and the Evo also sports the latest version of the Android operating system (v2.3.4). The visual interface, à la HTC Sense 3.0, is swift and fluid and thus makes navigation effortless. HTC has also included a ton of personalisation options from skins, and scenes to different types of lock screens.

As for 3D technology, we found HTC's implementation slightly better than LG's. For starters, the 3D effect is a lot more forgiving to your eyes; and while it still has a narrow sweet spot, the effect seems better. Once you take a picture in 3D, you also get the option of converting it to 2D.

The worrying part is that HTC doesn't give you any usable internal memory. The built-in 1GB can't be configured as 'Mass Storage' when you connect it to a computer. So a micro SD card is necessary if you want to load photos and videos on it.

In terms of specs, the Evo 3D is a quad-band phone with full 3G connectivity. Apart from Wi-Fi 'n', there's Bluetooth 3.0 as well. However, the lack of NFC and USB on-the-go functionality is disappointing.

Games bundled
HTC bundles along some extras as well like a media server, which lets you stream content from your phone to any other player that supports DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance). There's a reader application that lets you buy books from the Kobo bookstore, and some classics are bundled along too. The Evo also comes with a bunch of games like Teeter and 3D versions of The Sims 3, Spiderman and Need For Speed: Shift.

Battery Life
HTC has packed in a bigger battery — 1,730mAh compared to 1,500mAh on the LG, which significantly reflects during day-to-day usage. We managed 5:40 hours of continuous video playback, which is very good. Basically, expect the device to last well over a day per charge.

Photos and videos
If you're shooting in 3D, the 5-megapixel camera will only let you take photos at 2MP, which is rather low. Features exclusive to 2D include image adjustments, ISO, resolution, aspect ratio, auto-enhance and face detection. Touch-to-focus is thankfully present in both modes. Pictures turn out quite sharp and clear in a variety of lighting conditions; however, the image quality isn't that impressive in 3D. Video recording is a bit of a disappointment too as you're locked down to 720p (1280x720) in both modes. Nevertheless, videos are smooth with very little jitter.

What we like
* High resolution screen
* Physical shutter button
* Great looks and build

What we don't
* 1GB internal memory is worthless
* No 1080p recording
* 3D range is narrow

Verdict
The whole idea of a flagship phone is that it's supposed to define the absolute best a company has to offer. HTC seemed to be the right track with this phone, but they've somehow lost their way. The 1GB of internal storage is next to useless, and next problem is the lack of video 1080p recording in 2D mode. At R 35,000, the Evo 3D is beautifully crafted, well built and good looking.

But we feel you won't get your money's worth with it.
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Rating: ***