We take a look at the specs, plus all the news and rumours, for the upcoming Amazon smartphone rocking a 3D display, and potential Amazon budget mobiles.
Amazon is set to release a couple of own-brand smartphones on June 18, an affordable model and a highly intriguing handset with a glasses-free 3D display. Here’s what to expect from Amazon’s 3D mobile, including rumoured specs, UK price and launch date.
Amazon 3D smartphone: Design and 3D effect
Amazon has kept schtum on the 3D smartphone so far, but plenty of details on the specs and design have already leaked. The Amazon 3D phone appears to run a heavily adapted version of Android, the same as Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets. It’ll give you fast access to all of your Amazon content (ebooks, movies, apps and so on), but much more interesting is the fully 3D interface.
We’ve already seen glasses-free 3D on smartphones, thanks to the iffy LG Optimus 3D, but Amazon’s baby is a bit more high-tech. Apparently there are six front-facing cameras surrounding the 4.7-inch screen, which track your eye movements to produce a flawless 3D effect. We’re intrigued to see if the 3D is supported by many of Amazon’s apps and movie content, and all should become clear on that June 18 launch.
Amazon may be keeping quiet on the 3D design, but the below ‘teaser’ video clearly shows people bobbing their heads like deranged budgerigars to enjoy the effect. The teaser is basically a minute’s worth of randoms saying ‘wow’ or ‘amazing’ or ‘that’s fantastic’ over and over (plus the obligatory “do I have to give this back?” of course), but if you’re desperate to hear gushing Americans, here it is for your viewing pleasure.
Amazon 3D smartphone: UK specs
A lot of the Amazon 3D phone’s specs have already trickled out online, so we know that it’s a 4.7-inch smartphone with a 1280×720 HD resolution. It’s a shame it won’t be a full 1080p display, as found on most other flagships, but images should still be pleasingly sharp as the screen is smaller than all the big rivals.
A quad-core Qualcomm processor and 2GB of RAM will hopefully keep the 3D screen and everything else running smoothly. There’s also talk of a 13-megapixel rear camera for taking snaps. We’re hoping there’s a decent-sized battery stashed inside the Amazon 3D phone, as those extra camera lenses will drain life a bit faster, but apparently they’re low-powered infra-red cameras, so hopefully the phone won’t need charging twice a day.
Amazon 3D smartphone: UK price and release date
Amazon is launching its 3D phone on June 18 in Seattle, and we’re expecting it to hit US stores in July. We’re really hoping it comes to the UK in a more timely fashion than the Kindle Fire tablets, which took months to make the trip over the Atlantic, but we can’t see it coming out here until Autumn at the earliest.
There’s been no indication on price so far, but we’d expect to see it retail for around £399 to £499.
What do you think of Amazon’s 3D baby? Intrigued? Not impressed? Let us know in the comments below.
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