All things 3D have been building popularity dramatically in recent years, ever since a certain director made a certain film starring giant smurfs in glorious 3D. Handheld games consoles featuring the all-important third dimension and 3D TVs have been flying off the shelves, so it was only a matter of time before smartphones got in on the act.
Currently the LG Optimus 3D, which hailed itself as the world’s first glasses-free 3D smartphone, is not just the first but the only 3D smartphone on the market in the UK. HTC intend to challenge this privileged position, though, with the release of the HTC Evo 3D. We put the two head to head earlier today to see which came out on top, but until the Evo 3D is released the argument is academic. So when will we be able to get our hands on HTC’s 3D smartphone? We did some asking around, and this is what we found…
| CONTRACTS: | Availability | Quotes Received from Reps: |
|---|---|---|
 |
This month – July 2011 | “Releasing this month. Not sure about when it will be shipped out.” “We have HTC sensation exclusively…so this could very well be exclusive as well” |
 |
N/A | “Keep an eye on the 02 coming soon page for more info in the future, as it will be there first if and when we have it.” |
 |
N/A | “No internal communications on when the handset will be available” |
 |
N/A | “Don’t think it’s coming. However it’s not 100% guaranteed” |
 |
N/A | “Due to testing and pricing agreements, we’re unable to give timings for the launch of new phones.” |
As you can see from the table, currently only Vodafone are boasting that they’ll be bringing the HTC Evo 3D to their network. A representative of Vodafone confirmed to us that the Evo 3D would be “releasing this month” on their network. However, the representative would not positively confirm whether or not the Evo 3D would be exclusive to Vodafone. Frustratingly, the other networks we contacted were equally unspecific – with no network outright denying that they would eventually get the handset and no network outright confirming it. This leaves us with two likely possibilities: Firstly, that the Evo 3D will be entirely exclusive to Vodafone, and secondly that the Evo 3D will be exclusive to Vodafone for a limited period and then available on other networks at a later date (perhaps a month later, as with the HTC Sensation).
| SIM FREE: | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|
 |
£499.49 | “Due in the next 3 weeks” |
 |
£499.99 | 2nd September |
 |
£514.98 | “Early September” |
 |
£521.99 | “End of Quarter 3 this year”
(September) |
 |
£524.95 | N/A |
 |
£526.99 | “Late August, early September” |
 |
£534.00 | “Expected late August” |
 |
£569.99 | 12th September |
 |
N/A | N/A |
 |
N/A | N/A |
A wide range of retailers are offering the Evo 3D SIM free and though specific dates vary a little, the general trend is that the handset is expected to be available from the end of August or beginning of September. Currently quoted prices range from £499.49 to £569.99. It’s worth noting that the trend of release dates falling at the end of August or beginning of September would tend to support the theory that Vodafone will have a time-limited exclusivity on this phone. Vodafone stated that they’d be releasing the Evo 3D this month. Supposing that the phone is released on Vodafone towards the end of July, then a release elsewhere at the end of August would suggest a month-long exclusivity on Vodafone – just like the HTC Sensation.
That’s all the details we have for the moment, but rest assured that we’ll keep pestering and let you know as soon as we hear more.
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