Sprint’s HTC EVO 3D hands-on!

Sprint just announced the HTC EVO 3D, its latest 4G WiMAX smartphone with a 3D-spin, and we had some time to sit down to check out the device first-hand. In one word: Amazing. The EVO 3D’s 4.3-inch 3D display is incredible to look at while displaying 3D images and video. It reminds us of looking at a holographic trading card. We watched some user-submitted 3D YouTube videos on the phone, and a few jesters dancing around really popped off of the display. Similarly, the flowers in a bouquet that one woman was holding in an image seemed to jump off the screen — we actually reached out to touch them at one point! There’s a ton to discuss here, so hit the jump for more impressions on the EVO 3D, and don’t forget to check out our hands-on photo gallery.

If you’re a spec junkie, we’ll get a few things out of the way first. The EVO 3D is powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and the thing flies. HTC’s Sense homescreen works like a carousel on the EVO 3D, so you can flip through different customized homescreens quickly. We shot our finger across the screen and the carousel took off spinning without any sign of sluggishness. The back of the EVO 3D has a nice divoted texture to it that adds to its premium feel. It’s a little bulky, but not too bad considering how much HTC packed into the device, and Sprint told us HTC removed the kickstand found on the original EVO to keep the device more pocketable. While connected to Sprint’s 4G WiMAX network, we were able to load the BGR.com homepage pretty quickly, too.

The EVO 3D is capable of recording 3D video in 720p, or 2D video in 1080p. The coolest part about snapping photos or video in 3D is that you actually see the images popping off the screen as you look through the viewfinder. To make things even easier, HTC added a dedicated metal camera button and there’s a sturdy metal switch for toggling between 2D and 3D shooting modes. In the images, you’ll notice that the HDMI-out port is missing. Sprint told us that the microUSB port will also provide HDMI-out functionality, so it sounds like the device will need (and hopefully come with) an HDMI connector accessory. Sprint hasn’t provided any details on pricing or a launch date for the EVO 3D, but one representative confirmed it will land sometime this summer. From what we’ve seen so far, we can’t wait to spend more time with the EVO 3D.