So we have gotten a lot of speculative emails regarding the RED Hydrogen phone teaser announcement.  There are no real specs listed, only pricing which for Aluminum  $1195 and Titanium $1595 USD is no bargain.  It will be an Android phone with a revolutionary Holographic display capable of doing 2D-3D and holographic multiview which will be a mixture of the two.

The phone will also be a possible monitoring device for RED camera owners which will be able to control the cameras from the device.  If you are a RED owner it makes sense to have this as your phone and we expect most RED camera owners to own the device or pre-order. After all the phone will be the same cost as a breakout module for the RED camera which costs up to 70k ready to shoot in the highest spec configurations.

RED Hydrogen Frame Rates?

While no detailed information is presented we expect the phone to have a really good camera sensor and processing pipeline. What does that mean for slow motion? Well, we expect it will at least match the iPhone 7 and or Google Pixel at 240fps 720p and 120fps 1080p.

Knowing RED however we expect the phone to be able to trounce other phones by possibly recording video in a REDCODE RAW codec that is dumbed down but still plenty useful. After all RED invented the modern compressed RAW video revolution. If the phone is capable of recording in RAW mode even while compressed it will eclipse the output of all other smartphones when it comes to production worthy footage.

The biggest clue comes from this snippet on the press release:

“The HYDROGEN SYSTEM incorporates a new high-speed data bus to enable a comprehensive and ever-expanding modular component system, which will include future attachments for shooting higher quality motion and still images as well as HYDROGEN format holographic images.”

So it will have probably dual cameras to be able to do 3D video separation. The higher data bus which will allow for recording attachments means that the phone will be able to output RAW data for recording media and will be unencumbered by the phone’s limitations. This, of course, will mean a higher cost for your pocket which as RED users know is a common occurrence. Even some RED interface cables cost upwards of $200 USD. See the funny video below of a RED Weapon 8k camera being unboxed by Linus Tech Tips:

This Camera Costs HOW MUCH?! – 8K RED Weapon Unboxing, HOLY $H!T Ep. 17 by Linus Tech Tips:

We also expect higher frame rates to be possible in 4k with the Phone, maybe even 120fps at 4k with possible RAW output to a secondary module. All is up in the air but the modularity promised by the phone could do for phones what the original RED Camera did for professional-quality cinema capture for digital producers.   It pushed an entire industry forward to get us DSLRs, cameras like the Sony F5 and F7 and basically improve the way video is recorded around the globe with aesthetic qualities that up until recently were only in the realm of big TV and Hollywood productions.

So in the end what the RED Hydrogen could do is to push high end smartphone makers to offer increased features, modularity and capture higher quality footage among other things. We are all for RED pushing them forward and make them sweat a little.

RED love it or hate it continues to push the envelope with 8k recording and now a modular smartphone that could one day be your B camera.  What is not to love?

We will follow the Hydrogen information closely to see if slow motion is in the cards for the device slated to ship in January 2018, cross your fingers. -HSC

RED Hydrogen Phone PDF Info:

• The HYDROGEN ONE is a standalone, full-featured, unlocked multi-band smartphone operating on Android OS that just happens to add a few additional features that shatter the mold of conventional thinking.
• GLASSES OBSOLETE Wearable displays not spoken here. It is no longer necessary to carry (or charge) another device to enjoy multi-dimen­sional content. Experience “look around depth” in the palm of your hand, no glasses or headsets in sight.

5.7″ PROFESSIONAL HYDROGEN HOLOGRAPHIC DISPLAY

This incredible retina-riveting display advancement features nanotechnology that seamlessly switches traditional 2D content, holographic multi-viev,1 content, 3D content, and interactive games … both landscape and portrait modes sup­ported.

• View all traditional 2D content normally at full-screen resolution• View all traditional 2D content normally at

• View all traditional 2D content normally at full-screen resolution• View holographic RED Hydrogen 4-View content (H4V)• View stereo 3D content• View 2D/3D VR, AR and MR

• View holographic RED Hydrogen 4-View content (H4V)• View stereo 3D content• View 2D/3D VR, AR and MR

• View stereo 3D content• View 2D/3D VR, AR and MR

-ASSAULT YOUR SENSES
Embedded in the OS is a proprietary H30 algorithm that converts stereo sound into expansive multi-dimensional audio. Think 5.1 on your headphones. The perfect match for holographic H4V or just listening to your favorite tunes. The differ­
ence this makes would be enough to justify the entire system.
-MODULARITY
HYDROGEN ONE is the foundation of a future multi-dimensional media system. The HYDROGEN SYSTEM incorporates a new high-speed data bus to enable a comprehensive and ever-expanding modular component system, which will include future attachments for shooting higher quality motion and still images as well as HYDROGEN format holographic images.
-COMMAND CENTRAL
The HYDROGEN ONE will not only be the control center for the HYDROGEN system, it will also integrate into the profes­sional RED camera program, working together with Scarlet, EPIC and Weapon as a user interface and monitor.
-RED CHANNEL
One channel to find all 4-View holographic content. Create .h4v (or convert 3D to .h4v) content and upload. Download or stream to view. Movies, documentaries, games, shopping and other apps all found with one click.
PRICE. $1195 Aluminum. $1595 Titanium.
Orders placed today will ship from my own personal first production batch. I can also assure you that after this initial release we will NOT be able to fill all orders on time due to display production limitations. We will NOT guarantee these prices at the time of release. Taxes and shipping not included in the price.
WHAT DO YOU GET?
The HYDROGEN ONE Media Machine with a USB-C cable and charger, an expandable Micro SD card slot plus a “special small token” for ordering early. All other accessories available at launch will be available at an additional price. Additional modules will NOT be immediately available at the time of this first production launch.
WHEN DO YOU GET IT?
The HYDROGEN ONE is targeted to ship 01 2018.