HTC EVO 3D vs. LG Thrill 4G: Battle of the 3D Smartphones

I got to take a closer look at the LG Thrill 4G at the 3D Entertainment Summit in NYC today, which will be released on AT&T later this summer. I also brought an HTC EVO 3D along to compare the two side-by-side to see which phone delivers a better 3D experience.

The Thrill 4G has a glasses-free 3D screen, just like HTC's EVO 3D for Sprint. But that's pretty much where the similarities end. The EVO 3D's 4.3-inch screen has a higher 960-by-540 resolution than the Thrill 4G's 800-by-480 4.3-inch screen. This resulted in 3D video quality that was noticeably sharper on the EVO 3D than on the Thrill 4G. On the other hand, I found that my eyes were able to adjust to and focus on 3D video and images much faster on the Thrill 4G than on the EVO 3D, which could take upwards of 10 seconds. The Thrill also had a slightly wider viewing angle.

There's a 3D user interface option on the Thrill, which pulls up a rotating carousel of icons—great for the user looking for a truly immersive 3D experience. You can jump from the 3D carousel to 3D games, YouTube 3D (filled with user-generated 3D videos), images, or videos. 3D games include Asphalt 6, Let's Golf 2, and N.O.V.A., along with access to the Gameloft 3D store. 3D movies are available from mSpot. The EVO 3D's interface, on the other hand, is all in 2D.

So while the EVO 3D may look a bit sharper, if you're really looking to go all-in on the 3D experience, right now it looks like the Thrill 4G will probably give you more three-dimensional bang for your buck.

In addition to its 3D features, the LG Thrill will be powered by a 1-GHz dual-core, dual-channel RAM processor. It will feature HDMI mirroring, allowing you to display the contents of the phone on a TV using an HDMI cable. There are two 5-megapixel stereoscopic cameras on the back of the phone for 3D image and video capture, which allow for up to 720p video in 3D and 1080p video in 2D. It will run Android 2.2 and be compatible with AT&T's HSPA+ "4G" network.

The Thrill will appear on AT&T this summer, though dates and pricing have not yet been announced. Check back with PCMag for a full review and an in-depth 3D phone comparison when the Thrill has been released.

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Alex Colon

Executive Editor, Reviews

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I’m PCMag’s executive editor of reviews, steering our coverage to make sure we're testing the products you're interested in buying and telling you whether they're worth it. I've been here for more than 10 years. I previously managed the consumer electronics reviews team, and before that, I covered mobile, smart home, and wearable technology for PCMag and Gigaom.

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I’ve written hundreds of reviews of cell phones, fitness trackers, robot vacuums, smartwatches, and various other products.
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The Technology I Use

I’m writing this bio on my 24-inch blue iMac, which I initially bought for personal use, but quickly decided to use for work instead of my tiny, company-issued ThinkPad (sorry, IT team). The screen is big, bright, and sharp, and the speakers are surprisingly good considering how thin the machine is.

The other big screen in my life is a 65-inch LG C9 OLED TV. If you’re wondering whether OLED is worth the premium over LCD, I’m here to tell you that it is.

I’d be doing my beloved LG C9 a disservice if I didn’t have it hooked up to a capable sound system, so I have a Sonos Beam sitting on a media console underneath the TV, and two Sonos Ones set up as rear channels for surround sound. If you’re a Sonos user, I highly recommend adding the Sonos Sub to your setup. It’s definitely a little more expensive than it should be, but it's truly money well spent.

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With 15 years of experience in tech, Alex guides PCMag's product testing to help you decide what's worth buying and how to get the most out of it.

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