Despite technological advances and manufacturers’ efforts, 3D never managed to become a real commercial success. But is it a death? ZTE wants to believe in 3D with this new tablet that promises to revolutionize the market with a 3D screen without glasses.
ZTE Nubia Pad 3D // Source: ZTE
A new tablet promises to revolutionize the market with a 3D screen without glasses. This is the ZTE Nubia Pad 3D, born from the collaboration between ZTE and Leia, a company specialized in 3D technologies. Available internationally as the ZTE Nubia Pad 3D, it is marketed as the Leia Lume Pad 2 in the United States due to US government restrictions on ZTE.
ZTE Nubia Pad 3D // Source: ZTE
The tablet is equipped with a 12.4-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 2560 × 1600 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This screen uses Leia technology to create the 3D effect associated with motion tracking front camera. So the device makes it possible, like a Nintendo 3DS, to send slightly different images to each eye. The effective resolution will likely be halved in 3D mode, as we saw on an Asus PC at CES 2023.
3D offers an impressive visual experience, but encounters certain difficulties
True, similar technologies have already been used on different screens, such as the Nintendo 3DS but also the Sharp Aquos Phone or the LG Optimus 3D. 3D without glasses will have taken 10 years to come back, it requires a lot of technology and a lot of processing power, not to mention high-resolution screens, low latency and high refresh rates.
We had the chance to come across a comparable tablet at CES 2023. It was amazing. 3D technology without glasses is a truly immersive visual experience that makes you even more immersed. This technology manages to create an illusion of depth and relief without the need to wear glasses.
For this ZTE tablet, the data sheet seems to date two years ago, with a 2021 Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB or 256 GB of storage, a 9070 mAh battery that is compatible with the 33W fast charge is compatible, and Android 12L operating system. The tablet also features a microSD slot, a USB-C port, four speakers, and a pogo pin connector for charging support. It’s light years away from the LG Optimus Pad (2011, after all).
ZTE Nubia Pad 3D // Source: ZTE
The big question concerns the availability of 3D content for display on the tablet. Users have several options: create their own content using the stereoscopic front (8 megapixels) and rear cameras (16 megapixels) or resort to real-time conversion of 2D videos to 3D, although this can be problematic. A 3D viewing option is also available, however both participants will need a Leia tablet. There are some compatible videos too, mostly movies like we saw at CES.
Leia offers a full ecosystem of 3D apps through its Leia Appstore, including 3D games and developer tools for Unity, Unreal, Android SDK, Maya, Blender, and WebGL. Finally, the Leia Flix application offers 3D movies from the Disney and Warner Bros catalogs. Leia Viewer allows you to create 3D models.
ZTE Nubia Pad 3D // Source: ZTE
In addition to this content problem, this tablet will have a second major obstacle: its price. The ZTE Nubia Pad 3D is available for pre-order internationally for €1,299, while the Leia Lume Pad 2 costs $1,099 in the US.
We want to believe
We want to believe it, but 3D isn’t convincing yet. Since its appearance more than a decade ago (and even longer), this technology has been the subject of many attempts to implement it in various fields, including cinema, video games and television. However, despite technological advances and manufacturers’ efforts, 3D never managed to become a real commercial success. The reasons for this failure are manifold: high costs, visual problems, lack of suitable content or even the obligation to wear special glasses to use the three-dimensional effect.
Today, with ZTE and Leia’s 3D tablet launching, one can’t help but wonder if this will be the right time. Both companies are banking on dodging eyewear with light field technology and an ecosystem of dedicated apps to appeal to consumers. But is that enough to reignite interest in 3D and finally make it an enduring commercial success? Only the future will tell us. Despite the promises of a three-dimensional viewing experience, it’s legitimate to remain skeptical about the future of this product.
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