We’ve tested the first Android tablet to include a glasses-free 3D display.

When the we saw at the ZTE booth during MWC 2023we think the nubia pad 3D model it was little more than a conceptual device. A prototype that would hardly see the light of day, as it is too risky a proposal and aimed at a particularly small potential audience. But again, ZTE has managed to surprise us.

A few months later from that moment, the Nubia Pad 3D is already on saleand anyone can get this android tablet whose main virtue resides in the use of a 12.4 inch screen able to reproduce 3D content without the need for glasses thanks to a technology developed between ZTE and the firm LEIA (which, by the way, offers a tablet identical to the Nubia Pad 3D to the US public, under the name of Lume Pad 3D).

Now that the Nubia Pad 3D is already a real product that anyone who wants to (and has at least 1300 euros to spare) can buy, we have had the opportunity to test this device thoroughly. In this analysis, we tell you everything you need to know about him.

Nubia Pad 3D price and where to buy it

The Nubia Pad 3D is available in Spain at a price of 1299 euros in its version of 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB of storage, and of 1399 euro in the case of the model with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.

Can buy through the official store of the brand In our country.

Spec Sheet

Design

The body of the tablet is made of aluminum, with a matte finish that is very pleasant to the touch / Image: Christian Collado

Leaving aside for the moment the screen section, which is undoubtedly the main character of this product, it is necessary to dwell on its design. At first glance, it doesn’t seem very different from other tablets: it has a chassis unibody anodized aluminum with a dark gray finish, straight edges on the sides and a completely flat back. The physical buttons, also made of aluminium, are located on one of the sides of the tablet, and their camera module protrudes slightly from the rear.

What is truly striking is His weight. The Nubia Pad 3D reaches 780 gramsthus exceeding the weight of even larger models, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra or the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. This overweight is due, above all, to repertoire of components that the tablet hides inside and that are in charge of giving life to the 3D system without glasses, including a double backlit panel.

Above all, the Nubia Pad 3D feels like a robust and well built tablet. Aluminum gives it a look premium and elegant, according to the range to which this product belongs.

Screen

The margins that surround the screen are somewhat wider than what we usually see, but it has its explanation / Image: Christian Collado

Occupying an area of 12.54 inches diagonally, the Nubia Pad 3D screen It is the main aspect of this tablet. At first glance, it looks like a normal screen, with Full HD + resolution and a refresh rate of 120 hertz that offers a good viewing experience, with realistic colors, a sufficient level of brightness and good viewing angles. But when you look closely, you can quickly see that the screen hides something else.

The peculiar matrix of pixels used by the panel reveals the existence of the system Dynamic Light Field Display or DLBa technology whose development began more than a decade ago, and which consists of the combination of multi-layer LCD panels to shape a screen capable of generate 3D projections visible without having to wear glasses.

This technology not only allows the Nubia Pad 3D to reproduce three-dimensional content through the projection of two images simultaneously. It also adds the option of switch screen display between 2D and 3D instantlysomething similar to what was already seen a few years ago with the Failed RED Hydrogen One.

At the front, we find two cameras used to track facial movements. It is also used for the facial unlocking system / Image: Christian Collado

And the truth is that the results are more than convincing. ZTE combines this technology with a face tracking system based on the double front camera of the tablet, to thus generate a custom 3D effect depending on the position of the user’s face. This makes the experience is especially well achieved.

The display of 3D elements on the screen of this tablet is a hard experience to describe in words. The objects actually seem go out of screen limits and have its own volume, and it is necessary to highlight, above all, the pleasant experience that is obtained by play optimized games for this screen, as is the case of the “Dungeon” demo available on the Leia AppStore for free. The effect is best appreciated when the tablet is stationary and there is enough light for the cameras to capture the position of the face.

Accompanying the display is a excellent four speaker system supported by the Dolby Atmos system, capable of provide a sound experience superior to that of the vast majority of tablets that have passed through our testing table. Playing games, watching videos or simply listening to music on the Nubia Pad 3D is a magnificent experience.

hardware and performance

The Snapdragon 888 processor is still capable of running some heavy games / Image: Christian Collado

An old acquaintance is in charge of giving life to this technical marvel, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888a high-end chip from several generations ago, which to this day it continues to offer solvent performanceon a par with some of today’s best mid-range chips.

Associated with 8 or 12 GB of RAM, the processor is capable of provide a fast and smooth experience in virtually all situations, whether it’s performing everyday tasks or taking advantage of your 3D-enabled multimedia system.

Perhaps the main drawback in this regard is seen in the software. And it is that the Nubia Pad 3D equips Android 12La version of the operating system released two years ago, which although it has some improvements aimed at improving the experience on large-format devices, such as does not reach the level of refinement that we would find in Android 13. We trust that the update ends up arriving sooner or later.

The customization layer that it includes is quite light and with an aesthetic very much in line with what we could find in a tablet with “pure” Android. Nevertheless, ZTE incorporates several of the Leia applications already pre-installedfrom which to take advantage of the 3D screen.

The rear camera system allows capturing 3D images / Image: Christian Collado

Among them, we must highlight apps like Leia App Storethat allows you to download applications and games prepared to work with the tablet screen; read camerato take photos with 3D effect; Leia’s Viewera 3D object viewer; either LeiaTubefrom where you can play video content with 3D effect.

In general, it is a software that works well and that offers more than enough functions to squeeze the 3D screen of the device. Of course: we are left with the doubt of how will it evolve the LEIA content ecosystem, and if in the future we will see New applications from third-party developers prepared for the consumption of 3D content.

All of the above is backed by a 9070 mAh capacity batterymore than enough to get a very correct autonomy… as long as the display of 3D content is not abused.

Regarding the charging system, the Nubia Pad 3D supports up to 33W power using the USB-PD protocol. However, the charger is not included in the box with the device.

Conclusion

It is clear that the Nubia Pad 3D is not a product for all audiences. Your 3D screen aside, this is a large, heavy, powerful tablet with good autonomywhich also offers software clean (although somewhat outdated).

But it is the 3D screen that makes the difference and makes the Nubia Pad 3D a unique device, for better or for worse. The ability to create and view 3D content it’s a claim that won’t appeal to many. And even to those who do, they will probably find it difficult to justify such an outlay for an almost experimental product.

We speak, therefore, of a product aimed at enthusiasts and people who can truly benefit from creating 3D content.