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HP Pre 3 (CDMA) review

8/10 AVG.
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HP Pre 3 (CDMA)
HP Pre 3 (CDMA)
HP Pre 3 (CDMA)
HP Pre 3 (CDMA)
HP Pre 3 (CDMA)
HP Pre 3 (CDMA)
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8/10
Informr score
The HP Pre 3 (CDMA) currently has an Informr score of 8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 1 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The HP Pre 3 phone is the successor to the Palm Pre and Pre2. The phone is bulkier than its predecessors, measuring 64 x 16 x 111mm. This, however, means that it can accommodate a larger 3.6 inch touchscreen with an improved resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, making it ideal for viewing web pages. The HP Pre 3 has a tactile design with curved edges and a back cover ensuring it is comfortable to hold. The slide-out keypad benefits from the relatively large size of the HP Pre 3 with well spaced rubberized keys, making typing easier than on similar but smaller phones.

The HP Pre 3 has an improved processor speed compared to the Pre2, which users will find significantly increases download speeds. The wireless connection is also improved, compared to the earlier Pre2 phones. There is 512MB of RAM and a choice of either 8 or 16GB of internal storage depending on how much the user needs. Other notable features include a 5 megapixel camera with an autofocus lens capable of shooting great quality 720p video and a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front of the phone for making video calls. A nice added feature of the HP Pre 3, not found on all phones, is a noise suppression microphone.

HP tablet owners will like the Pre 3's on-board Touchstone technology, allowing anything being viewed on the phone to easily be transferred to an HP TouchPad tablet. Users just need to place the phone on top of the TouchPad tablet for data to be transferred either to or from their phone.

One potentially significant issue with the Pre 3 the operating system, HP's webOS. Although it is a very capable OS with excellent multitasking capabilities, webOS is falling behind in cutting-edge app availability when compared to Android or Apple's iOS. Battery life is also less than ideal, which may mean users have to frequently look for places to recharge the phone.

The HP Pre 3 will undoubtedly appeal to users who need a phone that allows fast internet browsing combined with a user-friendly keyboard in a smart stylish design.

Need to know: HP Pre 3

1. The design and layout of the keyboard make this phone user-friendly for those who do a lot of typing. (The Good)

2. Integration of the Touchstone technology makes data transfer between the HP Pre 3 and a TouchPad tablet straightforward, although, of course, users will need to have both pieces of technology in order to be able to benefit. (The Good)

3. Potential issues with a short battery life may become irritating especially for heavy users. (The Bad)

4. The 512MB RAM and 8GB internal storage are likely to seem quite outdated very soon. (The Bad)


HP WebOS
Operating system
Operating system
HP WebOS
1.4 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.4 GHz
3.58"
Screen Size
Screen Size
3.58"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
1230 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Pocket-lint
Pocket-lint

There's no point pretending that the HP Pre 3 is a contender in the smartphone arena. Apple and Google have that sewn up with worth contributors in the form of BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7. What the Pre 3, and WebOS can offer is one of the simplest, most beautifully designed user interfaces, a nic...

- Ian Morris, Pocket-lint


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the HP Pre 3 (CDMA) user manual here.


HP backs up the Pre 3 (CDMA) with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Pre 3 (CDMA) has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact HP support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find HP's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Screen Size
3.58"

The HP Pre 3 (CDMA)'s screen size is 3.58 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.4 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM 8x55 1.4 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
5+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 5+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera useful for video chat and self portraits.

Storage
8/16 GB

Internal memory is 8/16 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
1230mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1230 mAh battery.

Pre 3 (CDMA) Specs

Overview
Release Date June 24, 2011
Regions Available USA
Operating System No

Compare HP WebOS Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM 8x55 1.4 GHz
Internal Storage 8/16 GB
RAM 512 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.54 W/kg
Body: 1.4 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
EV-DO Rev. A
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
No
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 2.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus
Video Recording Formats
3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
VGA
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density Unknown
Size 3.58 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch No
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features -
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1230 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Slider
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 11.1 x 6.4 x 1.6 cm (4.4 x 2.5 x 0.6 in)
Weight 156 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers No
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type QWERTY, Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, IM
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voicemail Key: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact:
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
Brew Applications: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, AAC+, AAC, AMR, WAV
Video Playback Formats: 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Wi-fi Encryption: WPA/WPA2
Viewable document types: DOC, DOCX, PDF, PPT, PPTX, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Weather, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
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