During the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Snail Games USA, a subsidiary of Suzhou Snail Digital Technology Co. Ltd., showcased Snail Mobile W3D, an Android smartphone that doubles as a handheld gaming console. It provides the basic phone features, such as calling and messaging, and features all the basic applications found in an average Android phone. The Snail phones introduced during E3 were all running Android 4.4 Kitkat. This is Snail Games' second gaming hardware announcement after the Obox, an Android gaming console that was born with the company's partnership with Nvidia.
Snail's new handheld gaming console/smartphone was introduced as a 3D capable device. The pre-installed software list will include Snail's own play store, which will feature all of the 3D games that were developed, specifically, for W3D. A Snail Games representative highlighted the said 3D capabilities and 3D games, during an interview presentation with Solbash Gaming. The 3D function is possible through an IR sensor and a front camera, which scans the user's face and tracks the head and eye orientation. This enables the 3D display to adapt and allow viewing angles of up to 70 degrees.
W3D runs on a 2.2Ghz Mediatek MT6595 octa-core processor, which is complemented by the 2GB RAM that allows for decent multitasking possibilities. The screen is 5.5 inches and runs on a native 1920x1080 resolution that is powered by 600MHz PowerVR GPU. The rest of the lengthy phone is taken up by the two analog joysticks located at each side, a D-pad on the left, mappable hotkeys on the right and four bumpers - 2 for each side - on top. Everything, including the joysticks are mappable and hence, every button function can be customized.
The main camera is 13 megapixels while the front one is 5MP. W3D also provides decent game time by allowing six hours of 3D gaming. This is possible through a 4200mAh battery that is packed with the phone/console. It will come with a 16GB on-board storage and is expandable through an external MicroSD slot. 4G connectivity will also be offered.
Snail Games' W3D is available to be preordered through Amazon for $400. The first batch is set to roll out on September 29.
