HTC Evo 3D thrusting three-dimensionally into shops in July

Sick of staring into your boring two-dimensional phone screen? Fear not, flatness haters -- the HTC Evo 3D will be arriving in good old Blighty in July.

A launch date next month puts the HTC Evo 3D head to head against the similarly depth-tastic LG Optimus 3D, which will be available around the same time.

Both handsets run on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and both use dual-core processors -- the Evo 3D packs a 1.2GHz chip, edging out the Optimus' 1GHz, though we think that difference will barely be noticeable in normal use.

They both have dual cameras, enabling them to capture 3D pictures and 3D movies. Both models can capture 3D video in 720p, but the Optimus can also record 2D 1080p video.

Auto-stereoscopic screens on both handsets allow you to see the 3D effect without those ridiculous glasses. It's the same system we've seen on the Nintendo 3DS, with frankly hit and miss results.

It's going to be a tough showdown between the two models -- the winner will undoubtedly be decided by which has the more elegant integration of the 3D technology. For many, the 3D experience is still very much a gimmick -- and one that should be confined to special cinemas showing Pixar movies. These people are unlikely to take to a phone that makes constant use of 3D screens.

Other people simply can't see 3D in the way it is designed to be seen, so they would probably be better off looking into the solidy 2D powerhouses of the smart-phone world -- the iPhone 4, the Samsung Galaxy S2 or the HTC Sensation.

There's no word on which networks will be offering the Evo 3D or indeed for how much, but we expect it to be around the same price as the Optimus 3D, which can be yours for free on a £30 per month contract on Orange.

For more info on the HTC Evo 3D check out our full preview here, and keep your eyes peeled for a full review soon.

Update: Vodafone is the first network to say it will stock the HTC Evo 3D -- it's "coming soon".