[2] The Hydrogen One's signature features revolve around imaging, including a 3D display (called 4-View or 4V) that uses diffracted backlighting to create depth effects, dual front and rear cameras that can take pictures and film video in the device's proprietary 3D format as well as standard 3D SBS and 2D, and pin connectors that were meant to allow the device to be integrated into other planned products (such as a 3D 8K camera called RED Lithium that was to use the Hydrogen One as a viewfinder).

Developed by the Red-backed startup Leia, it uses nanostructures to diffract the display's backlight into a light field, creating a "holographic" depth effect.

4V content is currently proprietary to the Hydrogen One and can only be viewed through the supplied apps, but RED Player can also play back standard 3D formats which can also be uploaded to Holopix.

[4][5] CNET felt that the display's holographic effect was "oddly reminiscent of lenticular printed 3D baseball cards", and observed mixed reactions from colleagues who were shown demonstrations.

4V video was criticized for "[tending] to flicker in and out and have lots of strange artifacts", and being "dizzying anytime there’s too much motion and the layers of depth are constantly changing".

[4] In regards to its cameras, CNET described their image quality as being akin to "analog film", with 2D images showing realistic color reproduction (as opposed to the processed output of competitors such as Google Pixel 3 and iPhone XS) and detail, but that they struggled in low-light conditions, as well as medium-to-low-light video (a trait considered contradictory to Red's reputation as a professional video camera manufacturer).