# HP Pre 3

> Early smartphone made by HP

**Wikidata**: [Q5635727](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5635727)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Pre_3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hp-pre-3

## Summary  
The HP Pre 3 was an early smartphone developed by Hewlett-Packard, released in 2011 as part of the webOS platform lineup. It succeeded the Palm Pre 2 and featured a touchscreen interface with advanced multitasking capabilities. Despite its innovative features, it had limited commercial success and was discontinued shortly after release.

## Key Facts  
- Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard  
- Instance of: Smartphone model  
- Follows: Palm Pre 2  
- Discontinued: August 18, 2011  
- Operating system: webOS  
- Website: [HP Pre 3 product page](http://www.palm.com/us/products/phones/pre3/index.html) (archived)  
- Freebase ID: /m/0gfd_97  
- GSM Arena IDs: 3770, 4105  
- Aliases: HP Pre ٣, إتش بي بري ٣  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the HP Pre 3?  
A: The HP Pre 3 is a smartphone released by Hewlett-Packard in 2011. It ran on the webOS platform and featured a touchscreen display with gesture-based navigation and true multitasking support.

### Q: When was the HP Pre 3 released and discontinued?  
A: The HP Pre 3 was released in mid-2011 and officially discontinued on August 18, 2011, marking one of the shortest lifespans for a flagship device at that time.

### Q: How does the HP Pre 3 relate to other smartphones like the Palm Pre 2?  
A: The HP Pre 3 succeeded the Palm Pre 2, continuing HP's line of webOS-powered devices following their acquisition of Palm Inc. in 2010.

## Why It Matters  
The HP Pre 3 represents a pivotal but brief moment in mobile computing history when Hewlett-Packard attempted to establish itself in the competitive smartphone market through the webOS platform originally created by Palm. Although it arrived late to the market and lacked wide carrier support, the Pre 3 showcased several forward-thinking UI concepts such as card-based multitasking and seamless cloud integration. Its premature discontinuation signaled the end of HP’s direct involvement in consumer smartphones, making it a notable artifact of corporate strategy shifts during the early 2010s tech landscape.

## Notable For  
- Being among the last phones to run Palm's webOS operating system under HP ownership  
- Introducing enhanced multitasking via virtual “cards” representing active applications  
- Having one of the shortest commercial lifecycles of any major-brand smartphone  
- Featuring a full QWERTY keyboard alongside a capacitive touchscreen  
- Representing HP’s final attempt at entering the smartphone hardware market  

## Body  

### Development and Release  
The HP Pre 3 was developed as part of Hewlett-Packard's effort to expand upon the legacy of Palm's webOS platform, which HP acquired in 2010. It followed the Palm Pre 2 and was intended to serve as a high-end model within HP’s short-lived smartphone portfolio.  

Despite strong reviews for its user interface and design, the device saw very limited availability due to shifting strategic priorities within HP.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Operating System**: webOS (likely version 2.x)  
- **Display**: Touchscreen interface with gesture controls  
- **Keyboard**: Full slide-out QWERTY physical keyboard  
- **Multitasking**: Card-based application switching system  

### Market Performance and Discontinuation  
Launched without broad global carrier partnerships, the HP Pre 3 struggled commercially. On August 18, 2011—less than a year after HP entered the smartphone space—the company announced plans to discontinue all webOS devices, effectively ending the life of the Pre 3.  

This decision marked the conclusion of HP’s smartphone ambitions and left many users and developers questioning the future of the promising webOS ecosystem.  

### Legacy  
Though short-lived, the HP Pre 3 remains historically significant as the last flagship model in HP’s smartphone catalog. Its intuitive interface influenced later mobile OS designs, and its early adoption of multitasking principles can be seen echoed in modern platforms today.

## References

1. Quora