Asus's first Tango-capable phone might launch on June 14. We're of course referring to the forthcoming Asus ZenFone AR, a Daydream-ready smartphone that boasts Google Tango, a type of augmented reality technology which according to Asus "changes the way you interact with the world and expands your vision."
ZenFone AR Reportedly Launching June 14
ZenFone AR was announced back in January during CES. Reports late last month suggested that the phone will launch in Taiwan mid-June, with a U.S. release shortly thereafter.
Now, a media invitation that has just surfaced seems to confirm such reports, suggesting that the smartphone's release is just around the corner. What's more, during its launch event, Asus will even mention two variants, one with 8 GB of RAM and another with 6. The 6 GB RAM variant is presumably the one headed stateside.
The ZenFone AR will reportedly launch in the United States on July, with Verizon carrying the Tango-capable flagship.
The ZenFone AR is expected to be a marquee release for both Asus and Google, especially after Tango apps on the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro failed to impress. Reports say the ZenFone AR will run Tango apps more smoothly.
ZenFone AR Specs
The ZenFone AR packs in a 64-bit 2.35 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chip, which is optimized for Tango.
On the back, it boasts Tango's tri-camera setup, which includes a 23-megapixel Sony IMX318 sensor, a motion-tracking camera, and a depth-sensing camera. This setup allows the phone to detect its position in a three-dimensional space. On the front is an 8-megapixel selfie snapper that can 1080p videos.
The phone sports a 5.7-inch WQHD Super AMOLED display with a 79 percent screen-to-body ratio. Under the hood is either 6 or 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage that's expandable up to 2 TB.
Powering everything up is a non-removable 3,300 mAh battery which boasts BoostMaster Fast Charging technology, lending the phone 60 percent battery capacity in just 39 minutes. The phone also supports PowerDelivery 2.0 and Quick Charge 3.0. The phone ships with Android 7.0 baked in, on top of Asus ZenUI 3.0.
Project Tango
For those unfamiliar with Tango, here's a bit of a refresher: Tango is, simply, Google's attempt to make smartphone see as humans see. That means Google wants devices to get spatial awareness abilities, letting them understand the surrounding environment and the user's relation to it. Through this, the phone is able to provide innovative and advanced augmented reality features.
Tango uses area learning, motion tracking, and depth perception to "see" the environment. But what good does that bring? Well, developers are just starting to make apps for Tango, although several have been released. Still, the possibilities, as you can imagine, are endless. Tango can be useful in certain situations, such as measuring an area, recording dimensions, and more. Also, because it's AR by nature, it can potentially provide unique gameplay experiences, as well.
You can learn more about Tango on Google's website.
Launching the ZenFone AR is a way for both Asus and Google to push Tango into a more commercial space. Hopefully, the public cozies up to the ZenFone AR better than they did with the underwhelming Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. Time will tell.
Thoughts about Project Tango or Asus ZenFone AR? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
