Sometime back we had reported that Asus is working on the next Google Tango-powered smartphone, but till now there weren’t many details available about the upcoming device. Now with the latest revelations, it is confirmed that we are going to see the Asus Zenfone AR during CES 2017, all thanks to Qualcomm. The chip maker accidentally revealed that Asus will launch the second Google Tango-powered smartphone on January 4th.
Qualcomm in a blog post which a publishing date of January 4, as spotted by GSM Arena, revealed that the device will be the first to support both Tango and Daydream technology. The company also said that the upcoming smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, the same Chipset which powers Google Pixel and Asus Zenfone 3.
“The ZenFone AR with Snapdragon 821 is built for VR with high-resolution display, ultra-smooth graphics and high-fidelity Sensors for precise head tracking,” Qualcomm’s blog post reads. “Snapdragon 821 provides the cutting-edge visual, audio and interactive technologies required to deliver a truly immersive mobile VR experience for leading Android smartphones.”
The release does not provide any details about the specs and pricing of the device, but with a better processor built-in will presumably give a better experience as compared to the Phab 2 Pro.
In order news, famous tipster Evan Blass, also known as @evleaks, has shared a press render of the Asus Zenfone AR, further giving a concrete evidence that the device will be officially announced on January 4th. The leaked images showcase the front and back of the device in full glory. The front showcases a home button at the base, while at the top there is speaker grille coupled with Asus logo sitting right beneath it. On the right, there are volume rocker and power on/off buttons. At the back, there are dual cameras with array of sensors which is ideal for a Google Tango-powered device.
For those who are not aware, Tango (formerly named Project Tango in-testing) is a technology platform developed and authored by Google that uses computer vision to enable mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to detect their position relative to the world around them without using GPS or other external signals.
On the other hand, Daydream (https://www.themobileindian.com/news/20259_Google-Daydream-View-VR-Headset-to-be-available-from-November-10) is Google’s take on the high quality mobile VR experience. Although it is only limited to Google Pixel and Pixel XL as of now, but other big brands like HTC, LG, Xiaomi and Huawei will also soon launch Daydream-compatible smartphones. With Daydream View, you can watch movies, TV shows, and even play VR games. It supports apps like YouTube, Street View, Play Movies and Google Photos and game like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.