Google Confirms Summer Asus ZenFone AR Release

Google confirmed during its I/O 2017 conference the Asus ZenFone AR will arrive this summer. The upcoming Asus Android handset will be the first smartphone to feature Google’s Tango AR and Daydream VR platforms.

Google didn’t give out an exact release date for the ZenFone AR, only saying on its blog that it will be released during the summer. The last time the handset was shown off was in January during CES 2017, and at the time, it was running Android 7.0 Nougat. Since Android O already been announced, there’s a small chance the handset will run the latest Android OS straight out of the box, Android Authority reported.

The Asus ZenFone AR is a pretty big deal considering it will be supporting both Google’s AR and VR platforms. We’ve already seen Tango’s augmented reality capabilities with the Lenovo Phab2 Pro, the first handset to support the platform.

The Tango platform allowed users to see projected imagery on real life objects thanks to the Phab2 Pro’s array of sensors and special camera. Tango also lets users map a room and even measure objects. The Asus ZenFone AR is expected to function similarly since it’s equipped with a 23-megapixel camera, a motion-tracking camera and a depth-sensing camera. It also houses a 8MP front-facing camera.

The ZenFone AR comes with 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 (QHD). It’s smaller than the gargantuan 6.4-inch IPS LCD display on the Phab2 Pro, making it easier to grip. The use of an AMOLED panel also makes it possible for the ZenFone AR to deliver the best possible Google Daydream VR experience.

Google’s Daydream virtual reality platform is very important for the company since it is now being used in classrooms for virtual field trips. The company recently announced more than 2 million students have already taken virtual field trips using its Cardboard VR headset. Google also said it plans to bring AR lessons to schools later this fall with the launch of Expeditions AR.

As for the rest of the specs of the ZenFone AR, the handset will arrive with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 processor with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of expandable storage. The device will also have a 3,300mAh battery that comes with quick charging support and a USB Type-C port, GizBot reported.

The Asus ZenFone AR features a vapor cooling system which prevents the handset from overheating when using Tango and Daydream. The device also is expected to run the Zen UI 3.0, Asus’s own custom Android skin.

There’s no announcement yet regarding the ZenFone AR’s price, but the unlocked version of the Lenovo Phab2 Pro arrived in the U.S. with a $499 price tag.

In other augmented reality news, Google also announced the Visual Positioning Service (VPS) technology for Tango. VPS functions very much like GPS, but for indoor environments. “While GPS is great for getting you to the storefront, with VPS your device can direct you right to the item you’re looking for once inside,” Google said.

VPS already is being used by some of Google’s partner museums and select Lowe’s stores. The company says VPS may soon help visually impaired people.