Ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the chip maker Qualcomm unintentionally revealed Asus's latest smartphone. The phone, called ZenFone AR, will reportedly have the Google Tango, a platform that allows mobile devices to detect their environment and support augmented reality applications.
Qualcomm posted about the new Asus ZenFone AR smartphone on its blog, an article that was apparently meant for release during CES 2017. The post by Asus's hardware partner has been taken down but several sites like GSM Arena managed to take a screen capture of it.
According to the captured part of the entry, the Tango-enabled Asus ZenFone AR will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821 processor. Qualcomm described the ZenFone AR as the world's first mobile device to be both Tango-enabled and ready for Daydream View, Google's virtual reality headset.
According to GSM Arena, Qualcomm's blog post also said users of the ZenFone AR plus Google Daydream View will be able to use VR apps like Google Street View, Fantastic Beasts, YouTube, Netflix, and HBO. Games like LEGO BrickHeadz, Need for Speed, and Gunjack 2 will also be available.
The Asus ZenFone AR will be the second Tango-enabled phone after the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. With Daydream View support, however, it offers so much more, particularly in VR gaming.
A press render of the Asus ZenFone AR smartphone has also been revealed. Technology leaker Evan Blass (@evleaks) tweeted a photo of the upcoming smartphone, which looks like the ZenFone 3, except that it has a home button and the Asus logo beneath the earpiece. The back of the phone has the phone's dual cameras and sensors.
ASUS ZenFone AR (2nd Google Tango phone) pic.twitter.com/ctKQ9IKfeC
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) January 2, 2017
It is not yet known how much the Asus ZenFone AR will cost, according to Digital Trends. More details are expected at CES 2017, where other Asus smartphones will also be unveiled. Asus has earlier announced a new Zenfone with the world's best processor, which tech enthusiasts assume to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.
Want to know how Google Tango works? Here's a video about the first phone to have it, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro.
