The first Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) smartphone is now available online in the United States in two unlocked configurations.
The ASUS ZenFone AR supports both Tango AR and Daydream VR technologies developed by Google, giving users new ways to engage with and be entertained by their smartphones. In the United States, two unlocked versions of the ZenFone AR will be available; a 6GB RAM configuration with 64GB storage, and a second with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.
The ZenFone AR is equipped with 8GB of RAM and includes the Snapdragon 8211 Mobile Platform. ASUS worked with Qualcomm Technologies engineers and Google to distribute computer vision workloads, as well as rapidly process movement and positioning instructions by Tango that is known as six degrees of freedom, or "6DoF" (forward-backward / up-down / left-right / roll / pitch / yaw).
The desktop-class Qualcomm Adreno 530 graphics processing unit (GPU) is designed to deliver supercharged graphics performance, allowing the ZenFone AR to handle the graphics demands of Tango and Daydream with ease. Complementing the rich AR & VR experiences offered by ZenFone AR is a new audio system that supports Hi-Res Audio and DTS virtual surround sound. External audio also gets a boost with the ZenFone AR's new ultra-loud 5-magnet speaker.
Tango, an augmented reality (AR) platform that uses qualified devices to detect their users' positions relative to places and objects around them without using GPS or other external signals, allows application developers to create AR user experiences that include indoor navigation, 3D mapping, and environmental recognition, among other augmented reality applications. To date, there are already over 35 apps on Google Play that are Tango compatible.
Today, Wayfair's AR application, WayfairView has been updated and integrated into its mobile shopping app for the ASUS ZenFone AR. The Wayfair app makes it possible for consumers to see virtual furniture and decor in their homes at full scale before they buy.
To qualify as a Tango-enabled smartphone, ZenFone AR features a set of sensors and "computer vision" software that gives it the ability to interpret images, videos, space and motion like humans. Tango adds three new abilities to ZenFone AR: motion tracking, depth perception and area learning. Through these capabilities, ZenFone AR can detect how far it is away from a floor, wall or an object and understand where it is moving in three-dimensional space.
For VR, the 5.7-inch, WQHD (1440 x 2560) resolution display (Super AMOLED) of ZenFone AR makes it ideal for VR applications when used as a VR display mounted in the Daydream View headset. The Daydream hardware also comes with a controller that is used for VR games and apps.
The ZenFone AR is also an accomplished camera smartphone, and contains the ASUS PixelMaster 3.0 camera system that includes the world's highest resolution Sony IMX318 sensor and TriTech Autofocus system. Other key camera features include: 4-axis OIS photo and 3 axis EIS video stabilization, Super Resolution, Low Light, and a variety of optimized presets modes, as well as manual creative controls to provide photographers advanced control of the ZenFone AR's camera to suit any need. Lastly, high resolution 4K video recording allows for ultra-detailed videos.
In the United States two unlocked configurations will be available at online retailers, starting today:
6GB RAM and 64GB storage for MSRP $599.
8GB RAM and 128GB storage for MSRP $699.