Asus’ ZenFone AR first hit the scene at CES in January this year without a release date or price tag. The company has now gone ahead and revealed that it’s chosen Verizon to be the phone’s exclusive wireless provider.
Unfortunately, there still aren’t any details available about the ZenFone AR’s cost, though Asus did confirm that it was looking at a summer launch for the phone in the US. The handset is notably the first in the world to support both Google’s Tango AR and Daydream VR technologies.
To recall, the ZenFone AR was also supposed to be the first handset to contain 8GB of RAM. However, the press release announcing the Verizon partnership states that the handset will pack 6GB of RAM. The company’s US listing for the smartphone presents both as an option, so perhaps it’ll sell unlocked variants of the phone which boast of 8GB of RAM.
Also See: Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe Review
Tango AR and Daydream VR are still pretty niche when it comes to consumer awareness, especially the former. The ZenFone AR is an important step forward for the brand since it bundles both in one neat package. Its augmented reality credentials rely on a TriCam system that is composed of a motion tracking, depth sensing, and 23MP camera.
Together, the three allow the Asus device to perform activities like mapping its surroundings, perceiving how far away it is from something, and measuring a room. It also lets people project virtual objects onto their real-world surroundings like a piece of furniture or digital pet.
Specifications of the Asus ZenFone AR:
– OS: Android 7.0 Nougat-based ZenUI 3.0
– Display: 5.7-inch Super AMOLED, 2560 x 1440 pixels
– CPU: 2.35GHz quad-core Snapdragon 821
– GPU: Adreno 530
– Storage: 32GB/64GB/128GB/256GB, expandable up to 2TB
– RAM: 6GB/8GB
– Camera: 23MP rear, 8MP front
– Battery: 3200mAh
– Weight: 170g
– Size: 6.24 x 3.05 x 0.18-inch
– Connectivity: 4G, dual-SIM, Wi-Fiac, Bluetooth 4.2, USB Type-C, A-GPS, GLONASS, NFC
We’ll keep you posted as and when the Asus ZenFone AR is ready to hit stores.