Asus have officially unveiled their new Google Tango and Daydream VR certified phone at a press conference at CES 2017 in Las Vegas and the new device packs some impressive hardware inside it’s sleek exterior. Here’s the specs in full.

As per leaked details which made their way on to the web yesterday, Asus has now officially unveiled their Google Tango and Daydream VR certified smartphone to the world, all at a special press conference at CES in Las Vegas and it’s an attractive package. Here are the specs announced thus far.

Asus ZenFone AR Specs:

  • OS: Android 7 (Nougat)
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Screen: 5.7″ 1440 x 2560 AMOLED
  • Cameras: Asus ‘TriCam’ Comprising 3 Rear Sensors.
    • Primary Camera 23mp ‘Sony IMX318’ Image sensor.
  • Processing: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC with Adreno 530 GPU

Asus claims the ZenFone AR is the first to ship with a hefty 8GB of RAM. Along with that, the company talked up those Google Tango credentials, as the phone ships with 3 onboard image sensors, a primary RGB 23MP affair as well as 2 additional depth sensing devices. This array of course provides the necessary data for Google’s Tango computer vision augmented reality to map real environments with spatial information, captured such that the scanned data can be realised and manipulated instantly inside the phone or pulled out to use in other applications. Augmented reality applications can leverage the TriCam array for SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) inside out tracking which allows the device to gauge its movement through 3D space, allowing augmented imagery to be overlaid convincingly on to a real-world environment. That’s the theory at least.

SEE ALSO
Quest 3S Hands-on: Quest 2 Visuals with Quest 3 Power at an Unbeatable Price

zenphone-ar-large-front-backFinally, the ZenFone AR joins the exclusive Daydream VR certified club, offering a nice alternative to Google’s Pixel phone series. ZenFone AR’s screen is 5.7 inches, larger than the Pixel XL’s with the same resolution, 1440p. Thanks to that Daydream certification though, it’ll work just fine inside Google’s ‘View’ VR headset, launched alongside the Pixel last year.

Up until now Google’s Tango has been an awkward curio, originally relegated to bulky unattractive phones and tablets. The Asus ZenFone AR, now offers both Tango and Daydream functionality in an attractive, every-day package hopefully giving both initiatives a boost with potential mainstream audiences.

There’s no launch date or price yet set for the Asus ZenFone AR.

Newsletter graphic

This article may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product we may receive a small commission which helps support the publication. More information.


Based in the UK, Paul has been immersed in interactive entertainment for the best part of 27 years and has followed advances in gaming with a passionate fervour. His obsession with graphical fidelity over the years has had him branded a ‘graphics whore’ (which he views as the highest compliment) more than once and he holds a particular candle for the dream of the ultimate immersive gaming experience. Having followed and been disappointed by the original VR explosion of the 90s, he then founded RiftVR.com to follow the new and exciting prospect of the rebirth of VR in products like the Oculus Rift. Paul joined forces with Ben to help build the new Road to VR in preparation for what he sees as VR’s coming of age over the next few years.
  • PrymeFactor

    Where are the ‘impressive specs’? This will launch with the last gen CPU/GPU.

  • Foreign Devil

    8GB RAM? damn these phones have as much RAM as my new Surface laptop.

  • OgreTactics

    So one more…I guess I’m still waiting for a Galaxy S8 miracle although I somehow doubt they’ll even integrate Tango. GearVR was a HUGE incentive to the Galaxy S7/Note, I and lot of friends finally switched to Android JUST for that VR capability. Hope they continue taking advantage of this edge and push further towards full Virtual capabilities.

  • DiGiCT Ltd

    Intresting Phone, cant wait to get some more details about it.
    Been waiting for a more up to date tango device for a while already to develop on.

  • “Asus ‘ZenFone AR’ Google Tango, Daydream VR Phone Launched,”

    …says it all, really!