Asus’ ZenFone AR pushes the boundaries of reality

By Chong Jinn Xiung July 5, 2017

First smartphone to be Tango-enabled and Daydream-ready
Holds powerful processor and massive battery

Asus’ ZenFone AR pushes the boundaries of reality

SOMETIMES the mundaneness of everyday life drives us to seek new experiences and explore worlds beyond our own. Asus recently launched its new ZenFone AR smartphone in Malaysia and is inviting users to go beyond reality.

The ZenFone AR holds the distinction of being the first smartphone in the world to be compatible with both Google’s Daydream virtual reality (VR) platform and Tango augmented reality (AR) technology.

The handset was first unveiled during the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas and looks to quench the thirst of consumers demanding for VR and AR without having to sacrifice one for the other.

Featuring a generously large and brilliant 5.7-inch Super Amoled QHD (2,560 x 1,440 resolution) display, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, it has a 79% screen-to-body ratio that Asus says is ideal for immersing yourself in VR worlds.

To deliver its jaw-dropping VR and AR experiences the ZenFone AR leverages on its TriCam system that consists of three rear cameras to enable it to create a 3D model of its surroundings and track motion at the same time.

It has a 23-Megapixel main rear camera that is outfitted with a Sony IMX 318 sensor that comes with optical and electronic image stabilisation for steadying photos and videos respectively. In addition, the ZenFone AR supports up to 4K video recording.

The two other cameras consist of a motion tracker, that tracks the ZenFone AR’s location as it moves through space and a depth-sensing camera, complete with an infrared projector to measure its distance from real world objects.

It also has an 8-Megapixel front camera for making video calls and snapping the occasional selfie.

Asus’ ZenFone AR pushes the boundaries of reality

The ZenFone AR’s bag of AR tricks enables it to act as a versatile tool with very practical applications. With it, users would be able to take room measurements without ever having to whip out a measuring tape and even place virtual furniture in the room to see how that new sofa and dining table match the rest of your home.

Users can also have some fun with the ZenFone’s AR games after a hard day’s work.

With ultra-smooth graphics and high-fidelity sensors that precisely track the movement of your head, the ZenFone AR with Daydream is set to immerse users in immersive VR experiences and games.

Coming down to its specifications, you get an Android N powered Snapdragon 821 processor on the inside as well as 8GB of RAM, which Asus says is the world’s first, and a massive 128GB of internal storage. It even has a microSD card slot that supports cards up to 2TB in size.

To top it all of it carries a massive 3,300mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0 to help it get back up on its feet in a jiffy.

Asus said the ZenFone AR is set to be available in Malaysia soon with a retail price of US$884 (RM3,799).

Check out the video of the ZenFone AR below: