Google Tango-enabled Asus Zenfone AR accidently leaked by Qualcomm

By Christian de Looper January 2, 2017

asus zenfone ar news 3 ultra game 970x647 c

Qualcomm let slip some information about an upcoming Asus smartphone — and a very interesting one at that. The company seems to have accidentally published a blog post containing information about an “Asus Zenfone AR,” which is only the second consumer-facing Google Tango-enabled smartphone. So why do we think that the blog post is a leak? Well, it’s dated January 4, it is about a phone to be unveiled at CES and has since been taken down — but not before publications like GSMArena saw it.

Another interesting fact about the device is that it will be the first Tango-enabled phone that also supports Google’s Daydream View headset — making it a perfect device for those interested in augmented and virtual reality.

Recommended Videos

The device will also make use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821. While that is 2016’s flagship and we’re now turning to chips like the Snapdragon 835, the Snapdragon 821 is still a very powerful processor and can handle a lot more than the only other Tango-enabled phone on the market, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro.

Following the Qualcomm leak, Evan Blass, also known on Twitter as @evleaks, posted renders of what he says is the Asus Zenfone AR.

ASUS ZenFone AR (2nd Google Tango phone) pic.twitter.com/ctKQ9IKfeC

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) January 2, 2017

There is no word on pricing or availability for the phone just yet, but more information should be announced when the phone is presumably launched at CES on Wednesday.

The Zenfone AR isn’t the only Zenfone we expect to see at CES 2017. Asus has also tweeted about a new Zenfone that will feature the “world’s best processor,” which we assume to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. While no other details about the new device have surfaced just yet, like the Zenfone AR, more will be announced shortly.

Topics

Christian de Looper

Contributor

Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…

Mobile

Google chooses Samsung over Qualcomm to make the Pixel 6 5G modem

Google Pixel 6 colors.

Google has reportedly chosen Samsung over Qualcomm to build the 5G modem for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The story broke early on Wednesday via Stephen Nellis and Paresh Dave of Reuters, who cited "sources familiar with the matter."

This is good news for Samsung, but bad news for Qualcomm, which created both the processors and modems that were used in earlier models of the Pixel smartphone. While Qualcomm will continue to supply chips for the Pixel 5a, Google's next-generation smartphones will instead run off Google's Tensor chipset, which is built in-house, and Samsung's 5G modem.

Mobile

A new Google Pixel 5a leak just showed off its beefy battery

An alleged render of the Pixel 5a 5G.

Just ahead of its expected August launch, Google's Pixel 5a has provided yet another leak, this one focused on its components. This new report comes from sources in repair stores, as shared by Android Police on Sunday. In photos showing off the upcoming Pixel 5a, the report confirms some of the previous Pixel leaks, including the battery size and overall design.

As expected, the Pixel 5a 5G will look quite similar to the Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5. The headphone jack makes a return as a stalwart of the Pixel A-Series line, though the power button appears to be ribbed, unlike on previous Pixels.

Mobile

New spec leak adds to growing Google Pixel 6 rumors

We've already had a leak showing what could be the Google Pixel 6. Now, some detailed specs for the phone, plus hints of an even longer software support schedule than existing models, have emerged. The latest leak includes details about the screen size, cameras, and branding for two Pixel phones expected to make their debut this year, as reported by Frontpage Tech's Jon Prosser, a regular device leaker.

The Pixel 6 is rumored to ship with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display and a dual rear camera setup made up of a 50-megapixel wide camera paired with a 12MP ultrawide lens. The front is expected to have an 8MP camera, and all this is to be powered by a 4614mAh battery, 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB and 256GB of storage.