Google is taking augmented reality to consumers when its first Tango phone, the Lenovo Phab2 Pro, hits the stores in November.
Tango is a technology platform designed for creating devices that detect motion and depth, giving smartphones the ability to "scan" a physical space. The November release will coincide with Google Pixel phones' launch as well.
According to CNET, the release date was confirmed by Google VR head Clay Bavor. The Phab2 Pro will sport a 6.4-inch QHD display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560, Google's 3D camera, a Snapdragon 652, 4GB of RAM, 4050mAh battery with 2.4 x turbo charging, Dolby Atmos speakers, and a fingerprint sensor.
The 3D camera is actually a set of three cameras at the back of the device, which will be used for motion tracking, depth perception and area learning. This will allow the Phab2 Pro user to take 3D maps of an area, play augmented reality games and plan furniture placement. As far as pricing, it will reportedly cost $499 for an unlocked unit.
While the Phab2 Pro supports augmented reality, it will not be compatible with the Daydream VR headset, which was released by Google for its Pixel phones and is also set for a November release. The device lacks the AMOLED panel needed for the headset to work.
This limitation might be temporary and there might be one device that supports both augmented and virtual reality. Bavor said that "in the future you won't have to make a choice, but that's a bit further out."
The Phab2 Pro was announced during the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2016 in January and was originally scheduled for a September release, but was delayed to arrive later in the year.
Lenovo said that 25 apps designed for augmented reality will be available out of the box, with 100 more expected to come by the end of the year. The Phab2 Pro will be available for sale in Lenovo stores, Best Buy and Lowes.
