IFA 2016: Lenovo Reveal First Handset With Support For Google AR

Lenovo is set to be the first across the finish line when it comes to support for Google’s augmented reality initiative, Project Tango.

The company announced their new phablet at IFA over the weekend, the Phab2 Pro. It touts a 6.4-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 and 4GBs of RAM. However, it’s the wide-angle camera that’s crucial here.

The Phab2 Pro features a depth sensing 3D camera. This addition sets the handset up to do far more than just overlay objects in 2D (a la Pokemon Go) but actually generate virtual objects in three-dimensions.

Google’s Project Tango was shown during their developer conference in May and promises to pull together a Google Cardboard-styled headset and depth sensors to create an augmented reality experience in line with what Microsoft is attempting to achieve with their Hololens. 

The idea is to strike a balance between the accessibility of something like Cardboard and the mobility of Hololens.

The Phab2 Pro is set to retail in the US for $US499.

No Australian pricing or availability has been confirmed yet.