~ Auto Buzz ~: Lenovo’s PHAB2 family of devices includes the first Tango-enabled smartphone

Today at Lenovo Tech World in San Francisco, Lenovo announced its new PHAB2 family of devices. This family includes the PHAB2, PHAB2 Plus and the highlight of them all, the PHAB 2 Pro, which is the world’s first smartphone to be powered by Google’s Tango technology. Let’s take a look at these new devices and see what the excitement is all about.

PHAB2 Pro

As the first consumer smartphone to feature Tango capabilities, the PHAB2 Pro is quite special in its own right. The device features an array of sensors and cameras to enable the hardware side of Tango. Combined with Google’s software and a Tango-optimized octa-core Snapdragon 652 processor, the device is able to make over 250,000 measurements per second. The core features of Tango are motion tracking, depth perception and area learning, which come together to allow the technology to understand its environment and use it for augmented reality purposes.

Lenovo has outlined the potential uses for this technology, ranging from gaming to education to home improvement. The company also took time to highlight Lowe’s Vision, Lowe’s new home improvement feature that’s designed to utilize Tango technology. Lowe’s Vision allows customers to use their Tango-enabled device to measure spaces and explore how different changes would appear in the room. This tech has been attempted before, but the environmental understanding that Tango provides opens up a new level of depth for companies to utilize.

Aside from its Tango capabilities, the PHAB2 Pro features specs that are akin to other flagship smartphones. These include a massive 6.4-inch QHD display, Tango-optimized octa-core Snapdragon 652 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage plus a microSD card slot, 16-megapixel rear camera with 4K video recording, 8-megapixel front-facing camera, 4050mAh battery with fast charging capabilities and Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The device also has three microphones and spatial audio capture to enable Dolby Audio Capture 5.1, allowing customers to capture the moments of their life with 5.1 surround sound.

The PHAB2 Pro will be priced at $499 and will be available globally at the beginning of September. In the US, it will be sold online, at Best Buy and at select Lowe’s stores. Two color options of Champagne Gold and Gunmetal Gray will be offered.

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PHAB2 Plus

The PHAB2 Plus is all about the camera and is packed with dual 13-megapixel rear cameras that feature instant laser focus, f/2.0 apertures and a Fujitsu Milbeaut image processor that’s notably used to power certain Leica cameras. Software-wise, Lenovo notes that the PHAB2 Plus will feature full manual controls, allowing enthusiasts to capture the perfect shot.

Other specs include a 6.4-inch 1080p display, octa-core MediaTek processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage plus a microSD card slot, 8-megapixel front-facing camera, 4050mAh battery and Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

The PHAB2 Plus will be priced at $299 and will be available globally at the beginning of September. Two color options of Champagne Gold and Gunmetal Gray will be offered.

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PHAB2

The PHAB2 is the base model of the bunch. Lenovo has outfitted the device with a 6.4-inch 720p display, quad-core MediaTek processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage plus a microSD card slot, 13-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 4050mAh battery and Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Software-wise, the PHAB2 features basic augmented reality features that are mostly used for adding effects or characters to images.

The PHAB2 will be priced at $199 and will be available globally at the beginning of September. Two color options of Champagne Gold and Gunmetal Gray will be offered.

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Lenovo has been making a larger push into smartphones in recent times. The company acquired Motorola, leveraging the brand to expand into countries where Lenovo isn’t known for its smartphones. Not long ago, company executives said that Lenovo would be expanding globally with smartphones under its own brand. The PHAB2 family could be the beginning of that expansion. Whether or not it will be successful remains to be seen, as Tango may prove to be a niche feature rather than a mass market attraction.

What are your thoughts on Tango technology?