Lenovo's Project Tango device leaks hours before Tech World 2016 official unveiling

Some may be surprised to hear that Project Tango is still a “thing” as news has been scarce – to say the least – since the developer devices first went on sale to the public some years back. In fact, the first smartphone prototype was unveiled back in 2014. And yet. Lenovo is clearly interested in the venture, and just days ago word broke that the Chinese OEM’s first formal foray into the field would be called the Lenovo PHAB2 Pro.

As of the time of writing there is roughly less than 24 hours to go before the device is unveiled at Tech World 2016, however Steve Hemmerstoffer (@onleaks) from nowhereelse.fr has procured a proper pair of photos picturing the product to be produced. Here is the more prudent of the two, sourced from a Chinese blog:

The device is said to pack a massive 6.4-inch display, and will clearly make use of capacative buttons judging by the above press render, and not on-screen keys as Google is so fond of. The back also clearly shows the Project Tango branding as well as Lenovo’s logo. Near the top and bottom can be found two antenna bands, which are becoming increasingly common to C these days.

Here is the second picture, showing a zoomed-in shot of the rear camera modules:

Of worthwhile mention here are (1) three different cameras – to be used in the advanced spatial recognition, mapping, and depth sensing functionality of Project Tango, (2) an aluminum frame, and (3) a middle-mounted rear fingerprint reader.

And here, for reference, is @onleaks Tweet that tells the tale about the tip-off:

Given the distinctive design of the device, it is clear that Lenovo has a decidedly different desire for this product, as it looks worlds apart from what its problematic child, Motorola, is going to be launching at tomorrow’s event:

Night moves

Some may be confused as to just what this product is, and why it’s such a potentially big deal for Android and professional business users. For those in need of a quick summary of Project Tango and its ideal initiative, Android Authority’s own Nirave Gondhia has described it as follows:

Project Tango uses an array of sensors and cameras to allow users to map their immediate space in real time and aims to deliver the first consumer-friendly augmented reality experience on a mobile phone. Previous demos by Google have shown off use case scenarios such as mapping the measurements of a room and this can be really useful for both consumers who are renovating or remodelling and professionals – such as interior designers and architects – who are envisioning what a home could look like.

The previous incarnation of the hardware looked something like this:

Given the high end hardware needed to run Project Tango, it’s likely that, if the PHAB2 Pro name sticks, it will be of a substantially different nature than the low/mid range PHAB Plus that launched last year. In fact, just for starters this device is said to have a QHD display, though it’s also supposed to retail for under $500.

Wrap Up

With Lenovo’s tech event scheduled for tomorrow, it’s just a matter of time before official details on this product, along with a host of others – namely those made by Motorola – will be unveiled to the public. What do you think? Are you excited about what’s in store? Leave a comment or two below!