ARCore is Google's augmented reality platform used by developers to create AR experiences for iOS and Android users.
ARCore has three main features that help you layer virtual content over real-life images coming from your smartphone's cameras. These features include motion tracking, which allows devices to find out where they are in relation to the real world.
With the understanding of the environment, the smartphone can determine the size and location of all types of surfaces, including the ground, walls and even objects within the room. And with light estimation, the phone can estimate the current ambient lighting conditions.
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When a device passes Google's certification process, it is considered an ARCore compatible device. Google says this is important because it gives users of each compatible device a consistent AR experience regardless of which device is being used, as long as that smartphone is an ARCore-compatible device.
ARCore compatible smartphones
To qualify as such, a phone must run Android 7.0 Nougat and later or iOS 11 and later. Google has updated the list of smartphones that support ARCore and the latest additions include the following devices:
- Asus ROG Phone III
- Nokia 8.3 5G
- Infinix Mobile Zero 8
- LG K71
- moto g9 play, motorola one 5G, motorola one fusion+
- OnePlus North
- Oppo Reno 4 4G
- realme 7, realme 7 Pro, realme X3 Super Zoom
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Samsung Galaxy M51, Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition, Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
- Tecno Camon 16 Premier, Tecno Camon 16 Pro
- Vivo V17, Vivo X23, Vivo X50e 5G
- Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite, Xiaomi POCO M2 Pro, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
See the other devices that support the feature here. Augmented Reality is one of the features we expect to see more and more on our devices. Google has been making significant improvements to ARCore, features like AR Live View in Google Maps, for example allowing those walking in certain cities to see the Google Maps UI superimposed on a real-world view using their phone's cameras.
