Augmented reality apps can range from interactive map overlays and virtual showrooms to massive multiplayer shooters. You can even play Snapchat stories in augmented reality mode. Following the growing popularity of augmented reality, we’ve compiled a list of the best AR apps available on Android and iOS.
BBC Civilisations AR
Augmented reality finds excellent applications in the field of education. In addition, applications such as BBC Civilisations AR pave the way for an AR-oriented future.BBC Civilisations AR allows users to admire various historical artifacts, view them from different angles, and zoom in on them.
When the app first launches, a handy guide introduces the user to the Egyptian mummy, its history and even allows a peek inside using the X-Ray feature. BBC Civilisations AR contains more than 30 historical relics that can be viewed, explored, and photographed. The app is excellent for those who are fascinated by history or want a glimpse into museums.
Mondly
Perfect for those who want to learn a new language but don’t have the time to do so. The app offers 33 languages to learn, and through daily exercises, users can quickly master the desired skill. There is a VR version of Mondly for Gear VR with AR technology built into the app. In AR mode, you need to find a flat surface where the AR teacher will be projected. He will teach a lesson, offering examples of words to memorize. Although this is not the most typical application for every day, it will undoubtedly bring novelty to the process of learning languages.
Ink Hunter
Ink Hunter will come in handy for those planning to get a tattoo and want to decide on its location. The application allows you to try out ready-made tattoos and “try on” your designs, which can be placed on any part of the body. Tattoos made with Ink Hunter look almost as good as the real thing. With the ability to edit designs and change the color of tattoos right in the app, you can get a better idea of what the design will look like before turning it into a permanent design.
Star Walk 2
Watching the starry sky is a fantastic pleasure. But it can often be hard to know which constellation is located in front of your eyes. Luckily, all you need to do is point your augmented reality app at the sky to clear your doubts. Star Walk 2 lets you know which star, planet, or constellation is in your field of view.
The app also has other functions, such as an astronomical calendar, sunrise schedule, etc. In other words, Star Walk 2 is an exciting application for children and adults, which adapts to all levels of astronomical knowledge.
Google Translator
Google Translator is not strictly an AR app, but one of its AR features makes it incredibly handy for translating text. It’s about camera mode. By simply taking a picture of text in a foreign language, the user can see its translation in real-time.
The app supports multiple languages when connected to WiFi, but users can also download the languages they need and use Google Translator offline. With this feature, Google Translator can become your best friend when traveling and keep you from getting lost in an unfamiliar country.
Amikasa
Amikasa can help you design a room and decide on the layout you want before you buy furniture. Then, using the camera on your iPhone or iPad, you can easily walk around the bedroom, kitchen, office, or any other room and place 3D models of different items to see how they look or determine their ideal arrangement. Amikasa also allows you to use furniture and furnishings from different brands to buy right in the app.
Knightfall: AR
What game genre is better suited for AR than combat strategy? Knightfall: AR allows players to feel like Templars defending Acre from the onslaught of the Mamelukes. Placing the battlefield on any flat surface, players fire arrows and launch catapults at enemies from their vantage point. As players defeat their opponents, they earn gold, exchanged for defenses and warriors that fight back against the invaders. Despite minor flaws, the game is appealing and an excellent example of the future of AR gaming.
Holo
Holo takes its cue from the AR stickers on Google Pixel and works on a similar principle. You can choose characters, both fictional and from the real world, and drag and drop them into your immediate environment in the app. This process is called “Holo-Mixing.” From YouTube celebrities to fictional characters, when placed in the real world, each of the characters performs a set of preset animations and sounds and can be shrunk and enlarged according to the desired location.
SkerchAR
A tremendous augmented reality app to help practice drawing. The user looks at the smartphone screen where the picture is shown and traces the outlines on the paper. It will appeal to beginner artists and children. Follow the developer’s recommendations to set up the program to work correctly.