This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
Google has been working to bring augmented reality to a broader audience by partnering with device makers to support ARCore on various smartphones.
As of now, you no longer need to own a high-end device like the Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy S8 to enjoy AR experiences. Google has certified Tecno Phantom 9 and Infinix Note 6, both of which were released in July 2019, to run ARCore.
The certification process involves rigorous testing of devices to ensure they meet the necessary standards for camera quality, motion sensors, and design architecture. This includes a powerful CPU that integrates with the hardware design to ensure good performance and effective real-time calculations.
ARCore enables smartphones to sense their surroundings, understand the world around them, and interact with information they can easily access to deliver augmented reality experiences. This technology taps into motion-sensing capabilities to understand and track a phone's position and with environmental understanding, it can detect the size and location of everything around it.
However, it's worth noting that both Tecno Phantom 9 and Infinix Note 6 have not officially arrived in Kenya, despite being released in July 2019. Nonetheless, it's great to know that you'll be able to play AR-based mobile games like Pokémon Go on these devices when they arrive.
Google regularly updates its list of ARCore-certified devices, which can be found here.
