How to Get Google ARCore on Any Android Device

To up the ante in augmented reality (AR), Google recently announced ARCore. It is developed from the same fundamental technologies as Tango’s and is a direct take on Apple’s ARKit. Although it does promise some advancements in the field of AR by letting you view AR props just by using your smartphone, it is currently compatible only with Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S8. But, thankfully, with the help of Thomas Suarez (“tomthecarrot”), a developer in the Android community, it is now possible to run ARCore on unsupported devices as well. If you are wondering how to do that, here is how you can get ARCore on any Android device:

Note: I successfully tried this method on my OnePlus 5 running Android 7.1.1. as well as my Samsung Galaxy S8+ running Android 7.0.

Get ARCore on Any Android Device

This method requires installing an ARCore Service APK which has been modified to work with non-compatible devices. Now, to use this, follow the steps below:

• Download and install the modded ARCore Service APK on your device.
• After this, download and install the APK of Hello AR – an app based on ARCore – on the same device.

How to Use ARCore?

Once both the aforementioned APKs are installed, the next (and the obvious) step is to launch the Hello AR app. When you open it, you will find that it is a clutter-free app that only has the camera interface. If you point it toward a plain surface, it will recognize it, and then you can tap on the screen to add AR props (currently Bugdroids). You will also notice that, once you add a prop, they will always appear at the same location. And, irrespective of whether you move the camera or not, they will stay there until you re-open the app.

I also tried this method on my Moto G3 and Nexus 5X, but, sadly, the app crashed on them every time. Given that it is only a preview version of ARCore, I would like to give it the benefit of the doubt. Regardless of this, if you happen to own a flagship device from either this year or last year, the method should work successfully for you.