Hot on the heels of our recent update bringing AR (Augmented Reality) to iOS devices, we’re pleased to announce that Android users no longer need to miss out on the fun.
Starting today we have added Android “ARCore” functionality to our mobile app giving Android users access to every model on Sketchfab in AR – the largest AR library in the world. The update makes us one of the first platforms to support both ARKit and ARCore.
Furthermore, given our integration with pretty much every possible way to create 3D content from traditional 3D modeling software to web-based creation, to VR creativity tools, this additional support makes us the easiest and most seamless way for creators to publish 3D work to AR without a single line of code.
The AR feature is available on select Android devices for any Sketchfab model. Download our app to get started, then open any model, and click on the AR icon in the top right corner. Because ARCoreis currently still in preview, our app will prompt you to install the ARCore SDK which only takes a few seconds. Once installed, you’re ready to go.
Aim at a horizontal flat surface until you see the Sketchfab floor appear, then simply tap on it to place the model. You can then zoom in and out by pinching, or tilt to rotate. And most importantly, you can walk freely around the model which will be locked in space. If you want to move the model, just re-tap the screen to bring the floor back, then re-tap on the floor to reposition the model.
We’ll have more news on the final public release of ARCore when it happens. In the meantime, have fun enjoying the largest AR library on the planet.
About the author
Paul Chambers
Artist Evangelist & Community outreach at Sketchfab, freelance CG Generalist, render-farm tinkerer. Zelda worshipper.
I guess this explains why Sketchfab tells me my Galaxy S7 won’t be able to use AR for the moment. Still, nice to see, the final release is approaching !
A small suggestion : please use the Google Play feature that allows you to highlight the contents of an update. It’s very useful for the users. 🙂
I have a Pixel 2 with latest OS updates, when I click the AR button I see ‘AR Unavailable’
AR supported on any tablets?
Hi Nathan, when you first clicked the AR button in our app did it ask you to download the AR SDK?
Hi Brad, sadly no Android tablet AR support yet, but our understanding is that once the preview period is over, ARCore will be made available to a wider range of devices.
I’ve got a Pixel 2 as well. Clicking on AR next to a model tells me my phone does t support AR. No prompt to install the SDK.
For anyone currently experiencing issues with the ARCore SDK not automatically installing, we recommend downloading it directly from here: https://developers.google.com/ar/develop/downloads
I’m also getting ‘AR Unavailable’ on Pixel 2 XL. It didn’t prompt me to download the ARCore SDK, but I already had the ARCore SDK installed to try Google’s own demos (which work).
Downloaded the ARCore preview apk and installed it, when starting AR on a Pixel 2 I still get the message about AR not being supported on this device.
Hi Paul, no it didn’t.
I’ve also installed the AR SDK and it still prompts AR unsupported
So…the S8+ isn’t compatible…but the S8 is…seems about right.
Guess I picked my phone wrong, again. Brand new Nokie 6 doesn’t support it yet :/
Good morning sin that the samsung s7 is not among the phones that support this technology! It would be very useful to make an effort to make it compatible so as to involve more users !! Thank you
I would like to know if AR is already available to be incorporated by api.
I tried again a bit later and I ended up getting the camera permission prompt, after clicking on allow i was able to use the AR functionality. I guess if the prompt doesn’t show up you could always go into app settings and allow the camera permissions manually to see if that works.
Hi Sketchfab,
I am a member of Sketchfab and have pro account.
I want to know why the Samsung Galaxy S8+ left out of test. I do have that phone and I have no clue what I am going to do. You tested S8 but not S8+.
Please test it on S8+ as well and let me know when the release is available.
I tried VR of above model on my (updated app) but it did not worked.
Great innovation!
Would it be possible to link te AR-feature to the location of the models (lab-function) so that models would be fixed in space and would only be visible in a certain location?
This would be really interesting for heritage-related features. This way, it would be possible to take people on a tour along (long-)lost structures (like reconstructed archaeological features such as burial mounds, houses, …).
We have just released a patch that should add support for S8+ phones. Please give it a try!
We have just released a patch that should add support for S8+ phones. Please give it a try!
Requests to download ARcore at least, but crashes the app whenever I try to use it.
We’d love to add the S7 too, but unfortunately it’s not on the list of supported devices by ARCore :-/
For folks experiencing issues with Pixel 2 phones, I encourage you to try again. We pushed an update over the weekend that should resolve the issue. Our apologies for any inconvenience caused.
I bought a Tango device for AR. But somehow my Phab Pro 2 is not supported. Sad times.
No Zenfone AR support yet? 🙁
We can only support devices that are supported by Google’s ARCore :-/
How about support for Note 8?
Heyo! I’d love to utilize this feature on my Pixel 2 but it just crashes every time I try to use it. Is there a potential update scheduled to resolve this?
Mark, do you have similar issues on other AR apps or is it unique to the Sketchfab app?
Hi Paul,
I’ve used the AR “stickers” provided by Google and they work as they should. Outside of that, I have not tested any other apps with AR features besides Sketchfab. So this is unique to Sketchfab.
We depend on device support by Google. Once they add Note 8 support to ARCore I suppose we’ll support it on the Note 8 as well.
I just tried it on my S8. It’s simply amazing and like taking a half-step into the future.
*bump*
Has anyone used this on the Pixel 2 successfully?
Hello, when it will be available for s7, it is supported now from arcore.
Thanks
When will Sketchfab Android support Note 8? Google just updated the developer preview compatibility to include it
https://developers.google.com/ar/discover/#supported_devices
Sketchfab App still crashes everytime on my S8+ when I try to activate AR Mode.
Its really a very wonderful app. I have used it in my galaxy s8 but it sometimes stops working. Without this problem everything is good of this app.
Hi! Which are the devices (ipad or tablets) enabled for AR for sketchfab?
Hi Cettina, any android phones or tablets that support ARCore or iOS devices that support ARKit. Too many to list unfortunately. Check your manufacturer for details.
Hi,
Had occasion to check this out recently, and noticed that it might not be using the latest version of ARCore. It seems that the tracking is rough and lighting estimation is off, and I’m wondering if it’s still using the Beta from 2017?
Also – the AR mode doesn’t seem to be available for every Sketchfab model eg this one
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/armageddon-christchurch-2019-1750-8c21fe6000cc43acae0341e99623c28c
Is this a licensing restriction from the creator side, or a technical glitch?
Many thanks
Hi Mathew, the model you mentioned is private. It appears you had access via a bug which we are investigating.
Regarding ARCore, yes we are still using Beta at this point, but to be honest, most of the issues you are seeing are related to the fact that we are running in a browser rather than natively. We are however planning some updates in the future, so stay tuned.
App’s are a big ‘No no’ for our clients. Can this be done in the browser yet?
Hi Danny – the answer is yes and no. Some handsets support certain file types and the technical specification for web based XR is still being developed (https://www.w3.org/TR/webxr).
Things are moving in that direction though and you can expect Sketchfab to be right there when it happens.
Hi Paul,
Just checking in to see if the ARCore implementation in Sketchfab has been / will be updated soon.
Cheers,
mat
Hi Mathew – can you clarify your question a bit?
There are no major plans to update the current app based AR implementation at the moment but we will be following and working towards an implementation of the web based XR once it is confirmed/complete https://www.w3.org/TR/webxr