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AR apps are seeing fast adoption on iOS, according to new App Store download data from Sensor Tower.
Apps that use Apple’s ARKit have been installed more than 13 million times since iOS 11 was released on September 19, up from the 3 million installs recorded in October 2017.
ARKit is Apple’s AR developer platform that enables developers to build and launch AR apps and experiences for iPhones and iPads. These apps are referred to as ARKit-only apps, because they're built specifically for this AR technology, though other apps many use elements of ARKit for added functionality.
Not all AR app categories are growing at the same rate. Just six months since the launch of iOS 11, the AR games category has grown a commanding lead over the other ARKit-only apps categories. Games account for 47% of all available ARKit-only apps globally, up from 35% in October 2017. Trailing far behind the games category, utilities and entertainment ARKit-only apps are the second- and third-largest categories, accounting for 14% and 12% of available ARKit-only apps, respectively. Lifestyle ARKit-only apps are emerging as a prominent category in the AR apps space, accounting for 11% of ARKit apps, up from 5% in October.
Although adoption of ARKit-only apps is growing, it’s still relatively small in the grand scheme of things. For instance, in 2017 there were over 175 billion app downloads worldwide across iOS and Google Play. However, downloads of ARKit-only apps are poised to grow in the short term. Here’s why:
- Apple is creating new ways to engage with AR apps. Apple released the latest version of ARKit, version 1.5, on Thursday. The updated ARKit offers support for vertical planes, meaning sensors will be able to detect items on vertical walls and doors. In other words, beyond supporting horizontal spaces, developers will be able to utilize the vertical spaces around users. It will also include 2D image recognition, enabling users to point their iPhone at an object and receive contextual information regarding that object.
- AR-enabled smartphones will start to account for a larger share of all smartphones. Apple’s ARKit is available only on Apple’s newest OS, which is compatible with iPhone models 6S or later. But as more smartphones begin to adopt iOS 11, developers will likely be more inclined to build AR-oriented content, and consumers will adapt to the technology. Deloitte forecasts that by the end of 2018, 800 million smartphones will have both an AR-friendly OS and powerful hardware needed to run AR smoothly.
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