AR and VR in Mobile Applications: Practical Solutions for Business

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are no longer just futuristic technologies from science fiction movies. Today, they are becoming real business tools that can transform customer experience, increase sales, and optimize internal operations. In this article, we will discuss how businesses can practically use AR and VR technologies in their mobile applications.

AR vs VR: Key Differences

Before diving into technical details, it's important to understand the fundamental differences between these two technologies, as they solve different business problems and require different resources.

Augmented Reality (AR)

AR enhances the real world with digital elements. Users see their environment through a phone camera or special glasses, with virtual objects, information, or animations overlaid on top.

• Devices: Smartphone, tablet, AR glasses (Microsoft HoloLens, Apple Vision Pro)
• Accessibility: Wide - works on most modern phones
• Use cases: Product visualization, navigation, interactive marketing
• User experience: Can be used anywhere, anytime

Virtual Reality (VR)

VR completely immerses the user in an artificial 3D environment. The real world is replaced by a virtual one, creating a highly engaging experience.

• Devices: VR headsets (Meta Quest, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR)
• Accessibility: Limited - requires special equipment
• Use cases: Training, simulations, virtual tours, games
• User experience: Requires a calm environment and time

Aspect	AR (Augmented Reality)	VR (Virtual Reality)
Reality	Enhances the real world	Replaces the real world
Devices	Phone, tablet, AR glasses	VR headset
User cost	Low (already have a phone)	High (300-1500 EUR for VR headset)
Reach	~90% of smartphones	~5% of users have VR
Usage duration	A few seconds to minutes	15-60+ minutes
Mobility	Full - use anywhere	Limited - needs space
Development cost	From 2,000 EUR	From 10,000 EUR

Key AR/VR Technologies for Mobile Applications

ARKit (Apple)

Apple's AR platform for iPhone and iPad devices. Offers powerful features with excellent optimization within the Apple ecosystem.

• Surface detection: Automatically recognizes floors, tables, walls
• Face tracking: Tracking of 52 facial muscles in real-time
• Object occlusion: Virtual objects can be behind real objects
• LiDAR support: Precise depth measurement on Pro devices
• Cloud anchoring: AR objects remain in the same location

iOS 11+ iPhone 6s+ Swift RealityKit

ARCore (Google)

Google's AR platform for Android devices. Supports hundreds of Android phone models.

• Motion tracking: Precise phone position tracking in space
• Environmental understanding: Detection of horizontal and vertical surfaces
• Light estimation: Virtual objects reflect real lighting
• Cloud anchoring: AR experiences across multiple devices
• Depth API: 3D environment understanding without LiDAR

Android 7.0+ Kotlin/Java Sceneform

Unity + AR Foundation

Cross-platform solution that allows creating one AR application for both platforms. Ideal choice when you need to support both iOS and Android.

• One codebase: One application works on ARKit and ARCore
• 3D engine: Powerful graphics engine for complex graphics
• Asset store: Thousands of ready-made 3D models
• VR support: The same project can be adapted for VR
• C# programming: Popular, easy-to-learn language

Cross-platform C# Unity Engine

Unreal Engine

The most powerful 3D engine for photorealistic graphics. Used in AAA games and highest quality VR projects.

• Photorealism: Nanite and Lumen technologies for cinematic quality
• MetaHumans: Hyperrealistic human models
• Blueprints: Visual programming without code
• VR optimization: Excellent performance on VR devices

High-end VR C++ Blueprints

AR/VR Applications by Industry

Healthcare Sector

Although this is a specific niche, AR/VR in healthcare is growing rapidly:

• Surgery planning: 3D visualization of patient anatomy before surgery
• Medical student training: Virtual surgeries without risk to patients
• Rehabilitation: VR games for physical therapy
• Psychotherapy: VR exposure therapy for treating phobias

Market Examples and Opportunities

There are excellent opportunities for AR/VR technology implementation in any market. Here are some areas where businesses could lead:

Furniture and Interior Sector

Furniture manufacturers can create a competitive advantage by offering AR visualization:

• Visualization of sofas, beds, tables in customer's home
• Color and material changes in real-time
• Accurate dimensions with AR measurement feature
• E-shop integration - direct ordering from AR

Real Estate Agencies

The real estate market is perfectly suited for VR tour implementation:

• Attracting foreign buyers - diaspora can view apartments remotely
• New construction projects - sell apartments in an unbuilt building
• Time saving - filter serious buyers before physical visits

Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Historical heritage can be revived with AR technologies:

• Castle reconstructions: AR reconstruction of how castles looked centuries ago
• Old town tours: Historical characters telling stories
• Historical sites: Interactive AR information about landmarks
• Museums: Exhibit revival with AR animations

AR/VR Solution Development Costs

Solution Type	Cost	Duration	What's Included
Basic AR	2,000 - 5,000 EUR	2-4 weeks	One AR scenario, 5-10 product models, one platform
Medium AR	5,000 - 15,000 EUR	1-3 months	Multiple scenarios, 50+ models, iOS + Android, analytics
Advanced AR	15,000 - 30,000 EUR	3-5 months	Complex scenarios, AI integration, real-time configurator
Basic VR	10,000 - 25,000 EUR	2-4 months	One VR experience, basic interaction, one device type
Professional VR	25,000 - 75,000 EUR	4-8 months	Complex simulations, multiplayer, multiple platforms
Enterprise VR	75,000+ EUR	6-12 months	Full training platform, CMS, analytics, system integration

Additional Costs

• 3D model creation: 50-500 EUR per product model (depending on complexity)
• 3D scanning: 100-300 EUR for scanning a physical object to 3D
• Monthly maintenance: 200-1,000 EUR/month (updates, servers, bug fixes)
• Cloud infrastructure: 50-500 EUR/month (3D model storage and delivery)

AR/VR Project Implementation Stages

1. Research and Planning (1-2 weeks)

• Target audience analysis
• Competitor AR/VR solution evaluation
• Technology selection (ARKit, ARCore, Unity)
• Functionality specification
• ROI calculation

2. Design and UX (2-4 weeks)

• AR/VR experience flow design
• UI element design in AR environment
• 3D model style guidelines
• Prototype creation and testing

3. 3D Content Creation (2-8 weeks)

• 3D model creation or scanning
• Texture and material creation
• Animation creation
• Optimization for mobile devices

4. Development (4-12 weeks)

• AR/VR functionality programming
• Integration with existing application
• Backend infrastructure creation
• Analytics integration

5. Testing and Launch (2-4 weeks)

• Testing on various devices
• Performance optimization
• Beta testing with real users
• Store submission (App Store, Google Play)

Technical Requirements and Limitations

ARKit (iOS) Requirements

• Minimum devices: iPhone 6s, iPad (5th gen), iPad Pro
• iOS version: iOS 11.0 or newer
• LiDAR features: iPhone 12 Pro+, iPad Pro 2020+
• Reach: ~50% of smartphone users

ARCore (Android) Requirements

• Android version: Android 7.0 (API level 24) or newer
• Supported devices: Hundreds of models (Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, etc.)
• Reach: ~40% of smartphone users
• Note: Not all Android phones support ARCore

Performance Optimization

• 3D model size: Recommended up to 10MB per model
• Polygon count: 50,000-100,000 triangles per object
• Textures: 1024x1024 or 2048x2048 pixels
• Frame rate: Target 60 FPS for smooth experience

Conclusions and Recommendations

AR and VR technologies are no longer a vision of the future - they are today's tools that can provide real competitive advantage for businesses. Here are the main recommendations:

1. Start with AR: Larger audience, smaller investment, faster payback
2. Choose the right niche: Furniture, real estate, education - areas with clear ROI
3. Invest in quality: A poor AR experience damages your brand
4. Measure results: Track conversions, time spent, user retention
5. Expand gradually: Start with 10-20 products, not the entire catalog

The market is perfectly suited for AR experiments - small enough to test, technologically advanced enough to embrace innovations. Businesses that implement AR solutions today will have a clear advantage over competitors tomorrow.