Header Banner
Next Reality Logo
Next Reality
Mobile AR News
nextreality.mark.png
Apple Snap AR Business Google Instagram | Facebook NFT HoloLens Magic Leap Hands-On Smartphone AR The Future of AR Next Reality 30 AR Glossary ARKit Dev 101 What Is AR? Mixed Reality HoloLens Dev 101 Augmented Reality Hololens How-Tos HoloLens v. Magic Leap v. Meta 2 VR v. AR v. MR

Google Quietly Adds Samsung Galaxy S7, S8+ & Note 8 to ARCore Supported Devices

Hands holding a smartphone displaying a colorful kitchen scene with food and utensils.

A very low-key update to the ARCore developer's site has expanded the universe of officially-supported devices for Google's augmented reality toolkit to include the Samsung Galaxy S7, S8+, and Note 8 handsets.

The expansion itself isn't a surprise with regard to the S8+ and Note 8, as Samsung and Google announced in Oct. 2017 that the devices would gain support for ARCore "soon."

Table of supported devices for application compatibility.

Screenshot from the ARCore Developer Page

What is surprising is the stealthy way in which the move was made. A trip in the Wayback Machine reveals that the devices were actually added as early as Feb. 5, so the update has flown under the radar for a fortnight or more. One would expect someone in the Samsung or Google camp to have trumpeted this news by now.

The move gives credence to recent reports that Google is planning to officially release ARCore (which is currently available in developer preview) during the upcoming Mobile World Congress conference, possibly alongside the reveal of the Galaxy S9 handsets.

Google and its Android allies face an uphill battle in playing catch-up with Apple, as the Cupertino giant has a sizable lead in terms of mobile AR market share with its ARKit platform and available devices in the field that support it. Adding most of Samsung's flagship devices from its two previous product cycles serves as a nitrous boost in Google's pursuit of Apple.

Cover image via Google

Apple's iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 updates are packed with new features, and you can try them before almost everyone else. First, check Gadget Hacks' list of supported iPhone and iPad models, then follow the step-by-step guide to install the iOS/iPadOS 26 beta — no paid developer account required.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!