You've probably seen it in action — someone pointing their phone at a pair of shoes and seeing them appear on their feet, or a furniture company letting you place a virtual sofa in your living room before you buy. That's augmented reality. But how does it actually work, and why is it suddenly everywhere?
AR vs VR: What's the difference?
Virtual Reality (VR) replaces your surroundings entirely — you put on a headset and you're in a different world. Augmented Reality (AR) adds to your real world. Your phone camera captures what's in front of you, and the software overlays 3D objects, information, or graphics on top of that live image.
"Augmented reality doesn't take you out of your world. It brings new things into it."
The result is something that feels almost magical: a digital chair sitting in your actual room, casting shadows in the right place, at the right scale, from the right angle as you walk around it.
The technology behind it
Modern AR on a smartphone works through a combination of three things:
- Camera input — your phone's camera streams a live view of the world.
- Plane detection — the software identifies flat surfaces (floors, tables, walls) using the camera and accelerometer data.
- 3D rendering — a 3D model is placed on the detected surface and rendered in real time, matching the lighting and perspective of the real world.
On iPhones, this is powered by Apple's ARKit. On Android, it's ARCore. Both are built into modern devices — no special hardware needed. This is why AR now works directly in the browser, without any app download.
WebAR: AR without an app
A few years ago, AR required a dedicated app. That meant convincing your customers to download something — a huge barrier. Today, WebAR makes AR accessible through a standard browser link.
The technology that makes this possible is called WebXR — a browser API that gives websites direct access to the device's AR capabilities. When a customer taps an AR link on ARView, their browser activates WebXR, detects surfaces, and places the 3D model — all without leaving Safari or Chrome.
When you upload a .glb or .usdz file to ARView, we generate a URL that opens a WebXR-powered AR experience. The customer taps the link, points their phone at a surface, and your 3D model appears. On iPhone it uses Apple's Quick Look AR engine. On Android it uses Google Scene Viewer. Zero app download required.
What file formats does AR use?
Not every 3D file works for AR. The standard formats are:
- GLB / GLTF — the most universal format, works on Android and desktop browsers. GLB is the binary (compressed) version of GLTF. Best for web AR.
- USDZ — Apple's format, used by iPhone's Quick Look AR system. Required for the best iOS experience.
ARView accepts both. If you upload a .glb file, Android users get native AR via Google Scene Viewer, and iPhone users get a 3D viewer with an option to open in AR. If you upload .usdz, iPhone users get Apple's native Quick Look AR — the gold standard for iOS.
Why does AR matter for business?
The numbers are compelling. Studies consistently show that AR product experiences increase purchase confidence, reduce returns, and increase time spent engaging with a product. Customers who interact with a product in AR are significantly more likely to buy.
More importantly, AR answers the question every online shopper has: "Will this actually work in my space / on my body / in my home?" A flat photo can't answer that. A 3D model in AR can.
Getting started with AR for your business
You don't need to be a tech company to use AR. With ARView, the process is:
- Get your product or design as a 3D model (
.glbor.usdz) - Upload it to ARView — takes under a minute
- Get a shareable AR link and QR code instantly
- Share it on your website, Instagram, WhatsApp, or print the QR code
No developer needed, no app to maintain, no complex setup. AR is ready for every business — you just need a 3D model and a link to share.