how to use augmented reality on your iphone

How to Use Augmented Reality on Your iPhone (2025 Update)

Augmented Reality (AR) doesn’t always grab headlines like VR, but it quietly improves everyday tasks on iPhone — from measuring and room planning to trying on products, learning, and even finding lost items. Thanks to years of updates to Apple’s AR platform on iOS, modern iPhones can run surprisingly powerful AR experiences with no extra hardware. Below is a 2025-ready guide: what AR is, what you need on iPhone/iPad, how to measure with the built-in app, and a curated list of practical AR tricks that are genuinely useful today.

What Is Augmented Reality?

Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital content onto the real world through your device’s camera and sensors. Instead of replacing reality (as VR does), AR enhances what you see — adding labels, measurements, 3D objects, or guides on top of your actual environment. Popular examples range from product try-ons and room planners to education tools and games. Because AR runs on iPhones and iPads you already own, it’s often more practical day-to-day than head-mounted displays.

What You Need to Use AR on iPhone (2025)

Modern iPhone/iPad: AR experiences run best on recent iPhones (A12 Bionic or newer). Many apps work on older models, but newer devices deliver smoother tracking and more accurate placement. iPad Pro models also offer excellent AR.
LiDAR improves accuracy (optional): “Pro” iPhones and iPad Pro models with LiDAR (e.g., iPhone 12 Pro and newer) scan depth more precisely. This speeds up plane detection and makes room scans and measurements more reliable.
Up-to-date iOS/iPadOS: Install the latest iOS/iPadOS for the newest AR features and tracking improvements.
Good lighting & texture: AR works best in well-lit spaces with visible edges/corners and textured surfaces (plain glossy walls and low light reduce accuracy).

Tip: If you’re new to AR objects on the web, Apple’s “AR Quick Look” lets you view USDZ 3D models in your space directly from Safari — no separate app required.

How the iPhone Measure App Works Now

Apple’s built-in Measure app has matured into a reliable quick-measurement tool. It automatically detects flat surfaces, helps you place points, and shows live measurements. With LiDAR-equipped models, it starts tracking almost instantly and can better understand complex scenes (edges, furniture, and room geometry). For “close enough” home tasks — checking if a shelf fits, estimating a frame size, or grabbing wall dimensions — it’s fast and convenient. For precision carpentry or compliance work, you’ll still want a physical tape measure — but Measure is excellent for ballpark planning.

Step-by-Step: Measure Objects with iOS Measure

Open Measure and slowly move the iPhone so it can understand the space. Good light helps.
Place your first point by aligning the on-screen dot and tapping +.
Walk or pan to the next point and tap + again. The distance appears on the line.
Keep adding points for additional edges. The app snaps to corners when it detects them.
Auto-rectangle: Move close to a rectangular object (frame, tabletop). When it highlights in yellow, tap + to capture all sides and surface area at once.
Use Level: Tap the Level tool (horizontal/vertical) to align shelves, frames, or appliances more accurately.
Correct drift: If a point is slightly off, center it on screen, tap-and-hold the point, then drag to the correct corner.

Accuracy boost: Start in a well-lit room, aim for high-contrast corners, and step a bit closer if the app asks to “find a nearby surface.”

8 Useful AR Tricks Your iPhone Can Do in 2025

1) Room Scans & Floor Plans (Great for Renovations)

LiDAR-capable iPhones can create quick room scans to estimate dimensions, generate basic floor plans, or capture 3D room models. This is helpful for planning furniture layouts, measuring for flooring, or sharing rough dimensions with contractors. Reviews consistently note how scanning saves time before site visits and reduces back-and-forth on basic measurements.

2) Visualize Furniture & Decor Before You Buy

Room-planning and retail apps let you drop life-size 3D sofas, tables, and decor into your space. You can try different sizes, colors, and materials, then walk around the item to see fit and style. This reduces returns and helps avoid “this looked smaller online” surprises.

3) Try-On Beauty & Accessories

Many beauty and fashion apps use AR to preview shades, frames, and styles on your face in real time. Based on store/app reviews, AR try-ons are especially useful for matching foundation shades, testing lip/eye colors, or checking eyeglass frame sizes before ordering.

4) Learn with Interactive AR (STEM, History, Design)

Education apps place interactive molecules, engines, planets, or historical artifacts on your desk. The ability to walk around and scale complex objects makes lessons feel hands-on. Reviews highlight better engagement for kids and visual learners compared to static images.

5) Place 3D Products from the Web (AR Quick Look)

Many retailers embed AR buttons on product pages. Tap to open a 3D model and drop it into your room via Safari. It’s the fastest way to preview scale and fit without installing an app.

6) Build 3D Captures of Objects & Spaces

Photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning apps let you capture 3D models of furniture, art, or rooms for reference, sharing, or basic design work. Reviewers call out how useful this is for documenting rentals, planning moves, or collaborating on interior updates remotely.

7) Find Lost Items with Precision Guidance

Modern iPhones support ultra-wideband (UWB) and directional cues for supported trackers, guiding you with arrows and distance overlays on screen to recover keys, wallets, or bags. It’s a practical, everyday AR use case that consistently earns high ratings for saving time (and stress).

8) Measure Once, Share Instantly

Beyond taking measurements, the Measure app lets you capture annotated screenshots. It’s perfect for sending a quick “will this fit?” visual to a contractor, landlord, or friend. For fatigue and clarity tips during longer tasks, see How to Prevent Fatigue in VR — many comfort principles carry over to extended AR use.

Helpful References & Further Reading

MIT Technology Review: AR/VR Coverage — trends, sensors, and how spatial tech is evolving.
MDN Web Docs: WebXR Device API — standards-based background for AR on the web.
Things You Should Know About Merge Cube — hands-on AR learning tool overview (on our site).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use augmented reality on iPhone?

Augmented reality on iPhone is built into iOS through Apple’s ARKit framework. Simply open the Measure app or any AR-enabled app, move your phone to scan the space, and you’ll see digital overlays or 3D objects appear in your real environment.

Which iPhones support AR features?

Most iPhones from the iPhone 6s onward support AR. However, newer models such as the iPhone 12 Pro and later, which include LiDAR sensors, provide faster and more accurate AR tracking and room scanning.

What can I do with AR on iPhone?

AR on iPhone can be used to measure objects with the Measure app, preview furniture and decor in your space, try on glasses or makeup virtually, learn through interactive 3D models, and even locate lost items with AR-guided trackers.

How accurate is the iPhone Measure app?

The Measure app is accurate enough for everyday tasks such as checking if a piece of furniture will fit in a room. Accuracy improves in well-lit spaces and on high-contrast surfaces. LiDAR-equipped iPhones are the most precise, but for professional or critical measurements, a physical tape measure is still recommended.

Do I need special apps for iPhone AR?

Many apps now have AR features built in. Examples include IKEA Place for testing furniture in your home, Snapchat for AR filters, and Wayfair for home design. You can also use Safari’s “AR Quick Look” to view 3D models from a website directly in your space.

Bottom line: AR on iPhone in 2025 is practical, fast, and surprisingly accurate for everyday tasks — especially with LiDAR-equipped models. Use Measure for quick estimates, try products at true scale before buying, scan rooms for planning, and leverage learning apps for interactive study. Good lighting and clear edges dramatically improve results, and sharing annotated screenshots makes collaboration simple.

How to Use Augmented Reality on iPhone (2025 Guide)