ARKit - Versions Overview & History

ARKit is a framework for augmented reality launched by Apple. It was first introduced with iOS 11 on June 5, 2017, during the Worldwide Developers Conference. Since then, it has continuously updated each following year.

Now let’s briefly explore each version of ARKit from ARKit 2 to ARKit 6 and see the key features they introduced.

ARKit 2

Build amazing augmented reality experiences for millions of iOS users, the largest AR platform. With ARKit 2 on iOS 12, multiple users can now enjoy AR apps at the same time and resume experiences later. You can also include real-world objects in your AR, making it even more immersive.
Your apps can now have AR experiences that save progress, enabling Persistent AR Experiences. With Shared AR Experiences, people can view AR experiences together or play multiplayer games, and others can even watch the games being played.

ARKit 2 adds full 2D image tracking and can now recognize 3D objects like toys or furniture, allowing you to use real, movable items in AR.

ARKit 3

ARKit 3 introduces people occlusion, meaning AR content is more naturally displayed in front of or behind people. It is also capable of tracking multiple faces, specifically up to three at a time. Additionally, it adds motion capture, allowing a person's motion to be captured using a single camera.

ARKit 4

ARKit 4 adds a depth API for more accurate placement of virtual objects in the real world. It introduces location anchors, tying AR experiences to specific geographic locations. Improved image tracking allows for easier integration of real-world objects into your AR projects.

ARKit 5

ARKit 5 introduces Location Anchors in London and U.S. cities for AR experiences at landmarks like the London Eye, enhancing Motion Tracking and adding Face Tracking support for the Ultra Wide camera on iPad Pro (5th generation). Face Tracking on devices with the A12 Bionic chip and supports up to three faces with the TrueDepth camera.

ARKit 6

ARKit 6 introduces 4K video capture for high-resolution AR experiences and expands Location Anchors to cities like Montreal and Sydney while enhancing Motion Capture features. The following are the key features −

• LiDAR enables quick plane detection for instant placement of AR objects without scanning, and it is automatically available on iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPad Pro.
• Motion Capture captures a person’s motion in real-time with a single camera, using body position and movement as input for AR experiences.
• 4K Video allows you to capture a 4K video feed using the back camera during an ARKit session, perfect for combining virtual and real-world content.

For developers seeking iOS ARKit tutorials, resources on object detection ARKit, or guidance on ARKit for iPhone, plenty of tutorials are available to help create engaging applications. Whether you’re focused on iPad ARKit, iPhone 11 ARKit, iPhone XR ARKit, Mac ARKit, or Unreal Engine ARKit, the framework is continually evolving, making it simpler to develop compelling augmented reality experiences.