How to Make an AR (Augmented Reality) App with Flutter: The Next-Gen App Solution

Blog Overview: Developing Augmented Reality apps for your business is a crucial decision that levels up your offerings and sales. Well, AR is the robust functionality for mobile app development. Accordingly, you need support from high-performing technology such as Flutter. To get an edge in AR app development with Flutter, you have to read the article comprehensively. It has also explained the cost of building an AR app with Flutter at minimum rates. 

The current market reflects that mobile apps are eating and leaving no crumbs for businesses. Every in-store business has also built mobile applications to surpass their revenue estimates. As a result, mobile app development has showcased the impacts of new technological reforms. For example, apps ask for facial recognition, upload image options for personalized search results, and virtual 360-degree tours of products. All of these fall under the umbrella of Augmented Reality (AR).

Mobile apps are meant to improve the user’s shopping experience and AR is the ideal solution for achieving that. Some latest reports predict mobile AR revenue will attain $39.81 Billion by 2027. Moreover, it’s not a shocking figure. 

Because the growth intensity of mobile apps adapting to AR is high. Still, many clients struggle to select the appropriate technology solution to integrate AR into their mobile apps. For startups who are planning to make apps, this guide will help in developing AR apps with Flutter. Let’s dive into the detailed view of AR applications.

What is Augmented Reality & its Emerging Popularity? 

Augmented Reality is an innovative and creative technological invention. AR technology bridges the gap between real-world objects and real-time digitally driven information. It transforms your imaginative visuals for physical world objects into virtual images through the computer. Moreover, you can see, share, and change that virtual representation. 

AR is the latest and slightly unexplored technology trend. Although the adaptation to AR is visible these days. Still, you can use AR to entirely redefine your business for optimal user experience. The most common and outstanding execution is through AR app development. 

However, AR is directly related to visual and animation concepts for apps. It enables the creation of interactive computer-generated content such as texts, pictures, 3D models, and so on. Having said that, AR is superbly appropriate for smartphones and tablets. You can access and control the real-world presence of AR objects. 

For example, the AR-backed app provides you with a ‘Try-on’ feature to buy lipstick online. Using that, you can check the available shades on your face virtually. As the app asks permission to capture photos, then it opens your camera and shows you the shades. So, you can easily check and order one that suits your face.  

In addition to that, it enhances the user interaction on an app which boosts the repetitive purchase for your business. In simple terms, if you are supposed to deliver seamless customer engagement, AR is up for your app. Thus, your business can automatically increase its customer base and attain brand recognition. 

To give a broader understanding, the following steps are helpful in AR app development using Flutter.

6 Use Cases of AR App Development in Different Industries

Even after the modern technological trend, there are few efficient use cases to build AR apps. It unleashes the potential of AR applications in a range of business growth for both revenue generation and brand building.

• Retail & Ecommerce 

The retail and e-commerce industry includes online shopping for clothes, beauty products, and more. There are online stores that provide AR features to virtually try the products. It gives access to either upload photos or capture them in real-time. 

So, you can get a virtual experience of how clothes, makeup, furniture, etc, will look like in reality. Hence, it eventually improves the overall shopping experience of customers which results in high sales.

• Education

When it comes to the education sector, the contribution of 

AR is invaluable. The EdTech app provides AR-enabled study materials. So, it increases students’ interactions and concentration through easy-to-understand animated objects. As a result, the online learning and education field has widened its scope to reach a vast number of students.  

• Healthcare

Now, the most in-demand and important industry in the post-COVID-19 era is healthcare. By strengthening the healthcare network via apps, doctors can also oversee the 3D models for pre-surgery planning. Thus, it increases the efficiency of healthcare providers and delivers accurate solutions. Moreover, the healthcare app development trends also emphasize the significance of AR-supported apps. 

• Gaming

Augmented reality and gaming apps are the two sides of the same coin. In the animation and visually appealing sector, the prominence of AR is no longer an option. While the multilayer AR gaming apps give experience in the gaming environment, online players will enjoy it. It is mainly delivered due to performance-rich UI elements combined with AR technology.   

• Real Estate

If you have ever used real estate apps like Zillow or Trulia, you must have undertaken the virtual tour features. It is also a part of the AR solution. 

Users can get virtual walkthroughs of the real estate properties from their homes. Thus, it prevents an in-person visit to the property and encourages rapid decision-making. Furthermore, it is already taking the market by storm and delivering a 90% better engagement rate.

• Tourism 

The role of AR apps in tourism is completely informational. Tourists can explore the places and collect details of the nearby landmarks, restaurants, and other famous places. By seeing the 3D visualization of the places, it helps to finalize their destination and create a personalized travel plan.

With that, the relevance of building an AR App for your enterprise is necessary. To gain a competitive edge, you have to make your business app enriched with proper AR solutions. Being an experienced firm, our professionals suggest developing AR Apps with Flutter. Sounds strange? Read further to know why to use Flutter.

Why Make an AR App with Flutter?

You might be wondering why Flutter is mentioned in the context of AR apps. Today, Flutter has been surfacing as the best technology among new-age industry apps. There are plenty of big companies’ apps built in Flutter. Hence, it has set a benchmark, and many startups also look up to Flutter.

Indeed, Flutter has been a trendsetter and future-ready solution for building AR apps. It has the perfect functionality to build AR-powered applications for your business. 

You can easily build a successful AR app with Flutter which is suitable for both iOS and Android platforms. Kudos to Flutter’s cross-platform compatibility in mobile app development. So, the integration of AR app development with Flutter is a successful choice. To eliminate your inch of doubt, there is a list of efficient features of Flutter for AR app development.  

• The hot reloading feature is the center of attraction. You can leverage it to smoothly implement modification, fix bugs, and build UIs in real-time. So, building an AR app with Flutter becomes a streamlined process.

• AR app development with Flutter builds an app using rich widgets. As Flutter has a customizable widget library, your AR app can unlock higher UI components.

• Flutter integrates multiple platform plugins such as ARKit for iOS and ARCore for Android. So, it smoothly delivers highly functional and better AR experiences.

• By using the Skia rendering engine, the AR App with Flutter can get real-time rendering and virtual object tracking. Moreover, it enables responsive interaction in the applications.

• Flutter offers cross-platform apps using a shared codebase still with the native-like app feel. Surprisingly, Flutter even overcomes the potential challenges of native app development. Thus, you can easily build feature-rich native AR applications.

To give broader weightage and understanding, the following steps are helpful in AR app development using Flutter.

How to Build a Successful AR App with Flutter?

As you have made up your mind to build your AR app with Flutter, you need to follow the steps thoroughly. So, let’s navigate the process. 

• Define Your App’s Purpose and Target Audience

Before jumping into the technicalities, you have to understand your business’s core purpose. Developing an AR app varies from the business type and target audience. So, you need to perform market research and evaluate the competitive analysis. It will help you to narrow down your AR app’s features and technological requirements.

On the contrary, it even assists in making you aware of recent trends and user behavior. Hence, it will allow you to reshape your strategy and prevent errors priorly. Because the further steps are conducted based on your predetermined goals. 

• Establish Flutter SDK (Software Development Kit)

The foremost step for developing AR apps with Flutter is setting up the development environment. Download or install Flutter SDK on your computer system. Keep in mind that your system is compatible with iOS and Android programming environments. Thus, you simply build and run your AR app with Flutter.

• Select AR Frameworks

Secondly, you have to choose the AR framework compatible with your Flutter app development. The best way to select valid and famous alternatives such as ARKit for iOS, iPadOS & VisionOS, and ARCore for Android. However, you can use other advanced options to make an AR app with Flutter more interactive.

• Integrate AR capabilities

Use the selected AR package or plugin and integrate it with your Flutter project. Therefore, you can now control the AR functionality to add to your mobile app.

• Design AR-specific UI

Now, you need to design your AR app with Flutter’s UI elements. You can utilize customizable widgets and 3D graphics. So, your app design will be efficiently developed as per your requirements. 

• Execute AR features

Accordingly, you can implement various AR features in your application. From object tracking, and animations to gesture detection. So, you can manage and add features based on your industry-specific needs.

• Test & Refine App

After completing your development process, you need to test whether your AR app is competent with devices. Furthermore, you can refine the UX and other app components.

• Deploy the AR app  

With testing the complete debugging of the AR apps, you can move ahead to deploy your AR app built with Flutter. So, it can launch your Flutter app to the Apple Store and Google Play Store to be used by your audience.

As a result, your Augmented Reality app development with Flutter will be accessible and deliver remarkable performance. Aside from that, you can hire Flutter app developers to build AR apps for you. Learn the cost of developing AR Apps with Flutter.

How Much Does it Cost to Build an AR App with Flutter? 

See, the experts know their job very well. To get competitive AR app development using Flutter, you need help from the top Flutter app development companies. Moreover, the best way would be to outsource Augmented Reality app development.

You can securely choose companies from countries with lower hourly rates such as India. Hire a dedicated app development team that has business analysts, Flutter app developers, and testers. Hence, you will achieve a smooth development process with reduced development costs. 

So, you can make an AR app with Flutter a big blockbuster. Just as the following companies have proved the combination of Flutter and AR a super hit.

Top Companies Built AR Apps with Flutter

• Alibaba

The Alibaba group is a brand-driven and huge enterprise globally. Xianayu app is the correct example from the Alibaba Group. Although it is built to trade secondhand products. The app is booming in China with Flutter competency with remarkable AR integrations. Hence, users can easily use camera features to click pictures and try products.

• Google

As Google is the main genius in developing Flutter technology, its extensive utilization is also visible in it. In addition to that, Google Lens and Classroom are accurate AR-driven applications. So, it completely justifies the example of building an AR app with Flutter for business growth.

• BMW

The BMW app which is built on Flutter offers to watch the 3D models of future-ready BMW cars. With stunning AR integration, experience interactive product details, high-resolution images or videos, and many more. So, it’s a masterpiece in the automotive sector to consider Augmented Reality app development with Flutter. 

• The New York Times

One of the most prevailing newspapers in the USA, The New York Times has also enhanced the functionality of Flutter. It has utilized the AR elements to optimize user engagement. So, the news stories and visual content become more interactive. 

• IKEA

Now, IKEA is a popular furniture enterprise that opted for the Flutter technology stack. As the demand for AR emerged, it excelled in the IKEA mobile app. So, users can preview how furniture items will look in their homes. It has transformed the users’ shopping experience and reached vast customers remotely.

Gain Your Edge-Perfect AR App Development With Flutter! 

Research time is over, now start with AR app development using Flutter. AR technology has a bright future for the business. People are already appreciating AR-powered apps. So, if you don’t want to fade away from this technology-driven business race, you need to implement AR solutions. Hire skilled Flutter app developers from India and acquire top-notch app development solutions. You can explore your app’s possibilities with our expert consultation!

FAQs

What are the Benefits of AR App Development using Flutter?

There are numerous benefits of building an AR app with Flutter such as;

• Single Codebase for multiple platform AR apps
• Easy and quick AR plugin integrations
• Real-time changes in the app through a hot reloading solution, etc. 

Which are the Leading AR Apps in the Market?

Top Augmented Reality Apps are:

• IKEA Place
• Google Lens
• Houzz
• Snapchat
• Pokemon Go
• Wayfair
• Instagram
• Sky Guide

What is AR Mobile Development? 

Although Augmented Reality mobile development is similar to applications. It includes building software solutions for mobile with AR components. So, users can access the real-time audio or video of the object’s mobile.

How Much does an Augmented Reality App Development Cost in India?

When you hire expert developers in India, the hourly rate will fall between $20-$25. It is an affordable cost to build an AR app. Because developers from other regions charge higher rates. So, it is advisable to hire Indian developers.

Which other Latest Technology to Integrate into Mobile Apps?

Apart from Augmented Reality (AR), you can also leverage other latest technology trends. They are Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), and Blockchain technologies. 

How Much Does it Cost to Build an AR App?

The overall cost to build an AR app ranges from $15,000 to $110,000. However, it may increase with the integration of new-age features and solutions. 

What is the Difference Between Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)?

The most common difference between AR and VR is digital projection. AR augments or enhances real-world elements by using a camera or mobile sensors. While VR entirely replaces the physical objects with virtual objects. So, AR is a controllable solution, whereas VR is managed by the systems only.