Google Lens wasn't the only exclusive the Pixel 2 series of phones received last year. In December, an update was rolled out to the devices allowing for Pixel and Pixel 2 owners to use AR Stickers in the camera app. AR Stickers are 3D augmented reality characters that can be placed into the world around you. These stickers included Star Wars characters and some characters from Stranger Things. Other stickers were added over time, and the collection is pretty impressive now.
AR Stickers are more advanced than anything that does simple post-processing, it shows the shadows of the 3D model. The phone is processing the shadows and in some cases, reflections, as it is rendering in the picture. ARCore even gauges the dimensions of your surroundings to better gauge the size of the stickers.
There's a possibility of other compatible devices running AR stickers too
Naturally, this feature was ported to other devices including the Nexus 6P, OnePlus 3/3T, and Xaiomi Mi 5 but required a rooted device because the devices didn’t officially support ARCore. Now with AR Core v1.2 rolling out with support for a host of devices including the newly released Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ it is easier than ever to install AR Stickers without root.
It does require Google Camera to be installed on your device, which is included in the zip file included at the end. We recommend that you don't change any settings in the app as it could crash your phone causing it to reboot. With the GCam app, you can even get Google's HDR+ mode on your device, though the results aren't as impressive on non-Pixel devices. The port is relatively new and still has a few kinks that need to be ironed out. Here's how you go about installing it:
- Download ARCore from the Google Play Store and the two APKs in this zip file.
- Extract the contents of the zip file and install the two apks.
- Open the GCam app that you previously installed and select the options from the left side.
- Select AR Stickers grant the permissions, and you can drag stickers and enjoy.
Thanks to XDA Developers for putting together the files. The port works on The Galaxy S9, S9+ and Note 8, though we can't comment on it's working on the Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus.
News Source: XDA developers
