Thursday, October 9, 2025

5 Most Innovative Augmented Reality Products of 2018

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Introduction to Augmented Reality

In 2018, augmented reality (AR) transitioned from a promising concept to tangible developments in software and hardware, proving that immersive computing is the long run of technology. While traditional mobile apps and desktop computing continued to carry user attention, and virtual reality (VR) experienced ups and downs, AR stole the show with its exciting innovations.

The Rise of AR

Traditional mobile apps on smartphones maintained user attention, while desktop computing struggled to maintain up, and VR saw a couple of highs and lows but remained somewhat relevant. However, essentially the most exciting development in computing got here by means of AR. With that in mind, we took a better take a look at the perfect innovations that time toward AR’s future.

Magic Leap One

The Magic Leap One debuted in August, and despite initial lukewarm reception, the next months have proven that there may be growing interest and excitement across the device. The variety of Magic Leap users could also be small, however the chatter online indicates that the ranks of Magic Leap One developers and users are growing. Companies like Cheddar, Lowe’s, and Avatar Chat are pushing out products for the Magic Leap, and the software ecosystem is expanding rapidly.

DreamGlass

DreamGlass, born from the Meta team, offers a refreshing tackle mobile AR that is next-level yet inexpensive. By pairing the DreamGlass visor with an Android smartphone, users get access to a basic AR computing environment with 6DoF tracking, hand gesture recognition, and a 90-degree diagonal field of view. Starting at $619, the device represents a lovely midway point between low-level AR and high-end AR.

North Focals

North, a Canadian startup, emerged as an unlikely player within the race to bring consumer-ready smartglasses to the masses. The company’s Focals smartglasses include dedicated retail locations in New York and Toronto, offering a trendy design that leans towards a Warby Parker aesthetic. Although the device should need time to mature, North’s latest patents make it value watching closely.

Spatial

Spatial, a distant communication platform via AR, continues to be in its infancy but shows immense promise. The software tool allows for realistic avatars that look exactly such as you, together with usable virtual arms and hands. Currently available only to business customers, Spatial is anticipated to achieve non-business users soon, offering a collaborative experience that is closer to working with others in VR without the restrictions.

The AR Cloud

The AR cloud is a cloud-based system that allows various AR users to share experiences across devices and locations, with virtual AR objects and activity remaining persistent. Magic Leap’s "Magicverse" concept, 6D, Niantic, Amazon, Ubiquity6, Blue Vision, and Microsoft are all working on deploying AR clouds, each taking a distinct approach. The growing field of blockchain technology is anticipated to affect how these clouds are handled and monetized.

Conclusion

The AR world filled 2018 with surprises, and significant progress was made toward concept videos. With Apple’s rumored smartglasses on the horizon, 2019 guarantees to be filled with much more innovation and excitement. As AR continues to evolve, it’s essential to keep watch over these developments and see how they shape the long run of immersive computing.

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