Home Technology Amazon Updates Its iOS App With AR Shopping Feature

Amazon Updates Its iOS App With AR Shopping Feature

When you purchase through our sponsored links, we may earn a commission. By using this website you agree to our T&Cs.

To make your holiday shopping even better, Amazon has come up with a new feature. The new feature, dubbed as AR View, allows you to check out how the product which you are considering buying, looks in your home, or at the place you want to buy it for.

Amazon AR View – how does it work?

With the help of the new feature, shoppers can overlay 3D images of the products they are considering – like furniture, vases, etc. – at home using the iPhone camera to get a better look at the size. According to Amazon, “thousands” of products across several categories will be available in AR. Amazon AR View, however, is only available for users on iOS 11 with the iPhone 6S or later.

“Using Apple’s ARKit, AR View helps customers make better shopping decisions by allowing them to visualize the aesthetic and fit of products in their own living space,” Amazon said in a press release. Previously also Amazon experimented with the AR technology in its app in the form of AR stickers.  However, it was not very useful due to the limited product set and sort of unreal overlay.

To use Amazon AR View, first tap the camera icon in the Amazon app, and then select the new feature from the menu, according to TechCrunch. Then you will have to select from various categories such as furniture, toys and games, electronics, Kitchen, etc. Buyers are allowed to rotate the product and see them in a full 360-degree view.  In addition, buyers can also customize colors on the virtual products to find the right combination.

Amazon is not the only company to bring such a feature to its shopping app. Furniture sellers IKEA and Wayfair already offer such a facility. Going forward, we could see more of such shopping concepts based on Google’s new ARCore software. Such concepts, along with helping customers to make an informed choice about the product they are buying, also helps retailers push their sales along with lower returns.

Holiday shopping season starts

Separately, starting today, Amazon’s new “Countdown to Black Friday” event has started.  Amazon’s new Countdown to Black Friday page now lists 10 killer deals including heavy discounts on the Yi home security camera, $100 off a tiny portable projector, a 65-inch Samsung 4K TV for under $1,000, and much more.

“We’re excited to officially kickoff another holiday season, bringing customers better deals than ever before on everything they’ll need – from electronics and toys to clothing, home essentials and more,” the retailer said. “Some of the most popular starting points for holiday shoppers are our Black Friday Deals Store, Amazon’s curated Home and Electronics Gift Guides, the Holiday Toy List, the newly redesigned Gift Finder, our Handmade Gift Shop, and Interesting Finds.”

According to Amazon, this holiday season, customers can expect lucrative deals on premium TVs from brands like Sony, LG and Samsung. Further, deals will also be available on toys from Star Wars, LEGO, Nerf, Melissa & Doug and more. To know more about the Black Friday Deals, head to www.amazon.com/blackfriday.

Our Editorial Standards

At ValueWalk, we’re committed to providing accurate, research-backed information. Our editors go above and beyond to ensure our content is trustworthy and transparent.

Aman Jain
Personal Finance Writer

Want Financial Guidance Sent Straight to You?

  • Pop your email in the box, and you'll receive bi-weekly emails from ValueWalk.
  • We never send spam — only the latest financial news and guides to help you take charge of your financial future.