Android phones are getting a big AR upgrade to fight the iPhone 12

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The Pixel 4 and 4 XL will be the first to receive it

pixel 4 xl
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Google plans to bring augmented reality support to more phones with dual camera setups, starting with the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. As spotted by Android Police, the company has issued an update to the Google Play Services for AR, the app it uses for the ARCore feature set.

The changelog notes "Dual camera stereo depth on supported devices," and Google's list of compatible devices specifies that the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will be the first dual camera phones to receive this update in the coming weeks.

It's a bit strange that the first devices to receive this update will be 2019's flagship Pixel phones. But they both use a telephoto lens for their secondary camera, which likely aid in creating more detailed 3D maps.

The Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 are both noticeably absent from the coming soon notice. They both use an ultrawide secondary shooter, so Google might have some additional background work to get ARCore to function properly on those devices. 

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Jordan Palmer
Jordan Palmer
Phones Editor

Jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things phone-related. He's written about phones for over six years and plans to continue for a long while to come. He loves nothing more than relaxing in his home with a book, game, or his latest personal writing project. Jordan likes finding new things to dive into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Outside of work, you can find him poring over open-source software and his studies.