Where Google demonstrates ARCore usually with a smartphone, Apple does that with an iPad. Therefore my question, considering user experience as the most important thing, what is the best device (phone or tablet), to use an AR app.
The answer(s) to this question might become opinionated very quickly, but I hope to find a good, objective answer(s) here or to start an interesting discussion on this subject.
The best AR demo device is no doubt the F35 pilot's helmet. I hope the modest price tag of $400K will not deter you.
Microsoft HoloLens and MagicLeap glasses are also nice, but not available for consumers on the date I am writing this.
For demo, you can actually use Oculus or cheaper VR sets, if you want only to show pre-recorded AR experience.
As an opinion, based on some hands-on experience, I'd say currently, the iPhone X, running 1OS 12, and using ARKit 2 compiled with XCode 10. The main reason for this is the True Depth front facing camera; I have been able to do eye tracking with it. Some Open Source projects that have eye tracking or otherwise use the True Depth camera (I got started from these):
I have a Magic Leap device, but have not yet gone beyond the hello world stage. And I can carry an iPhone X around, and use it without stares or comments, but the ML device is likely to be about as well received as Google Glass in bar.
Considering user AR experience, the best device for Augmented Reality is the one that has well-calibrated Accelerometer and Gyroscope sensors, and high-quality RGB back camera.
All Apple phones and tablets with A9 chipset and higher, have well-calibrated sensors:
iPhones – SE / 6s / 7 / 8 / X / Xs / Xr / 11 / 11 Pro
iPads – 2017 /2017 Pro / 2018 / 2018 Pro / 2019
The best ones that tailored for a robust AR experience are, of course, iPhones of X-series and iPads Pro-series (they have more powerful CPU/GPU, neural engines and TrueDepth front camera).
Android flagmans, such as Google, Huawei, or Samsung, also have well-calibrated IMUs, but the majority of low-end Android phones have no gyroscope at all. So many Android users can't build a robust AR experience or have no AR experience at all.
