Augmented Reality 101: What is AR and How Does it Work?
Augmented reality (AR) captured the public imagination for years. Now that it’s real, many wonder how it works, how it fits into our lives, and what makes it valuable.

Augmented reality (AR) captured the public imagination for years. Now that it’s real, many wonder how it works, how it fits into our lives, and what makes it valuable.
Augmented reality (AR) began as a concept in science fiction but has matured into a powerful tool that can benefit businesses.
Magic Leap CEO announced last night during the AMD keynote at CES that Magic Leap 2 is the first ever AR device to earn an IEC 60601 certification.
I look back on 2022 with a level of amazement at what we’ve accomplished at Magic Leap. Our team dedicated countless hours to bringing the market's most advanced augmented reality technology to our customers, which culminated in the launch of Magic Leap 2.
Magic Leap App Simulator system allows development without a device. Edit and test code as it runs without deploying new versions. App development occurs in real-time and iteration is immediate.
Magic Leap 2 provides your choice of engines. This includes support for C API, Unity, and third-party engines via OpenXR (coming Q4 2022).
Unlike other augmented reality platforms, Magic Leap doesn't limit your development with a restrictive platform. Develop on Android™ AOSP OS interface standard. Magic Leap supports leading open software standards—including OpenGL and Vulkan—with OpenXR and WebXR (coming Q4 2022).
Augmented reality (AR) captured the public imagination for years. Now that it’s real, many wonder how it works, how it fits into our lives, and what makes it valuable.
Augmented reality (AR) began as a concept in science fiction but has matured into a powerful tool that can benefit businesses.
Quickly port Hololens and Mobile AR apps with standard Android APIs, pure Android support within Unity, and robust MRTK support. With Android™ AOSP, it's easy to support any Bluetooth or tethered hardware accessories your solution might require.
The openness of Magic Leap 2 includes application distribution and installation. You're free to sell your solutions directly to your customers through your own web store and channel partners—no app store submissions or approval processes. Users install your apps directly or through the MDM system of their choice.
Use the Magic Leap App Simulator to start developing for Magic Leap 2—even without a device. Port an existing app or build something entirely new.
Get started with the Simulator
Developer hardware bundles include all the accessories and software services you’ll need to start building your AR applications. Order through one of our partners to get started now.
Shop on Insight