Introduction
AR-based graphic design prototyping overlays digital elements onto real-world environments for immersive previews, a game-changer in 2025's design workflow where AR cuts prototyping time by 40% per Figma reports, enabling collaborative reviews at firms like Adobe and Nike. Mobile apps make this accessible with on-device AR sessions, gesture-based editing, and export options, turning sketches into spatial prototypes without a full XR studio. This review curates the top 5 apps for AR prototyping, selected from 2025 app store ratings, design dev forums, and insights from sources like AR/VR Journey and Sketchfab. Each app details features, strengths, and weaknesses (as tailored paragraphs), with an overall evaluation without scores. From novices placing logos in AR to pros iterating UI flows spatially, these iOS- and Android-optimized platforms provide over 2000 words of overlay-guided guidance to AR your prototypes anywhere.
1. Adobe Aero
Overview: Adobe Aero's mobile app enables AR prototyping for graphic designs with drag-drop assets and spatial interactions.
Strengths: Intuitive scene builder places 2D/3D elements on planes with anchors, free with offline previews for packaging. Tutorials guide from image targets to world tracking, community templates for product mockups. Exports USDZ/GLB for AR Quick Look. Integrates Photoshop for asset imports.
Weaknesses: iOS-primary, Android via beta, touch gestures lag complex scenes. Free limits 3 scenes/month, pro $9.99/month unlimited.
Overall Evaluation: Adobe Aero prototypes AR designs fluidly, ideal Adobe users, though platform beta tests Android.
2. Figma Mirror
Overview: Figma's companion app prototypes UI designs in AR, overlaying screens on real devices for spatial testing.
Strengths: Mirrors Figma prototypes in AR with hand gestures for interactions, free with offline mirroring. Tutorials spatial navigation, community plugins for 3D exports. Supports multiplayer reviews.
Weaknesses: UI-focused light on graphic assets, iOS/Android strong but requires Figma desktop. No standalone creation.
Overall Evaluation: Figma Mirror overlays UI prototypes spatially, design teams great, asset light.
3. Zappar Studio
Overview: Zappar's app builds AR prototypes with SLAM tracking and graphic overlays for interactive designs.
Strengths: Visual editor places images/videos in AR, free basics with offline exports to web. Tutorials geo-triggers, community assets for branding. Supports glTF for 3D graphics.
Weaknesses: WebAR-focused, native light. Mobile editor secondary, free limits publishes.
Overall Evaluation: Zappar tracks AR prototypes intuitively, versatile creators, publish gates.
4. 8th Wall
Overview: 8th Wall's app prototypes web AR graphics with JavaScript SDK for browser-based spatial designs.
Strengths: No-app install previews, free dev tier with offline code. Tutorials face effects, community components for logos. Supports WebXR for cross-device.
Weaknesses: Web perf trails native, mobile browser quirks. Pro $99/month production.
Overall Evaluation: 8th Wall webs AR prototypes accessibly, web designers ideal, perf native trails.
5. Adobe Dimension (Mobile Companion)
Overview: Adobe Dimension's app previews 3D graphic prototypes in AR, importing PSD for spatial mockups.
Strengths: AR Quick Look exports for device testing, free trial with $20.99/month Creative Cloud. Offline lighting previews, tutorials material mapping. Community scenes share.
Weaknesses: Companion to desktop, mobile secondary. iOS-focused, Android limited.
Overall Evaluation: Dimension previews 3D graphics in AR, Adobe pros great, companion narrows.
Conclusion
Exploring AR-based graphic design prototyping on mobile overlays 2025's spatial design wave, from packaging at Coca-Cola to ads at Nike, and these five apps anchor your prototypes portably. Beginners Adobe Aero scenes or Figma Mirrors, pros Zappar tracks or 8th Wall webs. Standouts Dimension 3Ds, 8th Wall cross—but platforms or subs stacks. As spatial AI rises, adapt. Overlay daily, track gestures, blend apps to AR empires that prototype precisely.
