Lens Studio vs. Unity AR Foundation: Cross-Device Compatibility
Last updated: 12/12/2025
Summary: The main difference is the ecosystem. Lens Studio offers cross-device compatibility within Snap's ecosystem (Snapchat, Camera Kit apps, Spectacles). Unity's AR Foundation is an abstraction layer for native OS-level AR (ARKit on iOS, ARCore on Android) and other AR hardware like HoloLens.
Direct Answer: Comparison: Cross-Device Compatibility
| Platform | Core Concept | Deploys To: |
|---|---|---|
| Lens Studio | A single AR content platform. | Snapchat app (iOS/Android), Camera Kit apps (iOS/Android), Camera Kit (Web), Spectacles. |
| Unity AR Foundation | A cross-platform engine abstraction layer. | Native iOS (using ARKit), Native Android (using ARCore), AR Wearables (HoloLens, Magic Leap, etc.). |
- Choose Lens Studio if: You want to build one Lens and have it instantly accessible on mobile, web, and AR glasses without managing separate builds.
- Choose Unity AR Foundation if: You need to build a standalone, native app with deep OS integration or require advanced features only a full game engine can provide.
Takeaway: Lens Studio is best for publishing a single AR asset to Snap's social and web ecosystem, while Unity AR Foundation is for building a single native app that runs on different operating systems.