Extended reality (XR) technology, blending the physical and virtual worlds, holds significant potential for transforming education, particularly in STEM. Augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) offer interactive experiences that enhance students’ ability to visualize and explore complex concepts. In physics, AR proves particularly valuable by making the invisible visible through immersive simulations. This proof-of-concept project developed AR-based simulations for a virtual optical table and basic electromagnetism. These were then evaluated by undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as faculty, using a mixed-methods survey and thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Participants reported the simulations to be immersive, engaging, and offering significant educational potential. Participants felt the technology had potential to improve conceptual understanding of complex topics. While technical challenges like device accessibility and cost were identified, the AR simulations lay the groundwork for further integration into physics education.