At around $15, the Google Cardboard headset is actually made of cardboard and is powered by your phone. Just fold the box into the proper shape, fire up an app, and slide your phone into the designated slot. It’s that simple. Of course, to truly make the most of virtual reality, you’ll want to use it with some of the best VR apps for Google Cardboard. vTime XR places users in a virtualized environment, but there are dozens of destinations. Sit at a swanky hotel bar, camp in the middle of a forest, and much more. You can even take a virtual selfie if you want to. vTime XR works with both iOS and Android and is totally free. Download For: If you see an installation or exhibit that interests you, you can zoom in for a closer look. You can even sort by time periods. The personal collections option lets you save your favorite pieces of art to share with friends later, and the “On This Day” feature lets you explore history that happened on whatever that current day is. It’s a great way to visit museums in other countries that you might be able to afford to visit otherwise. Google Arts and Culture works with both iOS and Android for zero cost. Download For: Sketchfab was designed as a sort of marketplace for 3D modelers to sell their work, and as a result you can sort by a few different categories—including low-poly models and game-ready models. One of the best ways to check out the coolest models is to sort by what’s popular and take a closer look at all of the interesting creations. A quick browse showed everything from anime-inspired models to Stranger Things homages. Sketchfab works with both iOS and Android and is free to download. Download For: The ability to dive into a documentary and get a 360-degree view of the action creates an immersive experience that drives home the storytelling in a way just reading about it cannot. Whether it’s a shark cage or a dog show, the experiences are nearly endless. NYT VR is available for Android and is free to download. Download For: The app does the hard work of stitching the photos together. It also grabs audio from around you so that you’re appealing to multiple senses at once. It also works with Google Street View VR. Google Cardboard Camera works with both Android and iOS and is totally free. It’s one of the easiest ways to create virtual reality photographs without investing in a budget-busting VR camera. Download For: There are other uses for the app, too. Planning to move to a new neighborhood and want a ground-level look at the surrounding area? There’s no better way to check it out than to slip on a VR headset and stroll through the city. You can use your headset to plan vacations this way, too. Google Earth VR is available for Android and is totally free—and it’s one of the best ways to feel the true potential and power of virtual reality. Download For: Fulldive VR is available for both Android and iOS and is totally free, although some of the services that offer VR content might require payment. It’s definitely one of the best apps to check out. Download For: You can also swap to Void Mode, which puts the screen in front of you without the distractions of the faux-room. All of Netfix’s programming is available. While there aren’t any special functions to watching in VR, the illusion of a much larger screen makes you forget you’re watching on a phone screen and makes you feel like you’re actually in the room itself. Netflix VR is available for iOS and Android. Download For: Google Expeditions is available for both Android and iOS for free. It is a sort of a companion to the Arts and Culture app mentioned before, but while that one allows you to visit museum exhibits, Google Expeditions takes you to far-flung locales that you may not be interested in visiting otherwise. Download For: You can experience everything from the boarding and launch of the Apollo 11 command module, the first flight of the Wright Brothers Flyer, and much more. The app is available for iOS and Android and is completely, totally free. It’s the perfect way to introduce curious young minds to the world of aviation. Download For:
