Google Cardboard is a virtual reality that uses only your phone and the Google Cardboard viewer. It displays a short videos with a twist—literally. As you spin and move your head, you can see different things around you. Especially with earbuds in, this experience has a very real-life feel. Several different apps offer these videos, and many companies have made their own version of the cardboard. Several of these companies have made easier-to-use “virtual reality headsets” which usually are strapped to your head making it so you don’t have to hold it up to your head. But these are notably more expensive, ranging all the way into the $100 range. Google offers an instructional on how to make your own Google Cardboard which includes a downloadable template, but sites like imcardboard.com offer many different colors for only $20. Amazon also offers prices lower than $20 depending where you buy it.

Google’s own app, Cardboard, allows many different cardboard options. It includes Explorer, Exhibit, Urban Hike and Kaleidoscope. Explorer allows you to visit places in the world that are selected by Google. Exhibit shows animated artifacts that can be turned around to see different views. Urban Hike, my personal favorite, takes you to different places on Google Earth, like the Eiffel Tower and the Venice canals, and allows you to see the places in your own eyes. I really like the Urban Hike because it gives you different locations all around the world. This is one of the better apps and I would recommend it.

The New York Times app NYT VR provides users with a variety of different videos made by The New York Times themselves. It not only allows users who have the headsets to view the videos, but has a smartphone option for those who don’t. The videos are well-made and tell a story. The image quality is very good which allows for realistic videos. This was my favorite of all apps I tried. I enjoyed watching all the videos and a lot of them, they offered very cool views and experiences that people can’t usually experience.

Disney also made their own partial virtual reality app focused on Star Wars. This app also has a smartphone option. It includes tons of different activities like official videos, a game called Force Trainer, gifs and emoji which you can copy and paste into text and Jakku spy, the only part of the app that used the cardboard. It displays a message but through video form. Because the app is so limited to use with the cardboard, I don’t like it very much. The videos through Jakku spy were cool, but not very long. They relayed a message but each one must be downloaded, which takes long and uses up storage.

Although some of the smartphone virtual realities can be very cool, I think that the cardboards allow the experience to be more real. Because all outside lights (and sounds if you are wearing earbuds) are blocked out, it seems like you are watching the videos through your own eyes. A lot of games are available that can be played in the virtual reality that make them so much better. Ultimately, I think it is a fun to use and if you are looking for an unique experience, I would recommend it to you.