Got a VR-ready phone? Try these 3 apps first

Virtual reality has become all the rage nowadays. Big brands like Facebook-owned Oculus Rift and the HTC’s Vive are targeted at users looking for a premium experience while companies like Samsung, Lenovo and Google see better VR integration with even midrange smartphones. If you've swayed towards the latter and own a VR headset that is compatible with a smartphone, here are three apps you should definitely try out.

1. YouTube

Most of you already have the YouTube app on your smartphone but did you know you can use it with a VR headset? Remember those 360-degree videos on YouTube? Those are way better in VR. Simply type “360 videos” or “360 degree video” into a YouTube search and take your pick from thousands of videos in this format.

2. Google Street View

This is another awesome app from Google to showcase VR content, one that lets you explore places in 360 degrees. Think of it as taking a tour from the comfort of your living room. And if you’re an avid traveller who wants to share experiences with the world, the app also lets you capture content using a 360-degree camera or a compatible smartphone and publish it right to your own YouTube channel. There are currently about 100 featured locations around the world, but with the app being updated regularly expect to find more examples over time. 

3. Within

From fiction to immersive documentaries, the app includes a range of 360 video content from different genres. What makes this a must-have is the high video quality. The creators have also partnered with Apple, The New York Times, NBC, Vice Media, the United Nations, Annapurna Pictures for content.