Upgrade reality

17 Apple’s augmented reality (AR) tech is really amazing, especially on more recent iPhones. By overlaying graphics over real-time images from your phone’s camera you can do everything from virtually trying out furniture to playing video games, and the number of AR apps (available from the App Store) is growing. Many of them also work on M1 Macs, albeit without the live camera view.

IKEA Place enables you to see how various items of furniture will look in your rooms; NightSky overlays all kinds of planetarium things over the sky and even enables you to see space stations in your living room; Pokémon Go turns the real world into a Pokémon playground. All of which are free (some with IAPs). Human Anatomy Atlas 2021 (£21.99) shows 3D models of skulls and skeletons wherever you point your phone. For bones of a different kind, Monster Park – AR Dino World (Free, offers IAPs) brings dinosaurs to life while Mammoth Mini Golf AR (£2.49) is exactly what its name suggests: an augmented reality game featuring mammoths and mini golf. Fancy making your own AR experiences? Everything you need is at developer. apple.com/augmented-reality.