Films and novels have been promising us a glittering future for aeons, and we’re finally seeing it come to life.
From a cinema you wear on your head to smartphone-based archery, the future is here — and it’s bonkers.
MERGE Cube
Looking like some kind of ancient artefact, the MerGe Cube is actually a way to physically interact with the digital world. Through your phone or tablet the object in your hand becomes a playable rubik’s cube, a living planet, a 3D guide to the human body — it just depends which app you choose. Until Star Wars-style holograms arrive, this does the job nicely.
£24.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Table-sized smartphones you can fold up and put in your pocket are now a reality. OK, they’re not on sale until later this year, but before long everyone will have one — and while Samsung’s book-like handset will no doubt be one of the most beautiful, it’ll also likely be one of the most expensive at around £1,800.
Coming soon | Samsung | Pre-register here
Royole Moon 3D mobile theatre
Why go to the cinema when you could wear it on your head? OK, that’s not a question anyone has ever asked, but you’re guaranteed not to have kids kicking your seat or throwing popcorn in your own private head-mounted theatre. Full hD curved screens and noise-cancelling headphones mean you can lose yourself in Say Anything, anywhere.
£749 | Selfridges | Buy it now
Nintendo Labo VR
It’s not the most realistic virtual reality kit on the market but it’s probably the most fun. Nintendo’s unique take on Vr uses the Switch console and controllers as the wtech inside some bonkers game accessories — a blaster gun, camera, even an elephant and a bird. The future hasn’t really arrived until it starts getting silly. Labo VR Kit (requires Nintendo Switch),
£69.99 | Nintendo | Buy it now
Kano Harry Potter coding kit
Tech is the closest we’ve got to real magic, which makes coding the equivalent of casting spells. This kit teaches harry potter fans of six and up (adults included!) to build their own magic wand that works with a tablet to make magic happen on screen when you wave it about.
£99.99 | Kano | Buy it now
Virtual Archer
In the same way Guitar hero made us feel like instant rock stars, this daft smartphone accessory uses your phone to transform you into robin hood. Actual archery skills are not required and nor are real arrows — making it a fair bit safer for indoor play. It includes free augmented reality games for Android and iphone.
£22.99 | Prezzybox | Buy it now
HiMirror Mini
This touchscreen mirror doesn’t just tell you who’s the fairest of them all — it helps you become even fairer. It can analyse and track skin features like fine lines and pores over time, so you can see if those fancy creams really work. plus you can watch YouTube or browse Instagram while you’re getting ready, which is sometimes nicer than forensically examining your face using its three levels of zoom.
£209 | QVC | Buy it now
