10 Tech Gadgets from the ’90s That Look Ridiculous Now

Devices that were futuristic in the past seemed large, unduly complicated, or just plain unworkable by today's standards. This article highlights 10 devices from the 1990s that today's standards would find ludicrous. We'll examine how technology has changed and left once-popular products in the dust, from huge cell phones to heavy camcorders.

Tricia Quitales
March 5, 2025
3 min read

10 Tech Gadgets from the ’90s That Look Ridiculous Now — cottonbro studio on Pexels

Rapid technological breakthroughs during the 1990s meant that many of the devices from that era were revolutionary. Some of these technologies, seem antiquated, clumsy, or downright ridiculous as technology develops. These devices helped us appreciate how far we have come in technology and how different the world of devices appears now. Looking back at the devices from the 1990s can make us laugh, though it was a period of significant technological innovation.

1. The Motorola StarTAC

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With a sleek, small flip form, the Motorola StarTAC was a breakthrough mobile phone from the 1990s. However, it would appear like a brick compared to today’s skinny, feature-packed cell phones. Its restricted capabilities and small screen give it the impression of a remnant from a simpler technological period.

2. The Sony Walkman

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Portable music became possible with Sony’s Walkman, which let people listen to their favorite songs. Looking back, the bulky design, tape-based method, and the need for headphones made it seem old-fashioned. With small MP3 players and modern streaming services, the Walkman seems incredibly out of date.

3. The Polaroid Camera

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In the 1990s, Polaroid cameras were all the rage because they let you print a picture right away. Digital cameras and smartphones, on the other hand, have made paper copies rare and useless. The Polaroid looks much less helpful than new technologies because of its size and how it develops film.

4. The Game Boy

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With games like Tetris and Pokémon, Nintendo’s Game Boy was a breakthrough handheld gaming platform. Compared to contemporary handheld gaming devices, the monochrome screen, lack of illumination, and large size make the device ridiculous, notwithstanding its success. The Game Boy now seems like an antiquated piece of technology, particularly given that cell phones provide high-definition games.

5. The Discman

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Reversing the Walkman, Sony’s Discman was a portable CD player that let individuals listen to music on-demand. The big size, necessity for CDs, and continuous skipping made it unworkable even if it seemed handy. The emergence of digital music and smaller MP3 players has rendered the Discman absurd.

6. The Tamagotchi

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A small digital pet, the Tamagotchi required continual care and attention. Although this was a classic device from the 1990s, its pixelated screen and minimal interactivity now seem shockingly unsophisticated. The Tamagotchi seems like a simple predecessor, given today’s powerful cellphones provide much more complex games and apps.

7. The Beeper/Pager

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Pagers were a common method to get brief messages or alerts before cell phone emergence. They now seem useless given their limited capability and demand for a different gadget. Pagers are a ridiculous relic of tech’s past in a world when cell phones can manage messaging, calling, and internet surfing.

8. The VHS Tape

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Watching movies in the 1990s mostly required VHS tapes. Although they were once a necessary home entertainment component, the slow rewind times and heavy tapes make them ridiculous now. VHS tapes appear archaic with the introduction of DVDs, Blu-rays, and streaming.

9. The JVC Video Camera

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In the ’90s, JVC’s video cameras were popular for capturing family events and home videos. However, their weight, bulk, and lack of convenience make them unworkable relative to modern, lightweight digital cameras or cell phones. They seem far from the little, simple devices we carry now.

10. The Apple Newton

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Early efforts at a personal digital assistant, or PDA, with handwriting recognition and simple communication capabilities, were the Apple Newton. Though ahead of its time, the gadget was clumsy, costly, and unsuccessful. Given tablets and smartphones of today, the Newton seems shockingly antiquated and underpowered.