12 Obsolete ’80s Portable Music Devices That Are Rare
They played your favorite mixtapes — now, most people do not even remember their names.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
These ’80s music devices were once popular, but most have faded away. Some played tapes, others tried early digital sound, and a few were just fun to carry around. They may be rare now, but they still bring back strong memories. This list shows how portable music used to look before smartphones took over.
1. Sony TPS‑L2 Walkman (1979)
Dave Jones from Australia on Wikimedia Commons
The first-ever Walkman changed how people listened to music by making it personal and portable. Its sleek blue-and-silver design became an instant icon, especially among teens and commuters. It helped launch a global craze that made cassette players essential in the 1980s.
2. Sony Discman D‑50 (1984)
Binarysequence on Wikimedia Commons
This was the first portable CD player made for everyday use, bringing digital sound to people on the move. Though it was bulky and expensive at first, it set the stage for the CD’s massive popularity. It also showed the world that tapes were no longer the only way to listen on the go.
3. Classic Boombox (early ’80s)
Sharpoff at Russian Wikipedia on Wikimedia Commons
The boombox was big, bold, and built to be loud. It became a street-style statement, blasting music in parks, sidewalks, and breakdance battles. While not exactly pocket-sized, it was still portable — and completely unforgettable.
4. Pocket Rockers (1988)
Fisher Price on Wikimedia Commons
Fisher-Price made these mini tape players just for kids, complete with clip-on cartridges and funky designs. They played short versions of hit songs and doubled as fashion accessories. Even though they were mostly a fad, they became a fun part of late ’80s pop culture.
5. MiniDisc Walkman (1992)
Dillan Payne on Wikimedia Commons
Sony’s MiniDisc was supposed to be the next big thing after cassettes and CDs. It let users record, edit, and skip tracks — features that felt futuristic at the time. Still, it never caught on widely, making original units hard to find today.
6. Creative Nomad MuVo (late ’90s)
Raimond Spekking on Wikimedia Commons
This tiny MP3 player looked more like a USB stick than a music device. You could plug it straight into a computer, drag in your music, and play it instantly. It paved the way for digital audio before the iPod became the default.
7. Microcassette Recorders (mid‑’80s)
Mk2010 on Wikimedia Commons
These pocket-sized recorders were mostly used for dictation, but some people used them to record songs off the radio. Their tiny tapes held limited sound quality but were perfect for voice notes or hidden messages. Today, they’re mostly collected by vintage tech fans.
8. Radio‑Cassette Hybrid (late ’80s)
fancycrave1 on Wikimedia Commons
These gadgets combined FM/AM radio and cassette playback in one handy device. They let people record songs off the radio and make mixtapes on the fly. Although convenient, they faded away once digital formats took over.
9. Samsung SPH‑M100 “UpRoar” (2000)
Raimond Spekking on Wikimedia Commons
This was the world’s first phone to support MP3 music playback. It let you carry songs and make calls on the same device, long before smartphones became standard. Even though it was ahead of its time, it quickly got overshadowed by better tech.
10. Microsoft Zune (2006)
Microsoft Sweden on Wikimedia Commons
Zune aimed to rival the iPod with sleek design and a music subscription service. It even had a sharing feature that let users beam songs to each other. Despite Microsoft’s effort, it never gained traction and quietly faded into tech history.
11. Neo‑Retro Bluetooth Boombox (2010s)
Agnali on Wikimedia Commons
Designed to look like the boomboxes of the ’80s, these new versions had modern features like Bluetooth and USB. They were more for style and nostalgia than serious music use. Though not from the ’80s, they revived interest in that era’s look and sound.
12. Panasonic RQ-S1 Slim Cassette Player (1989)
User:Lcarsdata on Wikimedia Commons
Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music ended the need for standalone music players. Everything you need is now on your phone, from playlists to podcasts. However, that shift also made rare ’80s gadgets feel even more special to collectors today.