14 Retro Tech Devices from the ’90s Now Only in Collections

These once-cutting-edge gadgets now live in storage boxes and glass display cases, reminders of a tech world in transition.

  • Alyana Aguja
  • 4 min read
14 Retro Tech Devices from the ’90s Now Only in Collections
Anna Zakharova from Unsplash

In the 1990s, technology was both bulky and magical, a time when hardware felt personal and full of possibility. These devices offered early glimpses into the digital future, even if many were awkward, overengineered, or quickly obsolete. For collectors and tech nostalgists, they represent not just machines, but memories of a more tactile digital age.

1. Apple Newton MessagePad

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Before the iPhone, Apple tried its hand at mobile computing with the Newton MessagePad. It was one of the earliest personal digital assistants (PDAs) and could take notes, manage contacts, and even recognize handwriting, albeit poorly. Despite its flop, it paved the way for the touch-screen revolution years later.

2. Sony MiniDisc Player

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MiniDiscs were supposed to be the next big thing in portable audio, blending the convenience of CDs with digital flexibility. Sony’s sleek players looked futuristic, but the format never took off outside of Japan. Audiophiles and collectors now covet them for their nostalgia and compact design.

3. Tamagotchi

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These tiny digital pets lived on a keychain and needed constant feeding, playing, and cleaning — or they’d “die.” Every school had at least one kid sneaking peeks under the desk to keep their Tamagotchi alive. Today, the originals are cherished relics of a more pixelated time.

4. Microsoft Encarta CD-ROM

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Before Wikipedia was a click away, kids relied on Microsoft Encarta, the digital encyclopedia that came on a set of CDs. It had articles, videos, and even a talking MindMaze game to make learning fun. Now, it’s a relic of an era when knowledge came in plastic cases.

5. Game Boy Camera and Printer

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Nintendo’s Game Boy Camera turned the chunky handheld into a low-res digital camera, and the thermal printer let you print grayscale selfies on receipt paper. It was bizarre, innovative, and totally ’90s. Most kids didn’t care about the image quality — they just loved the idea of being able to take photos on a game console.

6. Palm Pilot

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The Palm Pilot was the power tool of every ’90s executive and type-A student, letting you jot down notes, check appointments, and sync with your PC. It was the OG digital organizer before smartphones swallowed the function whole. Some still love its tactile stylus and simple interface.

7. Zip Drive by Iomega

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Floppy disks were too small, and burning CDs was still slow, so Zip disks were a godsend for ’90s file hoarders. With 100MB of storage, Iomega’s Zip Drives felt like the future. Today, they mostly sit in boxes next to old thesis papers and dusty cables.

8. LaserDisc Player

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LaserDiscs were massive, shiny platters about the size of vinyl records, and they offered sharper video than VHS. But they were expensive, bulky, and the discs had to be flipped halfway through a movie. Cinephiles still treasure them for the pristine analog quality and collectible packaging.

9. Compaq Presario All-in-One PC

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This home desktop PC was a beast of its time, combining a monitor and CPU into one unit and loaded with Windows 95. It came with built-in speakers and often bundled educational or creative software. It looked modern then, but now feels like a clunky stepping stone to today’s sleek machines.

10. Sony Watchman

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A portable television small enough to fit in your palm felt like sci-fi in the ’90s. The Sony Watchman had a grayscale screen and rabbit-ear antennas, offering news or cartoons on the go. It wasn’t practical, but it was cool — and that was enough.

11. SEGA Genesis Nomad

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This was SEGA’s handheld version of the Genesis console, able to play full-sized cartridges on the move. The screen ate batteries in hours, but it was thrilling to play Sonic the Hedgehog on a plane or bus. Few owned one, making it a sought-after collector’s item today.

12. Psion Series 5

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The Psion was a pocket-sized computer with a tiny keyboard and an operating system years ahead of its time. It ran apps, stored documents, and had a tactile clamshell design. Writers and coders who discovered it back then still remember it fondly.

13. Fisher-Price PixelVision PXL-2000

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Marketed as a kids’ camcorder, this oddball toy recorded black-and-white video onto cassette tapes. It created grainy, dreamlike footage that later caught the attention of experimental filmmakers. What was once a toy now sits in museums and indie film circles.

14. Beige Tower PCs

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The generic beige computer towers of the ’90s were clunky, loud, and often came with just enough RAM to crash when you opened more than two programs. However, they were the family hub for games like Doom, school reports, and dial-up internet. Tech collectors now seek out these machines to relive the golden age of CRT and CD-ROM.

Written by: Alyana Aguja

Alyana is a Creative Writing graduate with a lifelong passion for storytelling, sparked by her father’s love of books. She’s been writing seriously for five years, fueled by encouragement from teachers and peers. Alyana finds inspiration in all forms of art, from films by directors like Yorgos Lanthimos and Quentin Tarantino to her favorite TV shows like Mad Men and Modern Family. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her immersed in books, music, or painting, always chasing her next creative spark.

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