15 Gadgets You Were Obsessed with in the 2000s (That Are Useless Now)
A nostalgic look at the once-beloved gadgets of the 2000s that we couldn't live without—until technology left them in the dust.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
The 2000s were a tech innovation golden era, with gizmos we once thought we could not live without but are now nothing but nostalgia pieces. From flip phones and iPods to portable DVD players and dedicated GPS devices, those once-revolutionary devices have been replaced with smartphones, streaming services, and more intelligent counterparts. This is a nostalgic roll call of fun, looking back at 15 favorite gadgets that defined our existence—only to become utterly outdated.
1. iPod Classic
Image from Wikipedia
The iPod Classic was the means of having your whole music library in your pocket before smartphones dominated the scene. It had a click wheel and tiny screen but was otherwise futuristic at the time, allowing us to scroll through loads of songs with just the click of a button. However, after streaming services and smartphones merged, carrying a dedicated music player made no sense.
2. BlackBerry Phones
Image from Ubuy Philippines
The BlackBerry was the business communication king, with its QWERTY keyboard and BBM messaging. Everyone was stuck to their small screens, clicking away at those little buttons as if their lives depended on it. Then, the iPhone and Android touchscreen revolution came along, and suddenly, physical keyboards seemed like ancient relics.
3. Portable DVD Players
Image from Ubuy Philippines
Long car rides were preserved by these cumbersome, collapsible DVD players with minuscule screens. You’d have to lug a stack of discs and pray the battery didn’t run out halfway through the movie. Now, tablet or phone streaming has totally eliminated them.
4. MP3 Players (Non-Apple)
Image from Galleon.PH
Brands such as Creative Zen, Zune, and SanDisk got their time in the spotlight, attempting to rival the iPod. They had satisfactory storage, FM radio, and even occasionally video playback, but nothing ever took off in the same manner. Once smartphones made streaming music the standard, these MP3 players gathered dust.
5. Flip Phones
Image from The Outline
Before smartphones, flip phones were a status symbol, with fulfilling snap-close finales to calls. Motorola Razr was the holy grail of cool, slim, and futuristic mobile aesthetics. However, when touchscreens became the norm, flipping your phone open and closed just became annoying.
6. Digital Cameras (Point-and-Shoot)
Image from eBay.ph
Having a Sony Cyber-shot or a Canon PowerShot was de rigeur for snapping vacations and MySpace profile photos. However, once smartphone cameras were good (and then great), having a standalone camera seemed redundant. Today, only photography buffs and professionals take the time for dedicated cameras.
7. MiniDisc Players
Image from Wikipedia
Sony promoted MiniDiscs as the new hotness after cassettes and CDs, with improved sound quality in a smaller package. The catch? MP3 players and digital downloads rendered the entire idea irrelevant before it had even had a chance to shine.
8. Game Boy Advance SP
Image from Ubuy Philippines
The clamshell-shaped Game Boy Advance SP was a childhood favorite, allowing us to play Pokémon FireRed and Mario Kart Super Circuit on the go. The internal rechargeable battery and the backlit screen seemed revolutionary. However, as the Nintendo Switch and mobile gaming became popular, handheld consoles like this one have dissipated.
9. Standalone GPS Devices
Image from Switchback Travel
Garmin and TomTom dominated the roads, providing us with turn-by-turn directions long before Google Maps. You used to have to update maps by hand, and losing signal in the middle of nowhere was a nightmare. Today, all smartphones have GPS built-in, making these devices obsolete.
10. PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)
Image from Simple Wikipedia
Before smartphones took over, PDAs like the Palm Pilot were the ultimate productivity tools. They let you jot down notes, organize contacts, and even sync with early internet services. However, once smartphones combined all these functions (and added a ton more), PDAs were instantly outdated.
11. Dedicated E-Readers (Non-Kindle)
Image from Sony
Sony Reader and Nook used to be the main alternatives to books. However, since Kindle is leading the market and tablets provide multifunctional reading experience, these other e-readers have become extinct. Why should someone carry an additional device when a phone or tablet serves the purpose better?
12. Camcorders
Image from Wikipedia
Each household possessed a camcorder that could record birthdays, school productions, and vacations in cruddy 480p. Camcorders were clunky, used MiniDV tapes or DVDs, and needed an entire ritual to get the film onto a computer. Today, our phones have 4K capabilities, leaving camcorders in the rearview mirror.
13. LaserDisc Players
Image from High Def Digest
LaserDiscs were thought to be the future of home entertainment—giant CDs with better pictures than VHS. However, they were costly and clunky and were soon replaced by DVDs. Chances are, if you spot one today, it’s in a collector’s basement.
14. Universal TV Remotes with Screens
Image from RTI Control
Upscale universal remotes, such as the Logitech Harmony, were supposed to consolidate all your remotes into one, touchscreen device. However, configuring them was a hassle, and with smart TVs and voice assistants handling things, they became redundant. Today, everybody just uses their phones or built-in TV apps for control.
15. CD Walkman
Image from Ebay.ph
Sony’s Discman was a step up from cassette players, allowing you to take CDs with you. However, they were heavy, skipped at the slightest movement, and forced you to carry around a wallet-sized collection of CDs. When MP3 players and smartphones became dominant, no one wanted to work with spinning discs anymore.