15 Once-Popular Home Gadgets That Are Now Completely Useless
These household gadgets were once cutting-edge, but modern technology has left them in the dust.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Every home used to have at least a few of these once-essential gadgets, but now they’ve been made obsolete. Whether replaced by smartphones, smart appliances, or just better ideas, these devices have gone from must-haves to completely unnecessary. If you still have any of these lying around, it’s probably time to let go.
1. Landline Phones
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Once the heart of every home, landline phones have been almost entirely replaced by cell phones. With unlimited minutes, texting, and video calls, there’s little reason to keep a corded phone around.
2. Alarm Clocks
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Digital alarm clocks used to be a bedroom staple, but now they collect dust. Smartphones do the job better, offering multiple alarms, soothing wake-up tones, and even smart sleep tracking.
3. VCRs
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Once the king of home entertainment, the VCR is now an oversized paperweight. DVDs, Blu-ray, and streaming services have rendered VHS tapes completely irrelevant.
4. Answering Machines
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There was a time when checking your messages meant pressing a button on a clunky little box. Now, voicemail is built into every smartphone and offered by carrier services.
5. DVD Players
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Like the VCR before it, DVD players are quickly becoming obsolete. Streaming services offer instant access to thousands of movies without the hassle of discs. Even Blu-ray is struggling to stay relevant in the digital world.
6. Fax Machines
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Once a staple in offices and even some homes, fax machines are now relics of outdated communication. Email, cloud storage, and e-signatures have made faxing unnecessary.
7. MP3 Players
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From the iPod to the Zune, MP3 players were the ultimate way to carry music on the go. Then, smartphones came along and improved everything.
8. Camcorders
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Families once documented every vacation, birthday, and holiday with camcorders. Now, smartphones are used to shoot in 4K, edit videos instantly, and upload straight to social media.
9. GPS Devices
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Dedicated GPS units were lifesavers for road trips, but now they’re totally redundant. Every smartphone has turn-by-turn navigation with real-time traffic updates.
10. Rolodexes
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Before contacts were stored in your phone, professionals relied on Rolodexes to organize names and numbers. These spinning card holders were once an office essential.
11. Handheld Calculators
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Basic calculators used to be a necessity in schools and offices, but smartphones have completely replaced them. Even scientific and graphing calculators are losing relevance with advanced apps.
12. Floppy Disks
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Floppy disks were once the primary way to store files, but they are now practically useless. Modern computers don’t even have disk drives, and a single USB flash drive can hold a large amount of data.
13. Standalone Radios
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Tuning into your favorite FM station on a radio was once a daily habit. Now, music streaming, podcasts, and satellite radio have taken over.
14. PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)
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Before smartphones, PDAs like the Palm Pilot were the height of productivity tech. They stored contacts, notes, and calendars—but so do most phones now, and they do way better.
15. Corded Computer Mice
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Remember when every computer mouse had a long, tangled cord? Wireless mice are now the standard, offering better flexibility and cleaner setups.