18 Gadgets We Thought Were Revolutionary—Until They Flopped
From futuristic gadgets to epic flops, these 18 tech dreams crashed and burned, leaving us to wonder how they ever made it out of the lab!
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
In the high-tech world, which is ever-changing, certain gadgets create unprecedented hype before ultimately crashing and burning in a flamboyant style. From Google Glass’s misplaced hype to Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s incendiary inferno, these 18 cutting-edge concepts had the world talking but ultimately turned out to be nothing more than that. Here’s a rundown of the most iconic tech fails, where much-hyped promises met the constraints of consumer behavior and technological limits.
1. Google Glass (2013)
Image from Wikipedia
Hyped as the wearable future, Google Glass guaranteed internet access in the palm of your hand through a futuristic-looking pair of smart glasses. However, with its hefty price tag, invasion-of-privacy worry, and uncertain usefulness, it was less utility gadget and more sci-fi cosplay. By 2015, it was removed from consumer store shelves and discreetly rebranded for industrial applications.
2. Amazon Fire Phone (2014)
Image from Time
Amazon’s initial (and sole) smartphone featured gimmicks such as 3D “Dynamic Perspective” and deep integration with its platform. However, it was too expensive, too slow, and didn’t offer anything unique to Android competitors. It failed so miserably that Amazon lost $170 million and dissolved the Fire Phone staff.
3. Microsoft Zune (2006)
Image from Reddit
The Zune was Microsoft’s response to the iPod, and it had good hardware and features such as wireless sharing. However, it entered the market too late and never caught up with Apple’s marketing prowess or dominance. Even with several versions, Zune was ended in 2011.
4. Segway PT (2001)
Image from Yankee Magazine
The Segway was touted as a transportation revolution that would transform cities for all time. Instead, it found itself an amusement for tourists and mall security, thanks to its high cost, ungainly shape, and restrictive local ordinances. It was discontinued in 2020 after selling only 140,000 units in twenty years.
5. Apple Newton (1993)
Image from Science Museum Group Collection
Apple’s Newton MessagePad was one of the first PDAs, bringing handwriting recognition and mobile computing to the table. However, the technology wasn’t ready yet—its handwriting program was notoriously bad and parodied by The Simpsons. The Newton series was canceled in 1998 after burning hundreds of millions at Apple.
6. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (2016)
Image from Samsung Newsroom
First touted for its beautiful design and specifications, the Note 7 was soon notorious after several units randomly caught fire. Samsung recalled it, then recalled again when replacement devices also burned. It was ultimately discontinued, costing Samsung more than $5 billion and destroying consumer confidence.
7. Facebook Phone (HTC First, 2013)
Image from Ars Technica
Lauded as the best Facebook experience on the phone, the HTC First came pre-installed with “Facebook Home,” an area launcher prioritizing social streams over function. Buyers abhorred the cluttered look and inability to customize. It was yanked from shelves in a month because of weak sales.
8. Nintendo Virtual Boy (1995)
Image from Wikipedia
This early stab at virtual reality promised immersive 3D gaming. Instead, it delivered red monochrome graphics, awkward headsets, and a neckache-inducing design. The Virtual Boy was discontinued within a year, selling fewer than a million units.
9. Juicero (2016)
Image from The Guardian
Juicero was a $400 Wi-Fi-enabled juicer that squeezed proprietary juice packs. It became a tech industry joke when journalists discovered that you could squeeze the packs manually—no machine required. The company folded in 2017 after spending $120 million in capital.
10. Pebble Smartwatch (2013)
Image from CNET
Pebble’s smartwatch was innovative, with good battery life and cross-platform compatibility. However, it had no match once Apple and Samsung joined the party with better tech and means. Though there were die-hard fans, Pebble was sold out to Fitbit in 2016 and closed down.
11. Google Wave (2009)
Image from Wikipedia
Google Wave was sold as a futuristic collaboration platform that combined email, messaging, and live document sharing. However, it was too complicated to use and did not have a specific target market. Google canceled it in two years because it failed to gain traction.
12. Apple Pippin (1996)
Image from Wikipedia
Apple attempted to enter the gaming industry with the Pippin, a multimedia console designed by Bandai. However, it was too expensive, not powerful enough, and boasted a poor game library compared to PlayStation and Nintendo. Only some 42,000 units were sold before Apple effectively buried it.
13. Microsoft Kin (2010)
Image from Wikipedia
The Kin was a teen-targeted social-media phone developed with years of work and a billion-dollar investment. However, it didn’t have essential features such as an app store, and data plans were ridiculously pricey. It was on the market only 48 days before it was yanked.
14. CueCat (1999)
Image from Wikipedia
The CueCat was a barcode reader designed to connect printed material with web content by scanning magazine commercials. Consumers wouldn’t scan commercials to see sites—they could Google instead. Today, it is one of the worst consumer technology concepts ever conceived, and the company soon became extinct.
15. BlackBerry PlayBook (2011)
Image from Wikipedia
BlackBerry’s tablet was sexy and solidly constructed, but it shipped without critical applications like email, calendar, or contacts—in a business device! It was also crippled by BlackBerry’s struggling ecosystem and weak developer support. The PlayBook bombed badly, never taking hold.
16. Sony MiniDisc (1992)
Image from Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter - Substack
The MiniDisc was technically sophisticated, offering rewritable digital audio in a small package. However, it was released during the middle of the CD boom and was soon overtaken by MP3 players. It never gained worldwide momentum and was dropped in 2013.
17. Nokia N-Gage (2003)
Image from Wikipedia
A gaming phone hybrid, the N-Gage was poorly shaped, difficult to handle, and required the battery to be removed to switch games. Gamers and phone users didn’t like it, and it was soon surpassed by the Game Boy Advance and regular cell phones.
18. Google Stadia (2019)
Image from The Verge
Stadia promised console-grade cloud gaming without the console, straight to your browser or TV. However, lag problems, a thin game library, and confusing pricing made it unpopular. Google closed it in early 2023, just three years after its debut.
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