The 2000s were a decade of rapid technological advancement, filled with impressive innovations that transformed the way we live and work; however, alongside the many successes, there were also notable missteps—gadgets that, despite making it to market, perhaps should have remained mere concepts. We’ll explore a selection of tech gadgets from the 2000s that, in hindsight, might have been better off left on the drawing board.
Novelty USB Drives
While cute or unique, novelty USB drives are not a wise investment for practical storage needs. These drives often charge a premium for design over functionality and durability. There is no point in owning a pink USB drive that can only store 2GB of data and will last two years max.
Connected Water Bottles
Connected water bottles are a high-tech solution to a problem that can easily be solved without digital intervention. The selling point of these bottles is that they can track hydration, but anyone can get a rough idea of how much water they drink. Besides, that’s why our bodies get thirsty.
Smartphone-Linked Smell Dispensers
Believe it or not, someone expects you to want your home to smell a certain way so badly that you pay hundreds of dollars for this product. The idea of controlling scents through your smartphone is novel but lacks practicality and value. Not to mention, you have to refill the scents regularly, so the expenses never stop.
Digital Picture Frames
This is not the worst idea in the world, but it might be the tackiest. The point of putting a picture up is to show how important it is. If your frame changes pictures every five seconds, it takes away from the intended purpose of choosing a picture to go on your wall.
Electric Wine Openers
Call us crazy, but electric wine openers offer little advantage over manual openers. It’s pretty rare that someone would say, “This is so hard—I wish I had an electric opener.” A review article on electric wine openers by Spruce found that they can cost up to $100, which is simply unbelievable.
VR Headsets for Pets
Put your hand up if you would love your parents to strap some goggles on you to enjoy virtual reality as opposed to the real world. The real problem here is that pets can’t effectively communicate if they hate the goggles, so it might be hard to know when they have had enough.
Gold-Plated Tech Accessories
Gold-plated tech accessories are more about status than substance, offering little beyond their shine. Gold-plated iPhones can cost thousands of dollars, and yet they do the same exact thing a normal one does. It’s hard to think of a worse use case for your money.
Overpriced HDMI Cables
In the era of digital clarity, spending a fortune on HDMI cables offers no benefits to the average consumer. Many expensive HDMI cables claim superior quality, and while that might be true in theory, that doesn’t necessarily translate to noticeable differences. Besides, you could always just mirror your TV.
Smart Hairbrushes
Smart hair brushes claim to improve hair health through tech features that are largely unproven. As you would expect, they are much more expensive than traditional hairbrushes. They were all the rage in the late 2010s when we saw L’Oreal launch a brush that could listen to your hair.
Gesture-Controlled Drones
Gesture-controlled drones promise futuristic control but often fall short of providing a satisfying user experience. They are often harder to use than drones with regular controls. Traditional controls simply work better and are more predictable and therefore more reliable.
Self-Stirring Mugs
Self-stirring mugs are a novel idea that solves a problem that’s easily managed with a spoon. In other words, a problem that doesn’t exist. Unlike the other gadgets on this list, these are relatively affordable, with most of them being under $20.
Bluetooth-Enabled Toothbrushes
Bluetooth-enabled toothbrushes are supposed to make your brushing experience better, but it’s not clear if they really do a better job than the old-school brushes. Many dentists say that using a regular toothbrush correctly is just as good. The one thing all dentists agree on is switching to an eclectic toothbrush, but anything beyond that is rarely needed.
Smart Suitcases
Smart suitcases come with cool features like being able to track them with GPS or lock them remotely. But they have problems, too. The batteries can cause issues when you’re flying, and of course, they are more expensive. They also might not last as long because they have more parts that can break.
Phone Sanitizing Devices
Phone sanitizing devices are marketed as a new way to keep your phone clean from germs. However, cleaning your phone the old-fashioned way with wipes works just as well. These devices are pretty expensive, and they don’t do anything you can’t do with simpler cleaning methods.
Interactive Exercise Mirrors
Interactive exercise mirrors are a sleek, modern approach to fitness, but unless you have $2,000 lying around, a YouTube video works just fine. In addition to the initial expense, you also need to find space for the massive delicate slab of glass in your house.
Pet Cameras with Treat Dispensers
Pet cameras with treat dispensers seem like a great idea for pet owners who want to interact with their pets while at work. However, they are quite expensive and pose the risk of giving your pet too many treats. Simple video calls can let you see and talk to your pet without the high cost or risk of overfeeding.
AI-Powered Translation Devices
AI-powered translation devices are designed to help overcome language barriers, making it easier to understand and communicate. However, they often struggle with capturing some sentences, such as idioms and slang. This can lead to inaccuracies and sometimes misunderstandings.
