5 old devices that refuse to go away

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Technology is constantly evolving. Every minute of every day, someone is working to improve some technology somewhere, but sometimes old technologies end up being perfect. Civilization has reached a point in time where smartphones are true supercomputers capable of doing just about anything. Do you want to take a photo? Smartphone. Do you want to listen to any song you can think of? Smartphone. Need to call someone? Smartphone. And the list goes on.

Some technologies are so good that they refuse to disappear. Okay, that’s a bit of a personification because the technology doesn’t “choose” anything – not until AI achieves superintelligence, at least – it’s the people, the users, who choose to stick with the old technology. A record player, for example, is obsolete, but it has not disappeared anywhere. Vinyl collectors still truly prefer the sound of a record over anything else. Old flip phones are making a comeback as Millennials feel nostalgic for their childhood and Gen Z seeks to get away from all the distractions that the supercomputer in their pocket brings. We don’t know which invention will survive the test of time.

MP3 players were fantastic devices that allowed users to store all their music in one place. No longer did you need to swap out a CD just because you wanted to listen to a different band, or because your seventh burned CD of ’80s pop rock (don’t judge) obviously didn’t contain Green Day’s “Jesus of Suburbia.” Apple revolutionized technology with the original iPod and its subsequent iterations, attracting dozens of competitors, some of which have become just as iconic and essential as the iPod.

In 2026, unless you prefer single-use technology, you use your smartphone with one of the many major music streaming services to listen to your favorite songs. But MP3 players haven’t gone the way of the Dodo. Sony, for example, makes A-series Walkman MP3 players, although they are rather expensive. You can find considerably cheaper and even sleeker options (some even look like cassette tapes or cassette players), but the fact is that MP3 players are still an option if you prefer to listen to music in peace, without all the distractions that come with a smartphone.

People love taking photos to capture their favorite memories, which is why a camera has been included on every smartphone since at least 2007. Unfortunately, if you want to print these photos to frame or hang in your home, you have to follow a few steps that can seem like a real chore. This is why instant cameras probably aren’t going anywhere. Ever since Polaroid created the first commercially successful instant camera in 1948 (the Land Camera), the technology has kind of been around ever since.

The instant camera gradually evolved from a large, clunky camera that produced black and white photos to small devices that you could carry in one hand and print color images. Of course, the photos produced by these cameras are not masterful works of art that professional photographers will take. They’re more about capturing the moment as you experience it, much like most people do with their smartphones, but you get something to hold on to. They’re fun to fill a wall with and are an 80s piece of tech that will get all the baby boomers in their feels.

Who would have thought that records would survive this long as a viable music format? The first 12-inch long-playing records (LPs) appeared in 1948 and have since enjoyed varying degrees of popularity. The technology still holds up, with several major vinyl player brands still making record players and many musicians continuing to produce records – not to mention DJs using turntables. Enough musicians have replaced Spotify and Apple Music with vinyl record sales that have exceeded $1 billion in 2025. This hasn’t happened since 1983.

There is something human about vinyl records that everyone can appreciate. Sure, they lack AI and skipping songs requires knowing how to operate a turntable, but they give you a sense of ownership and they just sound great. If you prefer more modern devices for your music, but the idea of ​​vinyl seems scintillating, there are many multifunctional record players on the market. The Victorola Quincy 6-in-1 Record Player, for example, has a vintage look that fits any vinyl you own, but it also plays CDs, cassettes (more vintage media), and even connects to Bluetooth. With something like this, you don’t have to completely give up your favorite music.

The average consumer, not the tech geek or audiophile, probably thought that once wireless technology took off, wired headphones were a thing of the past. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as wired headphones are still as popular as ever, maybe even more so, and many still use that 3.5mm jack. Audiophiles choose wired headphones over wireless for their reliability, lower latency, and lack of lossy compression. In short, they sound better.

Could the wire be a problem? Of course, sometimes. It can get tangled, you have to roll it up when you put it away, and it can even get snagged on something if you’re not careful. But what they offer far outweighs their flaws. In addition to sounding better, they are also easier to switch between devices. You don’t need to wait for the earbuds to pair with another device. Simply unplug from one device and plug it into another. Smartphone makers may have gotten rid of the 3.5mm headphone jack, but many adapters can support the connection, and there are even more USB-C wired headphones if you prefer that.

Don’t confuse “flip phone” with something like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold or another flip smartphone made by other Android brands. Real, old-school flip phones still exist, and they’re a hit with Gen Z because they lack distractions. Gen Z will especially love Commodore’s new minimalist phone, which eliminates social media while still allowing them to stay in touch with friends. You know, like a telephone.

Although they’re commonly referred to as “dumb phones” (rude), they still have essentials like a high-definition camera, access to music, and Wi-Fi. Commodore claims its Callback 8020 phone can run 99% of the apps found on Android even though it doesn’t run Android, but it blocks browsers and social media to prevent endless hours of doom scrolling. The flip phone era wasn’t necessarily a simpler time, but it wasn’t chock-full of distractions at every turn, and that’s really what everyone wants.