10 unsuccessful gadgets that are now everywhere

Before they were in every home, some of the most vital gadgets today were technological, too strange, too early, too high-priced or simply bad.

In the 1990s and at the beginning of 2000, inventors and engineers dreamed, but consumer technology often tried to fulfill their promise.

Regardless of whether it was a robotic pet who could not love you, a vacuum that still hit the furniture or digital currency, no one could think of how to operate, many of these innovations failed.

But the failure was not over. In most cases, these flops planted seeds for the tools that we now take for granted.

This list returns to the early prototypes that laughed from the stores, and shows how their basic ideas have fallen, better, cheaper and smarter.

1. Knowledgeable vacuum

The Electrolux Trilobite (2001) He was the first robotic consumer vacuum cleaner in the world. It contained ultrasonic sensors and automatic docking – radical for its time – but did not meet usability. He missed the bends, struggled with the doors and often got stuck. It was out of reach for most of 1,600 euros (today around 1850 USD).

Why did it disappoint:

Incompetent edge cleaning.
Constant navigation errors.
Too high-priced for mass adoption.

Now:

Robot puckers are now inexpensive and impressively smart. Roomba J7+ Irobot uses AI and the front camera to avoid clutter and cables.

Roborock S8 MAXV Ultra vacuum and mop with leadership Lidar.

Even the Eufy Robovac G30 budget provides solid performance and room mapping for less than USD 300.

2

The Visual Memory Unit (1998) There was a bizarre SEGA add -on for DreamCast: a tiny screen memory card that could display statistics in the game or play minibers. It was amusing, but restricted, they demand a battery, little memory and largely ignored by programmers.

Why did it disappoint:

Now:

Smartwatches such as Apple Watch Series 9 and Google Pixel Watch 2 offer a prosperous impressions from the second screen fully integrated with the phone.

They support contactless payments, fitness tracking, media control and even emergency alarms, which makes them much more than digital accessories.

3. Digital Assistant Robot (Sony Aibo → Home Robot/Pet Robot)

Original AIBO Sony (1999) He was a robotic dog with basic sensors and motion capabilities. He answered voice commands and showed simulated emotions. But its price $ 2,500, repeated behaviors and lack of real function made it more up-to-date than a companion.

Why did it disappoint:

High cost with low usability.
Tile Emotional Interaction.
No repair support after 2006.

Now:

State-of-the-art home robots have divided into functional and emotional belts. Amazon Astro and Elliq facilitate in everyday tasks and care for the elderly, while converted animal bots, such as AIBO (launched in 2018), Loon and Moflin now recognize faces, respond with nuance behavior and learn from interaction.

4. 3D Portable display (Nintendo Virtual Boy → VR headphone set)

The Virtual Boy (1995) He was an early Nintendo stab in 3D games, using red and white stereoscopic displays. Unfortunately, he had penniless ergonomics, a restricted library only 22 games and caused eye load and headaches. He was interrupted during the year.

Why did it disappoint:

Neck deformation and discomfort.
Non -firm graphics and penniless UX.
Nausea and health warnings.

Now:

VR headphones, such as Meta Quest 3 and PS VR2, offer full -color OLED displays, spatial tracking and addictive content libraries. They are lighter, wireless and useful for work, games and fitness – in every respect they provide a vision of a virtual boy.

5. Mobile versatile messenger (AT & T EO → Smartphone)

The AT & T EO Personal Communicator (1993) It was one of the first devices that combined the functions of the phone, fax, modem, E -Mila and PDA. But he weighed over two pounds, cost up to $ 3,000 and had a penniless battery life. It started too early and only about 10,000 were sold.

Why did it disappoint:

Now:

Today’s smartphones – like the iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 – compress all these functions and more with elegant, forceful devices. Thanks to applications, high resolution cameras, AI chips and a burning online internet, they make EO look like a stone tablet.

6. Portable Linux Mini – PC (Edged Zaurus → Raspberry Pi/NAS)

Zaurus Edged line, like SL-C3000 (2005)It was a infrequent breed: Linux pocket computers with full keyboards, style input and flexibility of programmers. He was beloved by Tech Tinkerers, but the mainstream could not be achieved due to high prices (~ 500–700 USD), restricted communication and buggy software.

Why did it disappoint:

Niche attractiveness: too technical for random users.
Unreliable wireless service; Wi – fi was awkward.
Better by cheaper PDA and early smartphones.

Now:

The heritage of Zaurus lives in the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. Raspberry Pi 5 and DIY CONFIGRATIONS using URAID or Truenas offer great flexibility in streaming the media, automation and even home servers, all for less than $ 100 and supported by live online communities.

7. Pocket PC (Apple Newton → Tablet/Smartphone)

Newton Message (1993) Apple (1993) It was pioneering: a manual device with style recognizing and recognizing handwriting. But he could not reliably recognize the text, his most frequently mentioned function. It was bulky, snail-paced and high-priced (~ 700 USD) and quickly became a butt of jokes for the wrong reading of even straightforward phrases, such as “catching” as “freckles of eggs”.

Why did it disappoint:

Uncommon recognition of handwriting undermined his basic pitch.
Pricey and vast for everyday operate.
Miniature battery life and restricted connectivity.

Now:

Today’s tablets, like the iPad Pro, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Microsoft Surface combine the precise input of the stylus with sensitivity to pressure, speedy processors and cloud synchronization.

Handwriting applications, such as noted, make the notes glossy. What Newton intended to do in the 90s is now effortlessly served by elegant, powerful devices.

8. Mini Console Game (Chao Pet VMu → Nintendo Switch/PARAT)

Sega’s VMU (1999) Attached tiny “chao” minigras to play on travel, offering early portable interaction related to the console. But they were shallow, dropping the battery and not very possible to play.

Why did it disappoint:

Now:

Portable games now compete with full consoles. Nintendo Switch and Valve Steam Deck play AAA games anywhere, from live screens and real controllers. Add cloud games, such as GeForce Now or Rog Ally, and mobile games have become the whole ecosystem.

9. CBDCS (Avant/Digicash → National Digital Currencies)

Avant Smartcard in Finland (1993) and David Chaum’s Digicash (1990) offered early visions of the digital currency. The row acted like a pre -paid debit card, while Digicash allowed anonymous transfers. Both failed due to low demand, penniless infrastructure and adjustment road locks.

Why they failed:

Now:

From 2025, 134 countries (representing 98% of global GDP) develops or pilot the digital currencies of the Central Bank (CBDC). Examples include:

CBDCs are currently used for social payments, transport payments and cash transfers, meaning a significant evolution of digital money.

10. Air Fryer (Fred Van the Weij Prototype → State-of-the-art Air Flyer)

In the middle of 20,000 Dutch inventor Fred Van der Weij He built a huge, home device To solve a personal problem: how to make crunchy fries without oil. His early Air Fryer prototype, made of wood, metal and aluminum mesh, looked more like a scientific project than a kitchen device. It worked (barely), but it was never intended for mass production.

Why did it disappoint:

A vast and impractical range for home kitchens.
Built of raw materials with penniless usability.
He never developed after the stage of conceptual proof.

Now:

Today’s air fryers are elegant, necessary for the countertop. Models such as Dualzone Ninja Foodi or Cosori Pro can bake, bake, heat and dehydrate, often replacing entire ovens.

They operate refined convection technology, require minimal oil and are equipped with preliminary settings, application integration and sheltered baskets for the dishwasher. What began as a giant wooden box is now one of the most popular kitchen tools in the world.

Any inventions in 2025 that you would not put your money on?

The history of technology is full of false starts. However, even the most awkward, exaggerated gadgets often contain a piece of the future. What floped in 1995 may be necessary in 2025, robot assistants, virtual reality, CBDC and wearing technology – each of them was ridiculed in early form, but their basic concepts turned out to be resistant.

It is a reminder that innovations do not always come fully created. Sometimes it appears in goggles with red colored, it costs too much and will break after three days. But give him a few years and a few billion dollars of research and development, and you can simply find it in your pocket, running a house or helping to pay for coffee.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Each investment and commercial movement involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making decisions.