It’s easy to get carried away with the hype of the latest gadgets. However, while some innovations genuinely improve our lives, others can be useless and provide little to no practical value. Here are 19 useless gadgets that don’t live up to their hype.
Smart Refrigerators
Smart refrigerators offer minimal added convenience compared to traditional fridges. According to The Guardian, “smart fridges […] cost hundreds of pounds more than their conventional counterparts, but in some cases could be rendered obsolete after as little as two years” due to their software not being regularly updated.
3D Televisions
Watching a movie in 3D is a luxury, but it’s best to just go to the cinema to watch it! 3D televisions require glasses that are incredibly uncomfortable if you wear them for a long time. There’s also limited 3D content available, which makes the 3D TV pretty useless.
Voice-Activated Assistants
Voice-activated assistants may make you feel like you’re the main character in a sci-fi movie; however, they never seem to work as well as you’d like. Voice-activated assistants often misunderstand commands or fail to respond. People also have concerns about their privacy, with the assistant constantly listening and collecting data.
Hoverboards
Back to the Future Part II failed to predict how pointless hoverboards would be! With many safety issues due to frequent battery fires and falls, the hoverboard didn’t live up to the hype. This invention also had poor battery life, which limited its use.
Smartwatches
Despite smartwatches having been popular for a while now, a lot of people can’t understand their appeal. Your smartphone can do everything that a smartwatch does, so what’s the point in having an extra device on your wrist? Their short battery life also means they need to be charged frequently.
Selfie Sticks
I’m sure we can all agree that selfie sticks are annoying and inconvenient! Business Insider highlights how “the gadgets have been banned from places like Apple meetings and theme parks.” Luckily, selfie sticks are quickly being replaced by better front-facing cameras on smartphones.
Fitness Trackers
Fitness trackers can be impractical and unreliable. They’re known to be inaccurate in tracking things like steps, heart rate, and calories burned. Some trackers also have short battery lives and durability issues. We all want to get fitter and healthier, but there are better ways to do it!
Digital Picture Frames
You might have a digital picture frame that you’ve never used hidden away in a drawer somewhere (I know I do). There’s no need for digital picture frames, as you can look at your photos on your smartphone. These devices are also difficult to set up and maintain.
Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
Robotic vacuum cleaners cost a lot for little functionality. You always have to keep an eye on these gadgets in case they get stuck, and they need to be emptied often due to their small dustbin capacity. You may as well pull up your sleeves and vacuum yourself!
Smart Glasses
Smart glasses never seem to live up to their hype. CNBC says, “many products remain bulky, making it a hard sell for customers looking to stay fashionable on the go, while slow connectivity issues dissuade those looking for efficiency.” They also present many privacy issues with their hidden cameras and secret recordings.
Wireless Charging Pads
Many of us use wireless charging pads in our daily lives, but are they really that useful? Wireless chargers are usually much slower than traditional wired chargers, and if you don’t place your phone in the exact spot it needs to be on the pad, it won’t charge at all.
Portable Projectors
Ignore the hype about portable projectors unless you’re willing to spend a lot of money! Many portable projects have poor image quality and brightness, especially if the space you’re using it in is quite light. They also often require extra accessories to make a complete setup.
E-Readers
Smartphones and tablets can serve the same purpose as e-readers, which makes them redundant and pointless. E-readers have very limited functions outside of reading e-books, so it’s more beneficial to save your money and stick to using your other devices.
Smart Mirrors
While smart mirrors can look cool and futuristic, we don’t need our mirrors to tell us information like the date and time, weather, or news when we have a smartphone at our fingertips. These gadgets can be difficult to install and maintain and have limited uses for a high price.
Bluetooth Trackers
Bluetooth trackers are frequently unreliable, with issues with range, function, and battery life. The New York Times suggests that “striking a balance between privacy and security with an item meant to track your stuff is difficult, and a device that tracks our location presents a number of concerns.”
Digital Assistants for Cars
Digital assistants for cars can be quite expensive, but they’re usually not worth the money, as they can have limited uses beyond basic commands. Digital car assistants are often incompatible with existing car systems too, and these gadgets can be distracting and potentially dangerous while driving!
Personal Drones
There’s a lot of hype around drones! However, regulations have been introduced to restrict where drones can be flown, so you could spend a lot on this gadget and then not be able to use it much. They also often end up crashing and getting damaged because they can be hard to control.
Smart Water Bottles
It’s important to drink enough water each day, but don’t fall for the allure of the overhyped smart water bottle! Smart water bottles are only useful for tracking your water intake, and you can do this for much less money by simply setting regular reminders on your phone.
Electronic Notebooks
It’s not worth it to spend your hard-earned cash on an electronic notebook solely for the purpose of taking notes! These gadgets are often incompatible with other devices, fragile, and have poor battery lives. If you don’t want to use old-fashioned pen and paper, use the notes app on your smartphone!
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