10 Discontinued Tech Products That We Still Miss Today

Some tech products were so good, unique, or ahead of their time that their disappearance still stings. Whether it was corporate decisions, changing trends, or just bad luck, these devices left a lasting impact—and we still wish they’d make a comeback.

Here are 10 discontinued tech products that we still miss today.

1. iPod Classic (2001-2014)

iPod Classic 160GB - Silver
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • Massive storage—up to 160GB of music.
  • No distractions—just pure, simple music playback.
  • The click wheel was oddly satisfying to use.

Why It Disappeared:
Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music took over, and smartphones became the new music hubs.

Wish List: Bring back an offline, distraction-free music player with high storage capacity for true audiophiles.

2. Google Reader (2005-2013)

Google Reader
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • The best way to organize and read news.
  • Simple, clutter-free RSS feed management.
  • A perfect tool for staying informed without algorithms controlling your news.

Why It Disappeared:
Google killed it because RSS wasn’t “monetizable”—they wanted people to rely on Google News and social media feeds instead.

Wish List: A modern RSS reader with offline capabilities and no algorithmic interference.

3. Windows Phone (2010-2017)

Nokia Lumia 520 Windows Phone 8.1 ru
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • Unique Metro UI—sleek, fast, and different from iOS/Android.
  • Live Tiles—better than static app icons.
  • Great hardware (Nokia Lumias were tanks!).

Why It Disappeared:

  • Lack of app support killed the ecosystem.
  • Microsoft failed to market it properly.
  • Developers didn’t want to build for a third mobile OS.

Wish List: A modern Windows Phone with Android app support could be a game-changer.

4. BlackBerry Phones with Physical Keyboards (1999-2022)

3 new Blackberry phones
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • The best mobile keyboards ever made.
  • Tactile, fast typing—perfect for emails and messaging.
  • Solid security features.

Why It Disappeared:

  • Touchscreens became the norm.
  • BlackBerry failed to adapt to modern smartphone trends.
  • Apps were limited, leading to low demand.

Wish List: A modern BlackBerry with a keyboard running full Android apps could be amazing.

5. PlayStation Vita (2011-2019)

PS VITA (PlayStation Vita)
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • Gorgeous OLED screen (on early models).
  • Console-quality games on the go.
  • Remote Play with PS4/PS3.

Why It Disappeared:

  • Sony stopped supporting it.
  • No major first-party games after launch.
  • The Nintendo Switch took over the handheld market.

Wish List: A PlayStation Vita 2 with better third-party support would be a dream.

6. Google Nexus Phones (2010-2015)

Google Nexus 4
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • Pure Android experience—no bloatware, fast updates.
  • Affordable flagship performance.
  • Developer-friendly, easy to unlock and root.

Why It Disappeared:

  • Google shifted to Pixel phones, which are more expensive.
  • Profit margins were low—Nexus was almost too good a deal.

Wish List: A modern Nexus-like phone at an affordable price would dominate the mid-range market.

7. Pebble Smartwatch (2013-2016)

Pebble smartwatch
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • Insane battery life (7+ days).
  • Simple, distraction-free notifications.
  • Affordable, e-paper display with always-on visibility.

Why It Disappeared:

  • Fitbit bought Pebble and shut it down.
  • Smartwatches became more focused on fitness tracking.

Wish List: A long-battery, minimalist smartwatch for notifications and time—without all the distractions.

8. Flip Video Camera (2007-2011)

Flip Camera
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • Simple, point-and-shoot video recording.
  • Great quality for its time.
  • No distractions—just record and go.

Why It Disappeared:

  • Smartphones got better cameras.
  • People didn’t need a separate video recorder anymore.

Wish List: A modern version with built-in cloud storage and live streaming could be useful for vloggers.

Read More: 7 Reasons Your Phone Battery Sucks (And It’s Not Just Age)

9. Nintendo Mini Consoles (NES & SNES Classic) (2016-2019)

File:Nintendo Classic Mini Super Nintendo Entertainment System.jpg
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • Plug-and-play nostalgia.
  • Affordable, official way to play classic games.
  • Perfect for casual gaming sessions.

Why It Disappeared:

  • Nintendo stopped making them to focus on Switch.
  • Scalpers bought them up, making them hard to find.

Wish List: A GameCube or N64 Classic Edition would sell out instantly.

Read More: 10 Trucks So Tough They Might Outlive You

10. Microsoft Zune (2006-2012)

Microsoft Zune 80 in Red
Openverse

Why We Miss It:

  • Great UI and design.
  • Zune Pass (music streaming before Spotify took over).
  • Way better sound quality than iPods.

Why It Disappeared:

  • Too late to compete with the iPod.
  • Microsoft gave up instead of evolving it.

Wish List: A Zune revival with hi-res audio and offline streaming support could carve out a niche market. And a “Starlord Edition” sounds pretty awesome to me.

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