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The Most Useless Tech Gadgets of the Decade (And Why People Bought Them)
Introduction: Innovation Meets Absurdity
In the last ten years, we’ve seen technology explode in creativity, complexity, and scale. From smart assistants to foldable phones, innovation has reshaped how we live. But not every invention is a winner. In fact, some gadgets promised the future—and delivered nothing but frustration, clutter, or pure confusion.
Ironically, many of these “useless” devices sold incredibly well. Why? Clever marketing, novelty appeal, and our eternal hunger for the next big thing. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore the most head-scratching, wallet-emptying tech gadgets of the decade—and why people couldn't resist buying them.
1. Juicero – The $400 Wi-Fi Juice Press
Marketed as a revolution in health-tech, Juicero was a sleek, internet-connected juicer… that couldn't juice actual fruit. Instead, it squeezed pre-packaged juice bags that users later discovered they could press by hand.
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Why people bought it:
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Heavily funded by Silicon Valley investors
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Minimalist design and eco-health branding
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Promised “fresh, smart juice on demand”
Why it was useless:
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Required Wi-Fi to function
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Couldn’t handle whole fruits
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Shut down after people exposed its gimmick
2. USB Pet Rock
A nod to the classic 1970s toy, this modern iteration added a USB plug to a literal rock—with zero functionality. That’s right: you plugged it in, and nothing happened.
Why people bought it:
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It was hilarious and ironic
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A quirky desk accessory or gag gift
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Viral marketing on social media
Why it was useless:
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Had no features whatsoever
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Took up a USB port for no reason
3. Smart Toasters
Yes, there are now toasters that connect to Wi-Fi or have touchscreens, all so you can perfectly brown your bread—but only after downloading an app and waiting for software updates.
Why people bought it:
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Promised precision breakfast toasting
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Advertised as the “Tesla of kitchen gadgets”
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Sleek and futuristic design
Why it was useless:
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Slow, buggy, and overly complex for a simple task
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Expensive compared to traditional toasters
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Toast still tasted the same
4. Snapchat Spectacles
Snapchat launched wearable sunglasses with a built-in camera so users could capture snaps directly from their POV. Sounds cool, right? Only problem: no one really wanted to wear them.
Why people bought it:
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Hyped social media launch
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Fear of missing out (FOMO)
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Exclusive vending machine distribution made it feel premium
Why it was useless:
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Limited battery life and storage
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Videos could only be used within Snapchat
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Awkward and dorky-looking
5. Selfie Toasters
Because what’s better than breakfast? Your face on breakfast. The selfie toaster let you upload a photo, which it then burned onto your toast.
Why people bought it:
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Novelty and gifting potential
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Great for influencers and party tricks
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“Instagrammable” breakfasts
Why it was useless:
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Poor image quality
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Overpriced and slow
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Limited actual use beyond the first few laughs
6. Smart Salt Dispensers
Do you really need an app-controlled salt shaker? No. But it exists. Smart salt shakers claimed to offer precision dispensing and customizable salt levels via Bluetooth.
Why people bought it:
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Promised control over sodium intake
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Looked like a sleek gadget
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Touted as a smart kitchen upgrade
Why it was useless:
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Harder to use than a regular shaker
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Batteries died quickly
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App rarely worked properly
7. Hoverboards (The Fake Kind)
Despite the name, most "hoverboards" didn’t hover—they were just two-wheeled scooters. Worse, many caught fire due to cheap batteries, leading to a wave of recalls and safety bans.
Why people bought it:
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Massively hyped around the holidays
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Cool futuristic appeal
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Kids and teens loved the trend
Why it was useless:
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Frequent malfunctions
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Heavy and hard to balance
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Risk of injury or fire
8. Smart Water Bottles
These bottles tracked your hydration, lit up to remind you to drink, and sometimes connected to fitness apps. In theory, helpful. In practice? Overkill.
Why people bought it:
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Health-conscious buyers
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Tech integration with wearables
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Promoted by fitness influencers
Why it was useless:
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Expensive and often inaccurate
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LED lights were distracting
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Easier to just drink water when thirsty
9. Banana Phones
Not a metaphor. A literal banana-shaped Bluetooth handset that you connected to your smartphone to make calls. Quirky? Yes. Practical? Not even close.
Why people bought it:
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Pure novelty
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Fun gag gift
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Great for nostalgic phone conversations
Why it was useless:
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Awkward shape
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Terrible sound quality
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No added functionality
10. Wireless Charging Pads That Aren’t Truly Wireless
Many “wireless” chargers still required your device to sit directly on a pad, eliminating any freedom of movement. It’s not truly wireless if you can’t even pick up your phone!
Why people bought it:
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Promised convenience
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Sleek design
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Sold as a “must-have” accessory
Why it was useless:
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Slower than regular chargers
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Still required wires to plug the pad itself
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Sensitive placement often disrupted charging
Why We Keep Falling for Useless Tech
1. The Allure of Innovation
New = better, right? Not always. But when a product markets itself as futuristic, it plays into our desire to stay ahead of the curve.
2. Viral Marketing
Social media thrives on trends and novelty. Gadgets that go viral—no matter how impractical—benefit from mass exposure, pushing people to buy before they think.
3. Gifting Culture
Many of these gadgets are perfect impulse gifts. They're fun, weird, and unexpected, making them ideal for birthdays or holidays, even if they gather dust after a week.
4. Hope for Convenience
A lot of tech fails because it overpromises. We want our lives to be easier, and companies know this. But more features don’t always equal more convenience.
Conclusion: Smart Isn’t Always Better
The past decade gave us a mixed bag of brilliant breakthroughs and ridiculous letdowns. While some of these gadgets were harmless fun, others were cautionary tales about buying into hype over substance. As consumers, it's important to ask: Does this product solve a real problem, or just create a new one?
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