Y2K tech gadgets appear to be making a comeback, despite the fact that DVDs and MP3s were supposed to be obsolete. As nostalgia, smart-tech overload, and a new generation of teenagers reclaim Y2K electronics, once-ubiquitous gadgets that seemed to dwindle in favor with the arrival of the smartphone now provide a pleasant link back to an earlier time.
Our editors compiled a list of the Y2K tech devices they admired around the beginning of the millennium and have since rediscovered. While some of the same models we recall are no longer available, many of the selections here have been refurbished or redesigned for 2023. These devices are interesting, distinctive, and slightly odd gifts for individuals who want a taste of the simple life (including those who recall watching The Simple Life).
1. Anbernic Handheld Retro Gaming Console
This portable gadget lets you play vintage games from older platforms such as the NES, SNES, PS1, and Game Boy. It's somewhat larger than the Game Boy Color I grew up with, which I enjoy because my hands have grown significantly since I was seven. The Anbernic is the ideal present for a gamer because you can't beat the classics." By Brandon Carte, Senior Electronics Editor.
2 Bandai Namco Tamagotchi.
"What better method to learn about responsibility than to continuously ensure that your digital pet is alive? My friends and I have so many of these, and I always enjoyed seeing other people's pets.— Hunter Young, Digital Designer
3. Sony 8 GB MP3 Player
"Throughout the first decade of the 2000s, I never left the home without an MP3 player in my back pocket. This low-cost Sony Walkman features a tiny color screen and tactile button controls, which remind me of my favorite device from back then."— Stefan Vazharov, Senior Technical Editor
4. Razor E100 Electric Scooter for Children.
"Razor Scooters were popular in the early 2000s, and my brother and I received matching green ones as birthday gifts one year." So it's been exciting to see the brand return in recent years with a fleet of reasonably priced e-scooters. This kid-friendly model is propelled by a twist-grip accelerator and hand brake. It only goes up to 10 mph, so kids won't be racing off into the sunset."— Melanie Yates, Senior Home Decor Editor
5. Kodak FunSaver 35MM Single-Use Camera
"My college buddies just got married, and at their reception, they placed a number of disposable cameras on tables all across the site. I thought it was a novel and economical approach to capture an album's worth of additional images from their big day. In addition, they are really entertaining. It also motivated me to take up a disposable camera. I just presented one to my mother, who is preparing to embark on a trip with her siblings, and she was overjoyed." Brandon Carte
6. Motorola Razr phone (2nd generation)
"The original Motorola Razr was a cultural phenomenon, selling 130 million copies in its lifespan. So I was overjoyed when the brand revealed that it was bringing back the classic cell phone. This updated version retains the same sleek form while adding current smartphone capabilities we've grown to know and love, such as a 48MP camera, an interactive display to examine messages and calls, music playback, Google Assistant, and much more, all with outstanding 5G speed." By Nicole Saunders, Beauty Editor.