The iPhone revolutionized the way we communicate and, let’s face it, live and breathe. It might have been the most game-changing tech invention in history, but it also signaled the end of many beloved everyday things. Let’s look at 15 things the iPhone killed that we wish we could have back, even if just for nostalgia’s sake.
1. Photo Albums
The family photo album used to take pride of place on the bookshelf and was a great way to catalog and relive precious memories and treasured moments. Remember when we used to print out photos and carefully arrange them in an album? These keepsakes were a lovely way to take a trip down memory lane without staring at a screen. Who knows where our most precious photographs are now, lost in the digital abyss or floating somewhere on the cloud?
2. Cameras You Didn’t Use for Selfies
Before the iPhone, digital and film cameras captured our precious moments, and the shots we took were intentional and personal. We weren’t so obsessed with taking selfies or getting the ‘perfect shot; our photographs were destined for the album, not Snapchat or Instagram. There was something so exciting about picking up your prints from the one-hour photo shop and never knowing what to expect.
3. Calls on a Landline
Remember the days of landlines? They were a different breed of conversation. You were tied to one spot; only one person could be on a call at a time, and the sound of the home phone ringing was always a buzz. When you were on a call, you were fully present. Calls to a landline also had crystal-clear quality and zero risk of cutting out, unlike today’s mobile calls, where you always wonder if you’ll lose connection.
4. iPods
Carrying around an iPod meant music had its own dedicated space in your pocket and life. You could lose yourself in albums without the constant pressure and irritations of being interrupted by notifications or calls. There was art in curating playlists and downloading tracks, and who could forget the thrill of finding the perfect bootleg? Though iPhones have replaced iPods, we miss the times when a device was only for music, and let’s face it: that scroll wheel and the sound it made was oddly satisfying to use.
5. Flashlights That Weren’t on a Phone
Before iPhones took over, flashlights were sturdy and reliable tools everyone had, and turning one on came with a great sense of excitement and adventure. They lasted longer and shone brighter than the ones on smartphones; plus, there was no fear of them draining your phone battery. You were prepared for anything from power outages to camping trips if you had a flashlight. Now, not only does a flashlight kill your phone battery, but you’d be lucky to see much with it even when it does work.
6. Physical Keyboards
Remember the satisfying click of buttons on a BlackBerry or flip phone? Physical keyboards made texting feel intentional and allowed us to text without looking at the screen. The ‘tap’ ‘tap’ ‘tap’ of the keys gave us a sense of control, unlike touchscreens, which often lead to a confusing mish-mash of misspelled words. While modern phones are faster, we must admit that we miss the days when texting felt personal, deliberate, and free from auto-correct disasters.
7. FM Radio
While we now stream everything on apps, there was something so unique and spontaneous about listening to the FM. You never knew what song would come next, making every drive feel like an adventure and even helping you discover new bands. You didn’t have to worry about signal strength or draining data while enjoying your favorite radio stations. The days of hours spent listening to the radio is a forgotten and charming pastime that music streaming apps can’t match.
8. Handheld Gaming Consoles
Devices like the GameBoy or PSP were made for one purpose: gaming and gaming only. They had actual buttons and no distractions from social media or messages; they offered pure escapism from whatever the day threw at you. Games were designed to be immersive, and you didn’t have to worry about your battery dying from scrolling through Instagram. Sure, you can play games on your phone, but it’s just not quite the same.
9. Answering Machines
Who didn’t love coming home to see the red light blinking on the answering machine? There was a certain anticipation about hearing the messages waiting for you, especially when you could listen to them in real-time and screen calls from people you didn’t want to talk to. Answering machines made missed calls feel exciting rather than annoying. We definitely have a soft spot for this nostalgic device.
10. CD Players
Before the streaming era, CD players offered high-quality sound and an intentional listening experience. The act of buying a CD, reading the liner notes, and listening to an album has been lost in the world of digital music, along with the dreaded ‘shuffle’ button. Albums were meant to be experienced in order, not shuffled at random. And let’s not forget the satisfying click when you close the CD case.
11. GPS Units
Standalone GPS devices were once the saviors of road trips. Unlike smartphone apps that can drain your battery or lose signal, these gadgets were specifically designed for navigation. They didn’t require Wi-Fi or cellular data; they got you from A to B without bells or whistles. We often long for the simplicity of a GPS unit when battling Google Maps and all the other tedious apps.
12. Alarm Clocks
Alarm clocks weren’t just functional but stylish decor pieces in many homes. Waking up to an alarm clock meant no distractions—just a loud ring to get you up and going. It also meant getting up and turning it off on your nightstand. Nowadays, phones act as our alarms, because of this, we carry it into bed with us and they bring temptations like endless scrolling, checking emails, or browsing social media before we’ve even gotten out of bed. We’re dreaming of a simpler time when the humble alarm clock was our morning wake-up call.
13. Wristwatches
Wristwatches weren’t just about telling time; they were a statement piece, a fashion item, and a rite of passage for some people. Whether simple or luxurious, a watch added a touch of class to any outfit. Nowadays, our phones are our go-to timekeepers, but they come with distractions. The simple yet stylish timepiece seems to have fallen out of favor, but it’ll always hold a special place in our hearts.
14. Pocket Calendars
Back in the day, pocket calendars and physical planners were the ultimate tools for staying organized. There’s something satisfying about writing down your appointments, crossing off days, and flipping through pages to check your schedule. Digital calendars are the worst. You’ll write down an important event only for it to glitch and delete it as if you never put it there in the first place. And it seems like anyone can just add something to your diary. It just goes to show that sometimes analog really is better.
15. Physical Maps
Physical maps may have been cumbersome, but they added a sense of adventure to any trip. It was a skill that we wore as a badge of honor when we figured out where we were going by tracing routes with our fingers. Plus, unlike an iPhone, a map doesn’t have a battery life that only lasts a few hours. Using a map made you feel more like an explorer than a tourist; Google Maps has taken away our sense of wanderlust.
16. Time and Connection
The iPhone might be out to make our lives more efficient, but for all its whiz-bang features, we’ve forgotten the art of connection. It’s also robbed us of our time. Today, our relationships happen over text, Instagram, and Snapchat. Kids hang out alone together, glued to their screens, preferring to be inside on their phones rather than getting out and enjoying nature. And let’s not forget all the time we spend doom scrolling, feeling envious of other’s fake curated lives, being bombarded by negative news cycles, and having to check emails at all hours. Oh, how we long for the days when you shut down your computer and left the office and no one could contact you until the following day. Are our lives really better for iPhones? It makes you wonder.