So many people have a drawer that’s packed with old technology. We’d love to think it’s still worth something. Unfortunately, a lot of these old devices won’t sell for more than the cost of shipping them, so they’re not worth holding onto.
Here are ten old gadgets that are practically worthless. Do you still have any of these?
3G-only smartphones
In 2022, AT&T & Verizon killed their 3G networks, so any old smartphones that only worked on this network became useless. They can’t make calls or text. You can’t even scroll social media on them. But for some reason, people try to sell them, thinking that they’ll be worth something. It’s pretty unlikely.
There’s no service to connect to, and it’s unlikely that many buyers are going to pay top dollar for a glorified alarm clock.
Plain DVD players
There was a time when owning a DVD player made you feel fancy. Those days are dead and gone. The majority of these devices are only ever going to sell for around twenty bucks at thrift stores, and even that’s only when you find an enthusiastic buyer.
Most people have absolutely no interest in buying an old-fashioned device such as this one.
Early Android tablets
Yes, at the time, Google’s first Nexus 7 tablet looked rather incredible. But 2012 was over a decade ago. That’s practically prehistoric in tech terms.
Older versions of Android aren’t able to run newer apps, while the batteries barely hold a charge, and you’ll be lucky to find a charger that works. You’ll get thirty bucks at most on eBay.
Late-2000s digital photo frames
We used to think that digital photo frames were a big deal. We don’t anymore. Nowadays, most people will cast their photos to a smart display or TV. They might also just send them to loved ones.
There’s a chance you could make a little money from the old 5- or 7-inch versions, but even then, it’s only going to be around $10.
Microsoft Zune players
An old Microsoft Zune will play any MP3s you have on it or load onto it. Yet that’s about it. Microsoft closed the Zune services store in 2015, so all these devices lost access to streaming & song downloads.
Who wants to buy a device that can’t even connect to its own music store? It’s far easier to just download songs onto your phone from Spotify or Apple Music, if you really want to have an offline music experience.
3G-only Kindle e-readers
Amazon used to brag about their Kindles having 3G for life, although it turns out that their idea of life is much shorter than most people imagine. The retailer pulled the plug on 3G networks in 2022.
Their older Kindles are unable to download books or sync unless they’re connected to WiFi. They’ve lost that sense of being able to read anywhere at any time, so resale prices on the older Kindle models aren’t doing so well.
First-gen Apple TV
Apple made the decision to remove access to the iTunes Store for its very first Apple TV boxes in 2018. While this was due to security reasons, the Store’s closure means that you’re unable to rent or buy anything through the older model.
You’re stuck with old content pre-loaded on there. They’re practically useless & most buyers know this, meaning you’re unlikely to make lots on them.
Old smartwatches
So many people think their early Fitbits or first-gen Apple Watches will be worth something, so they hold onto them. But they don’t. Newer phones aren’t able to pair with them, while the batteries themselves have a variety of issues.
Why would anyone pay for something that can’t hold a charge? Both Fitbit & Apple also stopped supporting their older devices. The most that the original smartwatches can do is power up, and that’s about it.
Digital cameras under 10 megapixels
Once upon a time, point-and-shoot cameras cost hundreds of dollars, especially from models like Canon or Nikon. Those times are gone.
Older digital cameras are a hassle to connect to modern computers, and the picture quality itself doesn’t compare to the cameras on our phones. You’ll only make money when it’s a rare edition or part of a bundle.
Bluetooth headsets made before 2015
Flip phones used to come with tiny earpieces that allowed you to speak hands-free. People still try to sell them, thinking that there’s money to be made in the nostalgia for them. There isn’t.
Any that still exist will die after a few minutes, and there’s no helping the tinny sound on the oldest models. They’re worth pocket change, at best.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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