Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? Hard to believe how fast the years have passed. And yet we have wonderful memories of years gone by.
We’re rounding up some of the most interesting and iconic gadgets from the 90s for you to enjoy through rose-tinted goggles.
GameBoy (1989)
Ok, so technically the GameBoy was released in 1989, but it surged in popularity during the 1990s and it’s probably the most iconic gaming gadget of that era. Though it wasn’t the only one available of course.
Sega Dreamcast (1998)
The Sega Dreamcast was viewed by many as ahead of its time.
It was also, sadly, the last console Sega would make as it got pushed out of the market by Sony and others. Unless you count the modernSega Mega Drive Mini 2.
The Dreamcast was still an icon of the era though and a cracking gaming machine.
Nokia 8110 (1996)
It might not have been as iconic or memorable as the Nokia 3310 that came a few years after it, but the Nokia 8110 was certainly an iconic device.
Its popularity was no doubt boosted by the first Matrix film where it made a cool appearance in Keanu Reeves' hand.
Nokia 5110 (1998)
Another year, another classic Nokia phone. The 5510 might have been a chunky device compared to today’s slim and slender smartphones, but it was well thought of. Especially since it introduced the classic game Snake to the masses.
Apple eMate 300 (1997)
Apple released the eMate 300 as another PDA device in 1997. It had a durable casing, making it ideal for use in classrooms, and its built-in rechargeable batteries lasted up to 28 hours on a single charge. It didn’t really stand up to the competition but was certainly an icon of the PDA era.
Nintendo 64 (1996)
The N64 got its name from the 64-bit CPU it used and was Nintendo’s last home console to require cartridges. It was successful when it launched, with many customers fighting to get their hands on one and was deemed the most powerful console of its generation.
Most of the Nintendo 64s success came from various awesome games released on the system including Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Goldeneye 007. What gamer doesn’t have awesome memories of this console?
Sega Game Gear (1990)
Shortly after the GameBoy arrived, Sega launched a rival machine that was superior in almost every way except for battery life.
If you thought the GameBoy looked a bit naff with its black and green screen, then the Game Gear was a modern marvel. It wasn’t as popular, but it sure was great.
Tamagotchi (1996)
Tamagotchi were little digital toys created by Bandai in the mid-1990s. They soon took off in popularity around the world. A simple little device that got the attention of the masses. All you had to do was look after the digital creature, feed it, nurture it and ensure it didn’t die. How many of us were obsessed with these games back in those days?
Tamagotchi also saw a briefresurgence in 2017, though we suspect it was nowhere near as exciting in the age of the smartphone and on-the-go gaming.
Portable DVD player (1998)
It might not have been as popular as some of the other gadgets on this list, but the first portable DVD player might have been an exciting vision of the future.
The first one was made by Panasonic, but other brands would soon release their own. Of course, they were just as cumbersome as portable CD players, but also a convenient way to watch films on the go. Now we can accessNetflixon our phone, anytime anywhere, these devices certainly seem archaic, but they were a marvel back in the 90s.
Walkman, Discman and MP3 players
Several formats of portable music player were popular during the 1990s. These included portable cassette players (most notably Sony’s “Walkman”), portable CD players (the also popular Sony’s “Discman”), Minidisc players and MP3 players. Your device of choice likely depended on the size of your wallet or your parent’s bank account but they were all awesome in their own ways.
We have both fond and frustrating memories of each of these players, whether it was fighting Walkmans to save a chewed-up tape or desperately trying to fit a portable CD player into a coat pocket.
