Top ten tech items Brits miss the most from cassette tapes and film cameras to old MP3 players, survey shows

The Sun

16-07-2025

BRITAIN'S favourite retro tech items have been revealed.
According to a poll of 2,000 people, Brits are nostalgic for a huge range of former household items.
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The study found that 18 per cent of us long for the return of corded landline phones, while 17 per cent believe film cameras were ditched too soon.
Others miss early mobile phones (17 per cent), portable CD players (16 per cent) and even old-fashioned typewriters (12 per cent).
Even virtual pets made the top 20 list – with six per cent saying they still have a soft spot for them, despite 11 per cent admitting they couldn't keep theirs alive for more than a week.
But 43 per cent admitted they view old-school tech through rose-tinted glasses.
More than a third (37 per cent) said they ignored how slow those devices were, though a similar number said they could forgive them since they were the 'best we had'.
The study found 38 per cent confessed gadgets from previous decades weren't exactly reliable – and 97 per cent say reliability is a top priority for the tech they use today.
In the last 15 years, 81 per cent say there's been a seismic shift in the tech they use every day.
Many are now unable to imagine life without smartphones (65 per cent), contactless payments (38 per cent), and streaming services (35%).
Tech expert and former Gadget Show presenter Georgie Barrat has teamed up with Smart Energy GB – which commissioned the research – to put some of these nostalgic gadgets to the test.
She said: 'As a nation, we have a soft spot for all things retro – whether it's wind-up radios, clunky desktop computers or the thrill of developing film from a disposable camera.
'There's something nostalgic about the gadgets we grew up with.
'But we often view them through rose-tinted glasses – we forget the long loading times, the fragile connections, and how unreliable they could be.
' Energy meters are a great example of old tech that desperately needed an upgrade.
'The shift from analogue meters to digital smart meters brings lots of benefits – giving you a much clearer picture of how much energy you're using and what it's costing, which can help you to cut your bills.'
The study also revealed the biggest tech improvements of the past decade and a half – with mobile internet (52 per cent) topping the list.
This was followed by navigation apps (41 per cent), and contactless payments (38 per cent), while improvements to streaming services (35 per cent) and smart home tech (29 per cent) have also wowed the nation.
Despite the digital leap, many are still clinging to old favourites – with 36 per cent still owning a landline, 24 per cent hoarding cassettes, and 23 per cent hanging on to their MP3 players.
One in five (20 per cent) even have a stack of VHS tapes gathering dust.
The 20 retro tech items Brits miss most
A poll has found which retro household items are missed the most by Brits.
The study of 2000 people found that there were 20 items which people missed most.
Ranked in order, those items are:
Cassette tapes
TVs with Teletext
MP3 players
Landline phones
Film cameras
Early mobile phones
Burned mix CDs or tapes
Polaroid cameras
Portable cassette/CD players
VHS tapes and VCRs
Disposable cameras
Handheld games consoles
Typewriters
Non-handheld games consoles
CD-ROMs
Non-portable CD players
Floppy disks
Fax machines
Digital pets
Reel-to-reel tape recorders
Of those with retro tech still lying around, 34 per cent still use it from time to time, while 23 per cent have stored it away as a keepsake.
And nearly half (45 per cent) want their devices to work without fail during important tasks, while
41 per cent rely on tech for communication, and 35 per cent to keep productive, according to the survey conducted by OnePoll.
Victoria Bacon from Smart Energy GB said: 'In today's world, we rely on technology for almost every aspect of our lives – from staying connected with loved ones to managing work, finances, and our homes.
'We expect our devices to really make a positive difference and to perform seamlessly and consistently, especially when it matters most.
'As with most new tech, smart meter performance is continuing to improve, with new research showing nine in 10 smart meter owners now think their smart meter is reliable.
'And because the technology behind smart meters was designed by top cyber security experts, you can be reassured yours has comprehensive security at its heart.'