The Worst Tech and Gadgets From 2019

Technology can be a mixed bag. For every groundbreaking innovation, there’s a misstep that leaves us scratching our heads. Whether due to bad design, unmet user expectations, or simply ideas that were better on paper than in practice, some gadgets from 2019 were less than stellar. Here’s a rundown of the worst tech and gadgets from that year.

1. Samsung Galaxy Fold

Initially hailed as a revolutionary leap in smartphone design, the Samsung Galaxy Fold quickly fell from grace. Reports of screen failures, hinge issues, and general hardware fragility plagued its release. Review units sent to journalists broke within days, if not hours, leading many to question the reliability of the foldable technology. Samsung had to delay its launch and re-evaluate its approach, but the damage was already done.

2. Google Stadia

Google Stadia promised a future where high-end gaming was possible without expensive hardware. Instead, it ushered in a series of disappointments. Lag, limited game library, and unfulfilled promises of 4K streaming left users disillusioned. The idea of cloud gaming might be ahead of its time, but in 2019, Stadia was a shadow of what it could have been, marred by technical struggles and an underwhelming user experience.

3. Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

Apple’s infamous butterfly keyboard mechanism, designed to be thinner and more responsive, became a notorious source of frustration for MacBook users. Keys would stick or repeat characters, rendering typing a nightmare. Despite Apple’s insistence that only a small percentage of keyboards were affected, the issue was widespread enough to lead to multiple repairs and even legal action. It wasn’t until 2020 that Apple finally abandoned the butterfly design.

4. Juicero

Although the Juicero was technically discontinued in 2017, its lingering presence and notoriety continued to make headlines in 2019. Designed as a high-tech juicer for proprietary juice packs, it was revealed that the same juice could be extracted by simply hand-squeezing the packs. This $400 device became a symbol of Silicon Valley’s tendency to over-engineer solutions for non-existent problems, and even in its absence, it serves as a cautionary tale in the tech world.

5. LG Rollable TV

The concept of a rollable TV sounds futuristic and intriguing, but LG’s extravagant solution faced practical challenges. At a price point upwards of $60,000, the LG Rollable TV catered to a niche market, raising eyebrows and questions about its durability and long-term viability. The expense was too steep for what essentially boiled down to a gimmick, leaving many to see it as more of an exhibition piece than a household staple.

The world of technology is always evolving, and not every innovation will be a hit. These gadgets serve as reminders that even the biggest names in tech can stumble. While some might eventually redeem themselves, their initial missteps are learning experiences, charting the course for future innovation and improvement.