Johann Hunt
The 2010s gave us plenty to talk about and plenty we’re trying to forget. Some trends had their five minutes, then vanished before we even got tired of them. No farewell tour, no warning, just gone. A few were fun, others less so. Either way, they’re done. Want to see which fads quietly disappeared? Here are the ones that didn’t last.
Disney Infinity Game Series
Discontinued by Disney in 2016, the Infinity game series allowed players to scan physical figures into digital environments. Each playset served as its own mini-game featuring characters from Marvel, Star Wars, and classic Disney films. The concept paired hands-on collecting with in-game exploration, though the line eventually ended due to shifting priorities.
3D TVs
Brands like Samsung and Sony launched 3D models, but the technology faced key challenges. Wearing special glasses proved uncomfortable and inconvenient, 3D content was limited, and there were concerns about possible health effects from extended 3D viewing. A clear example is ESPN 3D, which started in 2010 but shut down after three years.
Vine
Vine shut down in 2017, four years after Twitter acquired it. Before then, over 200 million people used the app. Each video was limited to six seconds, which forced creators to keep content sharp and snappy. That fast-paced style helped Vine explode in popularity.
Windows Phone
Windows Phone struggled to gain a large user base because it lacked support from popular apps. Microsoft ended production in 2017 after falling behind iOS and Android. Despite the Lumia series’ sleek design and easy-to-use interface, missing key apps hurt the platform’s chances.
Google Glass Explorer Edition
The Google Glass Explorer Edition launched at $1,500 but was discontinued for consumers in 2015. Many people avoided the device over concerns about privacy and difficulty using it. Some public places and bars even banned it for being too invasive. Despite strong marketing, it failed to gain widespread acceptance.
Flappy Bird
Rising quickly to become the most downloaded free iOS game, Flappy Bird earned its creator about $50,000 per day from ads. Still, with that success, the game was removed in 2014. Phones that already had the app installed became valuable collectibles.
Pebble Smartwatches
Pebble made headlines after raising $10 million on Kickstarter, becoming the first major smartwatch brand to do so. Its e-paper screen offered up to seven days of battery life. As momentum faded, hardware production ended in December 2016. Fitbit later acquired the assets, discontinued the models, and was eventually bought by Google in 2021.
Flip Camcorders (Like Flip Video UltraHD)
Before smartphones dominated, Flip camcorders simplified video recording and sharing. Cisco ended production in 2011, but these devices made content creation more accessible. Oprah’s endorsement boosted their fame, and they played a key role in the surge of YouTube creators.
Microsoft Kinect
Microsoft’s Kinect once held the title of fastest-selling consumer electronics device. In 2016, the Xbox One S removed the built-in port, requiring a USB adapter. By 2017, Microsoft had stopped production entirely. Beyond gaming, Kinect had limited use in academic and commercial fields, but its presence gradually faded from mainstream tech.
IPod Touch
Apple ended production of the iPod Touch in 2022, closing a significant chapter in mobile tech. It was hugely popular during the early 2010s and offered a cost-effective iOS experience. Strangely, the 7th-gen version used the same chip as the iPhone 7 but didn’t include Face ID or Touch ID on several models.