Top Tips: Back to basics with old-school gadgets that still win

Top tips is a weekly column where we highlight what’s trending in the tech world and list ways to explore these trends. This week, we’re looking at age-old gadgets that still hold up.

Tech companies are always racing toward the future, but new isn't necessarily better. Sometimes the gadgets we already have—yes, even the old ones—do their job way better than their shiny new replacements. Shrewd consumers recognize that just because something is launched today doesn’t mean it beats what came before it. In fact, some modern gadgets leave us wishing for the good old tech that was simpler, more reliable, and just worked.

So, to save you the trouble, I’ve put together a list of old-but-gold tech that might still outshine their successors and could be surprisingly helpful in your everyday life.

1. Wired headphones

Out of all the old gadgets, my wired Apple EarPods are my absolute favorite, and for good reason. If you’ve used wireless headphones, you know how glitchy their mics and connections can be. I’ve lost count of the times I had to raise my voice while talking to my mum because my wireless earphones wouldn’t pick up properly.

And let’s be honest, there’s always that little panic when you’re near water or stepping off a train, worrying you might lose one. With wired headphones, none of that stress exists. They’re reliable, efficient, and deliver consistently good sound quality. Sometimes, plugging in is simply better.

2. Analog watches

Don’t get me wrong–I love a good smartwatch. They can track your steps, heart rate, and even sleep quality. But here’s the thing: most of my friends and colleagues who aren’t fitness buffs just don’t use the health tracking features enough to justify the hassle of regular charging, cracked screens, and an additional data plan.

Analog watches, on the other hand, are, well, timeless. They don’t need charging, they don’t bombard you with notifications, and they simply do what a watch is supposed to do: tell the time. Sometimes, a basic watch is all you really need.

3. Calculators

Sure, we all have calculator apps on our phones and laptops. But when it comes to serious math, especially complex calculations, nothing beats a physical calculator.

On a phone—or heaven help us, a smartwatch—it's easy to touch the wrong button, erase something by mistake, or struggle with limited features. Dedicated calculators are built for the job, and they’re still the easiest and most reliable way to crunch numbers without the frustration of a touch screen.

4. Alarm clocks

This one feels almost vintage, but hear me out. Using your phone as an alarm means keeping it by your bed, which often leads to late-night scrolling and notifications (and a terrible night’s sleep). Not to mention, it’s not a great idea to have your phone right next to you all night. A study found that spending more time on screens while in bed is strongly associated with insomnia and reduced sleep. Each extra hour of screen use was tied to a 63% higher risk of insomnia and an average loss of 24 minutes of sleep.

An old-school alarm clock does exactly what it’s supposed to do: wake you up. No distractions, no notifications, no doomscrolling. Just a clean start to your morning.

A final word

These are just a few examples of old tech that still hold their ground against their newer counterparts. There are plenty more out there—gadgets that may not be the latest, but still do their job better than what’s currently on the shelves.

Got any old favorites that you swear by? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear your picks!