this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2025
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I've been very stressed lately and have been doing some window shopping to calm down. I'm interested in gadgets, but a lot of things can just be replaced with apps. I realize a phone won't replace very large appliances like refrigerators or washing machines so I'm trying to scope my question to portable devices. So what are some portable devices or gadgets that their specialization hasn't been replaced by smart phone apps? Extra points if they're super useful and reliable.

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[–] YamahaRevstar@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Video games. At least for me. Mobile games suck.

[–] Ardyssian@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago

Electric Toothbrush. Keeping up with Dental Hygiene is important too!

[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

A Vibrator.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I can't vape weed with my phone yet.

[–] bokherif@lemmy.world 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Would you believe me if I said there is even a phone vape now?

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I would need to see it to believe it.

[–] bokherif@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)
[–] sxan@midwest.social 1 points 3 weeks ago

Cameras. You can take pictures with your phone, but despite Apple's advertisements, a phone camera will never produce anywhere near the same quality a dedicated digital camera with interchangeable lenses. And neither are as good as film.

[–] Sal@mander.xyz 1 points 3 weeks ago

Radiation detectors. Such as the Radiacode or the Open Gamma Detector.

Binoculars are quite portable, very useful, and phones don't do a good job at zooming in like that.

Smart watches integrate with phones but the phones by themselves are not so good at measuring the heart rate and other parameters directly.

Mini projectors. UV flashlights. Tools in general... There is so much actually. What type of gadgets are you looking for?

[–] sxan@midwest.social 1 points 3 weeks ago

I'm posting these separately so people can argue about specific devices.

A calculator is still better than a phone in a lot of cases. I haven't yet met a financial advisor who uses their phone instead of a calculator. It's often the same issue as with keyboards: touch screens are simply vastly inferior to tactile keys. Few people are willing to carry keyboards around with them, but for those who use calculators a lot, for many it's worth having a portable, dedicated device.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 1 points 3 weeks ago

Flashlights. Again, in an emergency, you can use your phone. But it's not as good as a real flashlight, and I always carry and use a flashlight.