2025 Killed These Tech Products – What’s ‘In’ for 2026

Here is a list of tech products and services that are on their way out, showing the technology people are moving from and what they are moving to in 2026.

This list was compiled with the assistance of AI (not generated by AI), Google Trends, YouTube, and Industry Experience.

1. Search & AI

This is arguably the most significant change we have all experienced this year.

OUT: Traditional Search Engines (Google, Bing) IN: AI-Based Search Solutions. Conversational AI is now the go-to method for finding information. This is significantly reducing website traffic to regular pages and looks set to fundamentally change the entire internet within the next two years. [1]
OUT: ChatGPT (Legacy Models) IN: Newer/Specialized LLMs (e.g., Gemini, Grok, Claude). While ChatGPT was a market pioneer, users are now diversifying. This is driven by the specialized strengths of competitors (e.g., Claude for coding, Gemini for deep integration) and a desire to avoid content restrictions on topics like medicine or complex technical workarounds. [2][3]
OUT: Standalone AI “Wrapper” Tools IN: Integrated AI Platforms (e.g., AI built directly into Google’s Gemini or Notion AI). Users are abandoning single-function AI tools for more powerful, integrated workflows within their existing software. [4]

2. Networking & “Prosumer” Hardware

This category is defined by a move away from products with recent security flaws or high-cost, closed ecosystems.

OUT: Traditional Routers/Firewalls (e.g., Draytek) IN: Ubiquiti UniFi and pfSense (open-source firewall software). This move is largely driven by a continuous string of critical security vulnerabilities in legacy products and the low-cost availability of more intuitive solutions. [5] Legacy firewalls from brands like Draytek, Fortinet, Cisco, and HPE/Juniper are often complex to configure and expensive. UniFi, combined with a good DNS rule blocker, is an extremely effective combination.
OUT: Synology & QNAP (Traditional NAS) IN: DIY NAS running TrueNAS/Unraid or Consumer UniFi UNVR/UNAS. Enthusiasts are building their own systems (Mini-NAS with NVMe is booming) to get more powerful hardware for less money and to avoid vendor lock-in. [6] The trend of mixing critical data with numerous third-party apps on a single device is now seen as a significant security risk. Decisions by companies like Synology to enforce drive vendor lock-in have also pushed users away. [7] Individuals are also tired of high cloud storage fees and are returning to self-hosting or secure solutions like ProtonDrive.
OUT: 1GbE Networks IN: 2.5GbE/10GbE Networking. This is the new standard. New motherboards, network cards, switches, and gateways are all sporting at least 2.5GbE interfaces now. [8]
OUT: Slow Fibre Broadband IN: Multi-Gigabit Home Fibre. In many countries, ISPs are boosting home fibre connections with speeds of 2 to 6 Gbps, often for the same cost as previous low-speed connections. [9]
OUT: Coverage Dead Spots IN: Direct-to-Satellite & Fixed Satellite Internet. Mobile phones are now getting direct-to-satellite (e.g., Starlink) connectivity for calling and data. [10] Homes in rural locations are also connecting with high-speed, low-latency satellite connectivity. [11]
OUT: Consumer-Grade Mesh Wi-Fi (e.g., Google Nest, Amazon Eero, TP-Link) IN: Prosumer Access Points (e.g., Ubiquiti UniFi). People are frustrated with low-speed, high-latency budget mesh solutions. Switching to wired access points provides better speeds and connectivity. Advanced users claim they offer more control and, critically, are not tied to data-harvesting cloud accounts. [12]

3. Software & Productivity

This trend is about escaping “subscription fatigue” and closed platforms for more flexible or cost-effective tools.

OUT: Microsoft Office (Perpetual License) IN: Microsoft 365 (Subscription). This is a forced migration, as Microsoft has phased out the one-time purchase model for most users (support for Office 2019 ended in October 2025). [13] However, this coincides with a broader shift away from Microsoft entirely.
OUT: Microsoft 365 / Office 365 IN: LibreOffice (on Linux) & Self-Hosted Suites. Businesses and individuals are actively moving away due to high subscription costs, opting for free suites like LibreOffice or cloud-native/self-hosted collaboration systems (e.g., NextCloud) and minimal, secure products (e.g., ProtonDocs). [14]
OUT: Windows 10 IN: Windows 11 (the default path) or Linux (the government/business trend and for anyone concerned about privacy). The 2025 end-of-support for Windows 10 is forcing this mass migration. [15] This is happening at the same time Microsoft’s decision to force users to have a Microsoft account to install Windows 11 has upset many, creating a clear dividing line and a push for Windows-like Linux solutions (e.g., Zorin, Mint, Plasma). [16]
OUT: Traditional/Legacy Antivirus (e.g., McAfee, Norton) IN: Modern Endpoint Security & DNS Protection. Users are moving to stronger, lighter solutions like BitDefender or ThreatDown, combined with DNS and browser protection, which provides more comprehensive protection. [17]

4. Smart Home & IoT

The major shift here is from cloud-dependency to privacy-focused, local-first control.

OUT: Cloud-Dependent Smart Hubs (e.g., Google Home, Amazon Alexa) IN: Local-First Platforms (Home Assistant). A massive trend for enthusiasts who want privacy, 100% reliability (even if the internet is down), and to escape “bricked” devices or services that are suddenly put behind a paywall. [18]
OUT: Wi-Fi-Based Smart Devices (e.g., Tuya, Smart Life) IN: Zigbee or Z-Wave Devices. These protocols create their own dedicated, low-power mesh network, making them faster, more reliable, and less likely to clog up your Wi-Fi network. [19]
OUT: Ring / Nest Doorbells IN: Local-Storage / “Matter” Doorbells (e.g., Aqara, UniFi Protect). Users are moving away from devices that require a costly monthly subscription just to see their own video history, in favor of a private, reliable experience without recurring fees. [20]

5. Consumer Electronics & Media

These categories are being replaced by more integrated, convenient, and higher-quality technologies.

OUT: Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras IN: Smartphone Camera Systems. The multi-lens, AI-powered cameras in modern phones have made dedicated, low-to-mid-range cameras completely obsolete. The advanced zoom and computational photography on high-end smartphones are key drivers. [21]
OUT: Dedicated Car GPS Devices (e.g., TomTom, Garmin) & Proprietary Car Manufacturer Mapping IN: Smartphone Maps (Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps) & Apple CarPlay / Android Auto. These apps offer superior, real-time traffic data and are always up-to-date for free. As of 2025, adoption is massive, with over 80% of users who have these systems using them regularly. [22]
OUT: Wired Headphones (3.5mm Jack) IN: True Wireless Earbuds (e.g., AirPods, Galaxy Buds). The mass market has overwhelmingly chosen the convenience of wireless audio, and phone manufacturers have cemented this by removing the audio jack. [23]
OUT: Traditional LCD or LED TVs IN: OLED & QLED (Quantum Dot) TVs. The price of these superior technologies has dropped significantly, making them the new standard for anyone who values picture quality (deep blacks, vibrant color). [24]
OUT: Traditional Desktops (Towers) IN: High-Performance Laptops & Mini-PCs. Users now prefer the flexibility of a powerful laptop (often “docked” at a desk) or the tiny, power-efficient footprint of a Mini-PC. [25]
OUT: Dedicated Gaming Laptops IN: Performance Laptops + External GPUs (eGPUs). Dedicated gaming laptops run hot, are noisy, and have non-upgradeable graphics. The trend is moving toward external GPU enclosures via Thunderbolt or proprietary connectors (e.g., ROG XG Mobile), which offer all the advantages of a powerful laptop with upgradeable, desktop-class graphics. [26]
OUT: Single-Platform Console Loyalty (e.g., PlayStation, Switch) IN: Ecosystem Gaming (Xbox/PC), Cloud Gaming, & PC Handhelds (Steam Deck). While PlayStation and Nintendo remain market titans, the “walled garden” approach is being challenged. Xbox’s strategy of “Play Anywhere” (Console + PC + Cloud) is gaining traction. The rise of powerful PC handhelds and low-latency cloud gaming offers flexibility that dedicated, stationary consoles lack. [27]

6. Storage, Data & Standards

OUT: Multiple Streaming Services (Netflix, Prime, Disney) IN: Self-Hosted Media Servers (Plex, Jellyfin) & Selective Subscriptions. Due to “subscription fatigue,” users are consolidating to one or two core services and self-hosting their personal media libraries to fill the gaps. [28]
OUT: USB Flash Drives IN: Cloud Storage. For file sharing and quick access, cloud services are far more convenient, and flash drives are often unreliable for long-term data, frequently leading to data loss. [29]
OUT: External HDDs (Spinning Disks) IN: External NVMe / SSDs. For high-capacity external storage (like video editing), the speed of solid-state drives (which can be over 35 times faster) is now the standard, and prices have become very competitive. [30]
OUT: CCTV using HDDs (Spinning Disks) IN: High-Endurance SSDs. Camera storage is now far more reliable and allows for rapid timeline scrubbing when using NVMe/SSD drives. Modern drives with high TBW (Terabytes Written) ratings offer many years of usage at reasonable costs. [31]
OUT: Magnetic Stripe Credit Cards IN: Contactless (NFC) & Chip (EMV) Payments. The magnetic stripe is a legacy, insecure technology being fully phased out. “Tap-to-pay” via cards and mobile wallets (like Apple Pay, which accounts for over half of all in-store mobile wallet transactions) is the new standard. [32]
OUT: 3G Networks & Devices IN: 5G & 4G/LTE Networks. Carriers are actively shutting down 3G networks (e.g., the UK’s 3G sunset is by the end of 2025) to free up radio spectrum, making any 3G-only device (like old car trackers or e-readers) obsolete. [33]
OUT: Traditional Social Media (Facebook, X/Twitter) IN: Video-First (TikTok) & Community-Based Platforms (Discord, Reddit). User attention, especially from younger demographics (teen use of Facebook has plummeted), has decisively shifted from broadcast-style “feeds” to algorithm-driven video entertainment and niche, private communities. [34]
OUT: iCloud Photo Storage & Backup, Google Photos/Drive IN: Self Hosted Mobile Photo and Data Backup. Due to the governments insistence of gaining access to personal devices, their photos and other data, users are leaving cloud backup solutions and using local or private data/photo storage solutions for better privacy. Immich (1st place), PhotoPrism (2nd place), Filerun (3rd place), Nextcloud (some issues) and PhotoSync (app to NAS/FTP) are all leading the way. [35]