In 2025, Amazon continues to list floppy drives, zip drives, and tape storage under its 'Hot New Releases' category, prompting questions about the relevance of these outdated technologies. The e-commerce giant's decision has drawn criticism for potentially confusing consumers. TechRadar suggests retiring these categories to streamline offerings.
Amazon's online store still prominently features legacy storage media in 2025, including a dedicated 'Hot New Releases' section for floppy drives. This placement implies ongoing demand for devices like floppy disks, zip drives, and tape backups, which have been obsolete for decades in modern computing.
The TechRadar article highlights three specific hardware storage categories—floppy, zip, and tape—that Amazon should retire immediately. 'It’s 2025 and Amazon still has a “Hot New Releases” section for floppy drives,' the piece notes, questioning whether anyone still needs these formats. It argues that maintaining such sections confuses shoppers seeking current technology solutions.
Despite the rise of cloud storage and SSDs, Amazon's catalog persists with these items, possibly catering to niche collectors or legacy system users. The publication, dated October 18, 2025, calls for simplification to better serve contemporary needs without delving into sales figures or specific product listings.