by - Nostalgia isn't the answer here - There are too many compromises in image quality - Technology has evolved significantly.
- VHS presents numerous disadvantages when compared to current alternatives.
- It's preferable to view updated versions of the same film.
I recall watching the Star Wars Special Editions on VHS repeatedly as a child while growing up, and I really enjoyed them back then. Later, I moved to DVD, then to Blu-ray, and now I mostly watch them on 4K Blu-rays at home. Each format was a significant improvement over the previous one, and with the current direction of physical media, 4K could be the final destination — despitesome encouraging signs here and there.
While VHS served me well for a significant portion of my life, there are times when it's best to move on. Nostalgia is genuine, but I don't believe it fits this situation. I've recently modded aclassic handheld device, the Game Boy Advance, to play many games I had previously missed, and I've been having fun with it. Even though these games are over 20 years old, there's still plenty of enjoyment to be found. I don't think that applies to VHS.
Sentimentality can't beat this one
Too much is given up
I'm certain this will disappoint many, but I believe VHS is no longer a practical format. Of course, it's enjoyable as a novelty, and there are still new films released on VHS, such as A24's I Saw the TV Glow and Y2K as recent examples. I'll agree that collecting VHS tapes can be an entertaining hobby, particularly because they're so inexpensive nowadays. I bought a bunch of 10 movies on eBay for 99 cents plus shipping, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to spend more than that going forward.
I found a CRT TVInside the trash bin that came with a VCR and DVD player, and surprisingly, both devices still functioned. I didn't have any VHS tapes to test them, so I ended up purchasing some on eBay, and the outcome was worse than I expected. Even though I was using hardware meant for VHS tapes, the picture remained blurry and low-resolution. Although DVDs only go up to 480p, they performed much better on the 30-inch television, and if I needed to watch something on the TV, that's what I would choose.
The one aspect that benefits the VHS tape is the audio, but this isn't due to the tape itself. The television I discovered comes with a pair of stereo speakers integrated into it, and they definitelyremove standard TV sound eliminate typical television audio disregard conventional TV sound dismiss regular television audio erase standard TV sound overpower normal TV audio nullify usual television audio cancel common TV sound obscure regular television audio suppress standard television audioThat's good for my basement TV, but I definitely won't be placing a 30-inch television in my living room anytime soon. VHS tapes also lack modern audio formats likeDolby Atmos, so they are very much a product of their era.
The main concern, by far, is the visual quality. VHS tapes are nowhere near comparable to a DVD, let alone a 4K disc, which is why it's extremely difficult to recommend them in 2025. If a title is only accessible via VHS, that's a different scenario, but if you can choose from almost any other format, it's definitely worth considering.
I've recently become more interested in thrifting, but after this experience, I plan to stick to DVDs as the earliest format. Even so, I don't think I'll be buying many of them.
Technology has progressed beyond control
Some things improve with time, while others do not.
Technology evolves rapidly, and gaming is a prime illustration of this trend. Not long ago, Cyberpunk 2077 was considered the height of visual quality, but now it can run natively on portable devices.Nintendo Switch 2. Technology is continuously evolving, turning once-imagined concepts into tangible achievements.
I believe that's a major reason I have little regard for formats like VHS. There are numerous superior methods to view a TV show or film, making the act of inserting a tape seem pointless. Top Gun was one of the tapes I acquired, and while the movie remains unchanged, there's no justification for me to revisit it on VHS when I can simply watch my 4K version. It offers a better visual and audio experience, and I don't need to rewind it after finishing.
This same reasoning holds true for video games. Remasters and remakes are now so common that there's little reason to return to original versions. It's one thing to compare Donkey Kong Country on my Game Boy Advance with the SNES version, but when discussing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on my Switch 2 versus the Wii U, why would I ever choose the older version? In certain instances, these new releases can be beneficial as they often lead to lower prices for the original game, such as with Xenoblade Chronicles X.
VHS tapes are generally not costly these days, so if you're a collector, they won't usually cause financial strain, except for a few exceptions. One of those exceptions is old wrestling pay-per-view recordings. I currently subscribe to Peacock, which allows me to view nearly every WCW and WWE PPV that comes to mind, but these rights won't be around forever, and if they move to Netflix, there's little chance they'll ever be available there. I've been searching for '90s PPV tapes, and I was surprised by how expensive some of them are on eBay. Naturally, the seller sets the price, but since these tapes are rare, there's not much I can do other than negotiate or wait for a price reduction. Interestingly, the one wrestling tape I did purchase looked significantly better than Top Gun, so it has that going for it.
At the conclusion of the day, I don't want to ruin your enjoyment if you enjoy collecting or viewing rare VHS tapes. I might still purchase one if the price is right, but I'll stick to newer formats whenever possible. Regrettably, I believe the VHS format is best left as a memory rather than something I watch in 2025.
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