From playing music on a boombox to watching a photo on your hands, many people are rediscovering the imperfect charm of older gadgets that smartphones and laptops just can’t replicate.
Tech companies are going full tilt, combining nostalgic design with modern functionality. Here are some of the coolest retro-inspired devices right now.
Digital typewriters
In a world filled with endless notifications, tabs, scrolling doom, and other distractions, smart typewriters make room for a more focused writing experience. These devices strip things down to the basics: just you, a keyboard and your words.
- Free writing ($699): The Freewrite features a design inspired by classic typewriters, providing a minimalist writing experience. It includes a small screen and satisfying keys to press. However, if you need to make changes, your drafts are synced to the cloud and can be exported to any software.
- Pomera ($549): More modern than the Freewrite device, the Pomera looks like a small laptop and includes useful tools like spell check, document management, and word counts. With multiple carrying options and up to 20 hours of battery life, it balances simplicity with functionality.
Boomboxes, cassettes and turntables
The boombox reinvents itself as both a design statement and a functional audio device. Today’s versions combine bulky buttons, a cassette player and large speakers with modern upgrades such as Bluetooth and rechargeable batteries. Cassette players, meanwhile, are also making a resurgence with improvements, and record players continue to be popular as well.
- We Are Rewind ($579): A modern take on the classic boombox, the GB-001 has everything you want in a boombox, but better. It retains all the basic features, such as a woofer, tweeter, cassette player and recorder, while adding Bluetooth and a rechargeable battery. With speakers that deliver 104W of power, it’s built for both nostalgia and premium sound.
- Bumpboxx: Now live on Kickstarter, the new BB-777 is a portable boombox that has a bold ’80s aesthetic while packing a wide range of features. It includes a powerful 3-way speaker system, two tape decks with high-speed recording and copying, built-in CD player, USB recording and more. It also supports multi-band radio, including AM and FM.
- Retrospect ($99): A minimalist version of the classic Walkman-style player, this portable cassette player has all the essentials: play, rewind, fast-forward, and record. It supports both battery power and USB-C, making it a simple yet stylish back.
- Kickback World ($500): This DEKO turntable started shipping in January 2025 and has become popular not only because it’s a step up from traditional players, but also because of its aesthetic with its ‘Swedish Modernism’ orange acrylic design compared to the traditional suitcase-style turntables we usually see.
Instant cameras
There’s something uniquely satisfying about holding a physical photo seconds after taking it. That sense of excitement and anticipation, combined with the imperfect beauty of film, makes every shot feel more meaningful than a quick snap on your iPhone.
- Polaroids ($199): Polaroid has never stopped being popular, but it’s always innovating. Most recently, the Polaroid Flip launched last yeara retro-looking instant camera with modern features like autofocus and app connectivity for remote control.
- Fujifilm ($234): If you want a hybrid camera that lets you shoot digitally and print photos, then there’s the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo. It offers the best of both worlds: instant film with the flexibility of digital storage and sharing. In recent years, the device received an upgrade with USB Type-C. In January, Fujifilm released a new variant, the Instax Mini Evo Cinema, a three-in-one hybrid camera that can even print images from your smartphone.
- type of camera ($35): You also can’t go wrong with a classic disposable camera. It’s simple, reliable and still delivers quality photos without the need for any photography skills. Last year, Kodak released a miniature key chain digital camera, the ‘Charmera’. This tiny device can store and transfer photos and videos using a USB-C cable.
Telephones
Landlines are quietly making a comeback, especially among people looking for a break from screen-heavy communication. They are also gaining popularity as aesthetic objects, often used as statement pieces in home decor.
- Tin ($100): Remember the days when you would run home after school to use the landline and chat with your friends for hours? This is the inspiration behind Tin Can. Designed for kids, it looks like a landline, but doesn’t require a phone jack, just Wi-Fi. Only approved people can call, and parents can easily manage contacts through a companion app. You can pre-order now. There is a free plan to call other Tin Can users and a $9.99/month plan to call all approved contacts.
- Click ($499): Announced at CES 2026, hardware company Clicks Technology unveiled its smartphone that looks a lot like the BlackBerry that dominated the phone market in the 2000s and is experiencing a resurgence among Gen Z. While Clicks’ phone has access to text messaging and productivity apps like Gmail and Slack, it doesn’t provide access to other mobile media like a throwback to the good old days.
