The Galaxy Z Flip 4 went on sale at the end of August and those who long for the nostalgia of a simpler time with their old devices couldn't be happier. Many belonging to younger generations who follow the latest Instagram and TikTok trends have also been getting excited about these developments, and understandably so.
As tech trends are seemingly moving both forward and backward simultaneously, some people are enjoying a solid mix of the technology the world is currently embracing while still longing to bring back classic devices from their childhoods. Some of this tech has stood the test of time and is certainly not going anywhere any time soon.
Flip Phones
Though they have certainly taken on a new life, it seems that many older generations' wistfulness for their old Motorola RAZRs has finally reached tech executives' ears. Foldable Smartphones, such as Samsung's Galaxy Flip, are one of the newest advances in modern cell phone technology. While many miss the feeling of snapping their cellphones closed after an intense phone call, others purely long for the feeling of privacy that exists in not holding one's phone flat in the palm of their hand.
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These new-age flip phones are not quite the same as those used throughout the 2000s, however. They still maintain all the benefits of the standard smartphone and many users claim that they don't quite feel the nostalgic fulfillment that they were hoping for. That being said, standard, non-smart flip phones are still available for purchase and are often used by those who refrain from the internet for religious purposes or for children as a starter/emergency cellphone.
Polaroid Cameras
Though Polaroid cameras have been slowly gaining traction again over the last decade or so, in 2022 it's pretty commonplace to see instant-photograph cameras in the technology aisle at any given department store.
In addition to the novelty of it, there is something special about having the only existing copy of a photo, a single moment in time truly captured in that single moment.
Many teens and tweens have taken to using the best instant cameras as of late to start collections of one-of-a-kind photos in an age of overwhelming replication, and those who grew up with no other option have been seizing the opportunity to return to a simpler time.
Projectors
Though it could be argued that projectors have never gone anywhere, in the past few years, many people have taken to purchasing them for their homes in order to create a more fun and immersive experience. Be it against the wall in the attic or onto a sheet under the stars, the enjoyment of projecting a mini movie theater for a group of friends or just by oneself is arguably unmatched.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw some local drive-in movie theaters begin to open back up, seeing as it was one of the few ways to get out of the house and do an activity while maintaining strict social distancing protocols. Although projectors were already a home gadget for some, this only reminded and emphasized to many others how much fun they can be.
Arcade Games
Classic arcade games like Pac-Man, Tetris, and Space Invaders will live forever and always adapt to new mediums in order to be played on Gameboys, the Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switches, or a smartphone app. They are also the perfect first video games for anyone new, young or old. But the retro-style bulky machines slowly disappeared in the 2000s and 2010s as arcades began to shut down, and sleeker, smaller, and more mainstream machines took their places in the arcades that still remained.
And although they have always continued to exist in the occasional bowling alley or ice skating rink, there's been a recent uptick in arcades that serve alcohol in "trendy" neighborhoods across America. Arcade games from 20 to 40 years ago seem to be unmovable as existing games, so to feel them and play them as they were initially intended appears to be timeless and is making a big comeback.
Cassette Tapes
Surprisingly, cassette tapes have begun to show up back on shelves again in music aisles and media stores everywhere. Many young people are discovering the value, novelty or otherwise, of carrying around Walkmans and boom boxes and have decided that cassette collections might just be the next big thing ... again.
While it's likely that not everyone finds value in this new craze, it is unclear what prompted it. Some have theorized that it may be a result of the damage that the COVID-19 pandemic caused to the music industry, but others are unsure. Either way, people are pulling out their old cassettes and enjoying them again, or for the first time.
Disposable Cameras
Disposable cameras were introduced in the late '80s and became a staple of modern working-class memory-making through the entirety of the 1990s and early 2000s. The concept of taking your photos and bringing them to get developed by a specialist was once a tedious, taxing hassle for many, but is now being thought of as a relic of an easier time.
Much like the current state of Polaroid cameras, many are beginning to cherish these processes as the art form they are, and have begun to find value in the effort and authenticity of having a limit to the number of photos that can be taken at one time and the time that goes into retrieving said pictures when all is said and done. Although photography has never been more accessible with the ability to collage digital photos at the tip of one's fingers, many know that none of this is any substitution for the real thing. Websites and apps such as Shutterfly also offer the ability to print photos onto 4x6 photo paper in an attempt to replicate that same, authentic photo feeling, helping disposable cameras and real film gain traction, once again.
Vinyl Records / Record Players
One of the most obvious cases of old tech on the rise is the uproar in vinyl record collections. Those who were raised on vinyl have said for years that there's nothing like its sound, and it appears that younger generations are finally listening. The record section in nearly every music store has vastly expanded within the last five years, as the demand for albums on vinyl has soared.
Limited edition vinyl records and record players have also had a huge rise in popularity, with many big artists re-releasing their old albums on colored vinyl and new artists splurging on the production of their EPs in order to help contribute to their fans' collections. Records, while they did have quite a dip in popularity amidst the invention of more mainstream and accessible methods of obtaining music, seem to be a medium that will always hang on.