Closing a flip phone ends a call with a snap. Pressing play on a cassette player starts the music. There is a button to press, a lid to close, and a clear end to what you are doing. With touchscreens and endless scrolling now part of daily life, those simple actions can feel refreshing.
Nokia flip phones and Sony Walkman cassette players show the appeal of retro tech, that’s why they are making a “comeback.” You open a phone to call someone or put on headphones to listen to an album. A smartphone puts work, shopping, entertainment, and messages together. These older devices let you do one thing at a time.
HMD, the company behind the Nokia 2660 Flip, said the revival of the flipphones is some for of “digital detox,” or a break from online distractions.
The company makes having fewer distractions part of the phone’s appeal.
The buttons actually make a difference. You can feel each key as you dial a number. You press a button directly instead of opening an app or looking through menus.
Sony introduced the original Walkman in 1979, allowing people to take their favorite music wherever they went. Its small body and lightweight headphones helped change everyday listening, despite early doubts about whether people would buy a player that could not record sound.
Memories may help explain the attachment, too. University of Southampton researchers say nostalgia often involves family, friends, and important moments. An old gadget might bring back memories of a first phone, a favorite album, or songs shared with someone. That is one possible reason for its appeal, although people may enjoy retro designs for different reasons.
An old-school look does not always mean old technology. Nokia feature phones are digital. Sony’s NW-A306 Walkman has Android, Wi-Fi, a touchscreen, and physical music controls. It can even show a moving cassette image while playing digital music.
There are drawbacks. A separate music player means another gadget to carry and charge. A basic phone may also leave you needing a smartphone for apps you use daily.
Yet convenience is only part of what makes a device enjoyable. Sometimes, the appeal is as simple as pressing a real button, listening without checking another app, or closing your phone when the conversation is over.