The iPhone X, released in November 2017, has been officially declared “vintage” by Apple, a surprise to many who remember its release like it was yesterday. Along with the first generation AirPods, they are remembered as the progenitors of what came next: the iPhone X was the first to ditch the home button and include Face ID.
Apple has a dedicated page informing users how to repair products that are no longer under warranty, and the iPhone X has joined the list along with other older models. “A product is considered vintage if it has been discontinued by Apple more than five but less than seven years ago,” Apple explained.
Liam Howley, chief marketing officer at musicMagpie, commented: “It was a nostalgic feeling to hear that the iPhone X is now officially a vintage Apple product. The fact that such a groundbreaking device has achieved vintage status in just seven years is a reminder of how quickly technology can evolve. What feels modern today can quickly become a thing of the past.”
Classic gadgets are popular
Since ancient times, many people have cherished the sentiment and nostalgia behind collecting classic items. Before the age of technology, there were antique shops, but now technology enthusiasts collect gadgets.
According to a report by musicMagpie, vintage tech gadgets are becoming more popular, with Nikon Coolpix digital cameras being the most popular. Searches for this 19-year-old device have increased by 8507% in the past 12 months alone. This surge is also reflected in the fact that #nikoncoolpix has received 47 million views on TikTok, indicating growing interest from Gen Z and millennials.
“Dumb” phones are back in fashion, with foldables like the Motorola Razor and Samsung models seeing renewed interest. Searches for these devices have skyrocketed on platforms like TikTok and eBay. On TikTok, the Razor increased by 180% and Samsung by 57%.
While smartphones offer millions of games and apps, the Nintendo DS is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. The portable console was a huge hit at the time, and searches for the device have increased over the past year. Searches increased 33% on TikTok, 19% on eBay, and 2% on Google.
What influenced these trends?
On social media, people enjoy posting about their lives and often look back to times before the current era. For example, the nostalgia effect is behind the resurgence of the Y2K trend, which was inspired by technology, trends, and fashion from the late 90s and early 2000s.
Younger generations are fascinated with the style and technology of these eras, which is why gadgets including MP3 players such as the iPod and Walkman are becoming popular again.
Another reason people are moving towards classic gadgets is that the younger generation, who grew up with technology, is craving simpler technology, especially due to countless scandals about new technologies invading their privacy. Flip phones offer a break from the constant connectivity of smartphones, coinciding with the growing need for a digital detox.
