A growing number of people across Europe are rediscovering outdated technology as they seek relief from digital overload and a return to more tactile forms of entertainment and communication.
From old mobile phones and iPods to VHS tapes and vintage gaming consoles, collectors say the appeal of obsolete technology lies not only in nostalgia but also in escaping the pressures of modern online life dominated by streaming platforms, social media and constant notifications.
Interest in so-called “dumb phones” has risen sharply in recent years, especially among younger users trying to reduce screen time and dependence on smartphone apps. A study published in the journal Partners Universal Innovative Research Publication found sales of basic mobile phones among people aged 18 to 24 jumped 148 per cent between 2021 and 2024.
For many collectors, however, the attraction goes beyond digital detox.
Pasquale, a sociologist from Foggia in Italy, has dedicated part of his home to a collection of early smartphones, including an HTC Dream, also known as the T-Mobile G1, released in 2008 as the world’s first Android smartphone.
He said older devices represented a period when technology still felt experimental and distinctive.
“These phones had operating systems, mechanical designs and physical keyboards that no longer exist today,” he said, adding that many devices also carried social status during their peak years.
In the United Kingdom, journalist Peter Fuller continues to use analogue film cameras, vinyl records and iPods despite the dominance of streaming services. He described older technologies as more personal and immersive than modern digital platforms.
“I’ve got my music, I want to listen to it,” he said, explaining why he still prefers his iPod and vinyl collection over subscription-based streaming services.
Collectors say analogue technology offers a stronger sense of ownership at a time when films, music and games are increasingly tied to online subscriptions and cloud services.
Retro gaming has also become a growing social activity. Miles, a UK-based collector who organises vintage gaming events, said older consoles often bring together people of different generations.
He recalled an 80-year-old woman spending an entire day playing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at one of his events.
Another collector, business teacher and film producer Singh, said he regularly uses old technologies such as VHS players, cassette tapes and CRT televisions during school events to demonstrate how quickly technology becomes obsolete.
He believes many millennials remain emotionally attached to devices they grew up with during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Experts say the trend reflects a wider shift in attitudes toward technology as users increasingly question the effects of constant connectivity, algorithm-driven content and subscription-based digital services.
Projects such as the Nokia Design Archive launched by Finland’s Aalto University are also helping preserve early mobile phone history as interest in retro technology continues to grow.
For collectors like Pasquale, older devices represent more than nostalgia. They serve as reminders of a time when technology felt simpler, more personal and less overwhelming than it does today.
