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Is Gen Z Really Buying Digital Cams, MP3s, and Landlines?

Despite headlines the past few years, Gen Z’s interest in vintage tech is far from a full revival…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

May 13 2025
North America

KEY TAKEAWAYS

While Gen Z does own vintage tech, the trend is more social media hype than mass adoption
DVD players are the most commonly owned vintage item, far more than other trendier items like flip phones or record players—proving that no one vintage tech piece is actually popular across the board
Teen girls are the most likely Gen Z group to own vintage tech, especially retro cameras

It’s easy to get swept up in flashy headlines like ”Retro gaming is back thanks to Gen Z,” “Gen Z ditching smartphones for point and shoot cameras as vintage tech makes a comeback,” or “Gen Z is making retro tech one of 2025’s biggest trends.” They paint a picture of a full-blown revival of old school tech among this gen, one where young people are getting rid of their new, updated devices to return to a life of the early 2000s. And to be fair, there’s definitely a vibe to old-school tech that Gen Z is drawn to. Aesthetics matter,...