The best retro gadgets available right now

In a world where people’s pockets are more squeezed than ever before, and the news cycle seems to transition from one disaster to another, there’s something refreshing about refurbished retro gadgets and technology. On a practical level, retro tech is far more affordable. Even deeper than that, it can offer an escapism from the trappings of contemporary society, giving consumers a chance to beam back into the less toxic past and enjoy warmer, more nostalgic experiences. Older gadgets were also built to last and – by buying one – you can be “cool” while also doing something good for the environment.

From a Nintendo Gameboy that allows you to become a professional Pokémon trainer during your commute to work, to the easy-to-pick-up-and-shoot compactness of a Nikon Coolpix Camera, each of these retro devices are perfect year-round gifts and capable of transporting your recipient to another decade.

Made for family elders and people that just need a more simplified tech experience, an old-school iPad is great for FaceTiming the little ones. It doesn’t have the small, fiddly touch screens you get with so many other devices (the screen is a massive 10 inches), making it far more accessible and easier to use.

Despite their age, the older generation iPads (we suggest a 2017 to 2020 model to keep down costs) still offer brilliant battery life and smooth internet browsing capabilities. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get that index finger tapping.

With so many competing options, it can be confusing to know which streaming app to use to play music. Yet iPods are still so popular because of their seamless functionality; durability (I once dropped mine from a tenth-floor window and it didn’t crack); and the fact they allow consumers to build their own musical libraries that aren’t dependent on an internet connection.

Because the device is geared purely around the listening experience, there’s no chance of annoying phone call distractions getting in the way of swaying to the latest giddy Chappell Roan single, and the satisfying click of the iPod wheel while scrolling through albums just doesn’t get old. The Nano is perfect for small kids, while the Classic is the one for the audiophile in your life.

Some of the most compact and easy-to-use high-res cameras ever released on the market, the Nikon Coolpix range is a smart gift for someone who wants to get into amateur photography without spending hours fiddling with complex lighting settings.

The S7000 model (which has been revived due to its popularity among TikTok photography accounts), in particular, is sure to go down well due to the way it fits so easily in one’s jean pockets. It makes little to no noise and even has an impressive distortion-free lens resolution, which matches up to a lot of SLR cameras; all this despite only costing $300!

One of the biggest selling consoles of all time, the Nintendo DS handheld still stands up so well due to its stacked library of gaming classics (including a definitive remake of the masterpiece Super Mario 64) and smooth two-screen design, which means you’ll never miss out on any of the action.

  However, if you fancy going even further back in time, there’s few experiences that can match up to the joyful fuzziness of the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color. These devices practically invented handheld gaming as we know it today and contain some of the greatest games ever made, whether that’s catching fiery Charmanders on Pokémon Blue or shifting your brain through complex puzzle pieces on the original Tetris. They’re beautiful little things and picking one out of your pocket on a packed bus is sure to result in appreciative sentimental glances from fellow passengers. Just make sure you stock up on some batteries!

It’s easy to assume that Nintendo have always had the monopoly over the handheld gaming market, but their rival Sony also made a serious splash with the PSP, which offered the chance to play Grand Theft Auto and Metal Gear Solid on the go. Essentially a handheld PlayStation 2, the PSP offers brilliant controls, a stacked game collection, and is also a pretty solid video / music player, which can connect to TVs.  If you want to get even more nostalgic, we recommend buying the original PS1 or PS2 consoles, which remain the best way to get lost in a session of Crash Bandicoot and can show the kids where it all began. 

Getting a wireless speaker isn’t easy, especially with the market filled with so many (expensive) options. This makes the affordable Sonos Play:1 an obvious choice due to its sturdy design and deep, layered sound.

Due to its small size, if you whip one out at a party you’re not going to knock someone’s drink off the table! And, unlike other portable speakers, which can be too bass heavy, the dynamic Sonos Play: 1 is great for showing off practically any genre of music. “If you thought time would have aged the Play:1, think again,” wrote What Hi-Fi Magazine in a glowing review. “It remains a great-sounding wireless speaker, and a decent passage into multi-room for those on a tight budget.”