Retro & Dumb

In a world obsessed with AI and ambient computing… people are buying flip phones.

Retro and “dumb” devices are quietly staging a billion-dollar comeback.

At first glance, they seem like hipster fads. But look closer, and the data tells a different story.

These aren’t fringe products. They’re stealth growth markets — scaling while the rest of tech chases AGI and infinite feeds.

Why Is This Happening?

I bundle retro and dumb together because they share the same energy:

Instead, they want things that feel real — physical, tactile, human. There’s comfort in simplicity. And charm in the familiar.

That’s why nostalgia hits so hard.

As I wrote in Why Millennials Are the Perfect Customer, this generation grew up in a shared cultural moment. There weren’t a million streaming options — there were five TV shows, three consoles, and one phone in the house.

It all stuck.

Which is why IP from the 90s and 2000s still runs our reboots, rebrands, and resale markets today.

This isn’t just a longing for the past. It’s a rejection of the present.

Surprising Stats from the Past’s Future

One stat blew my mind and sparked this whole rabbit hole:

Vinyls are growing at 7.1% CAGR and will hit $2.4B by 2030.

Vinyl outsold CDs. It trended on TikTok. And it’s sparked a new ritual: listening with intention.

And vinyl’s not alone.

And it’s not just style. These throwback formats are making real money.

These markets are growing because they’re physical, imperfect, and tactile.

They give you friction, and people love the friction.

You can hold them. You can’t doomscroll them.

The Dumbification of Tech

Beyond retro vibes, there’s a newer class of products designed to actively resist the modern internet.

Here’s what I mean:

*Not sponsored by any of these brands nor have I tried them. They are just examples.

All these tools are part of a movement:

“Help me escape the internet while still being in the world.”

The Bigger Picture

We used to think progress = more features.

Now? Consumers are realizing less is more — and they’ll pay a premium for it.

Flip phones, film cameras, vinyl records — they aren’t just nostalgia acts. They’re reactions.

In an infinite-scroll world, simplicity sells.

This isn’t a counterculture blip. It’s a billion-dollar recalibration of values:

• Analog formats are becoming rituals

• Minimalist tech is improving mental health

• Nostalgia is driving record-breaking reboots and resale economies

They want less noise, more meaning, and something real to hold onto.

So maybe the question isn’t: “Why are these markets growing?”

maybe it’s: “What did we lose that people are trying to get back?”

Until next time,

Ajay