Before we had stuff like facial recognition or virtual reality, our lives were pretty simple in terms of technology. Okay, not “simple, simple” – there were horrid things to deal with like dial-up Internet. Still, gadgets back then weren’t complex, and they gave us years of joy till the inevitable death knell of modern technology came calling.
If you haven’t quite recovered from the passage of time (and the fact your favourite gadgets continually get replaced), we’ve got good news for all of you: old school devices have been making massive comebacks in 2017, and that trend doesn’t look like it’s stopping anytime soon. Here are 7 of the most nostalgic revivals:
Nokia 3310
Never in the history of mankind has a phone gotten so much respect for its durability. Superlatives like “indestructible” and “robust” have been showered on the 3310, with a flurry of viral memes confirming its popularity. And now it’s back in business after years of flimsy phones – better late than never, eh?
Nokia 3310, $99, available via authorised retailers.
Tamagotchi
When the Tamagotchi first launched in 1997, little did people know that it would transform them into zombified owners of a virtual pet. Fast-forward 20 years, and the egg-shaped, handheld gadget has returned to enslave once again, with cute pets that only eat, sleep, and go for dumps. It’s been fun, but say goodbye to your social life.
Tamagotchi, $39, available via Amazon Japan.
Polaroid OneStep 2
Polaroid perishing was like a dagger in the heart of all photography lovers. Thankfully, a startup called the Impossible Project has restarted film production for Polaroid-compatible cameras, taking on the great Polaroid name, and coming up with the OneStep 2 – a modern revamp of Polaroid’s classic OneStep Land Camera 1000.
OneStep 2 i-Type Camera, US$99, available via us.polaroidoriginals.com.
Samsung Galaxy Folder 2
Remember when flip phones were rad? Yeah, we do too (that RAZR craze was real). So it’s been a long time coming, but at least we can now enjoy a worthy successor with the Galaxy Folder 2. It’s not exactly a comeback product per se, but who cares? It’s slick, and brings us back to the early 2000’s almost like how Backstreet Boys can. What’s there not to love?
Samsung Galaxy Folder 2, $260, available via qoo10.sg (only Gold model).
Super NES Classic Mini
What was the hottest gaming console of 2017? Not the PS4 or Xbox for sure. It was the Super NES Classic Mini, a modern day version of the 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System, which sold like hotcakes after its release. Miniature-sized and packed to the brim with 21 retro 8-bit games, the Super NES Classic Mini has that whole ‘Stranger Things’ vibe going on, and will bump up your street cred in a heartbeat.
Super NES Classic Mini, $169, available via lazada.sg.
Kodak Ektra
Like with other film camera brands, it was devastating to see Kodak bite the dust. But it’s good to see them rise from the ashes once again with the Kodak Ektra – a smartphone that’s specially designed for photographers, and comes equipped with a rear 21-megapixel camera, as well as a DSLR-styled dial that allows you to toy with manual functions.
Kodak Ektra, $829, available via lazada.sg.
Blackberry KEYone
What with all the iPhone’s and Samsung’s, it’s no surprise that Blackberry has been forgotten – till now, that is. If you miss the company’s famed keypad, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s back once again and in full force on the KEYone – a touchscreen phone that comes with the same physical keys of those old Blackberry models.
Blackberry KEYone, $770, available via shopee.sg.
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