Tired of keeping up with the current residents of 10 Downing Street? Forget the drama of modern politics and escape into the festive bliss of yesteryear with these retro Christmas gift ideas.
Certainly, celebrating like Christmas past means no streaming 4K flicks or using your smartphone to distract yourself from your pesky relatives. But once you unwrap this nostalgic collectible, it goes far down memory lane and you can’t care less.
From old-school style instant cameras to games revived from childhood, this vintage kit is sure to please the nostalgic recipient. Especially when I used that video camera from the attic to capture their reactions.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
With so much capable snappers in phones now, real cameras feel vaguely retro these days, but the Instax Mini Evo goes all out for a throwback. It has a built-in printer to spit out other photos from the paired phone) and has a lens and film filter to give them a proper old-school look. Don’t forget to purchase additional film.
Marshall Motif ANC
True wireless headphones are a thoroughly modern invention, but Marshall’s IPX4-rated Motif ANC in-ears look straight out of the heyday of rock and roll. Not only is it instantly recognizable thanks to its famous logo and classic Marshall look, it comes with active noise cancellation, customizable touch controls, and a matching charging case that adds 20 hours to his 4.5-hour battery life. I’m here. A classic rock playlist is recommended but not required.
Nikon Zfc
Think photography is too easy these days? Shoot like it was in the 80’s with the Nikon Throwback Snapper. An homage to FM2, the Z fc mimics its analog ancestors in every way, from the textured shell to the LCD aperture display. Well, apart from the one below. Don’t tell your film photography club mates. A very modern mirrorless camera is hidden inside. Perfect for pretending you like the old ways while quietly acknowledging that digital is not the death of creativity.
sega mega drive mini 2
You don’t have to be a kid in the 90’s to know about the 16-bit heyday of gaming. The legendary era title can tell even those who think the Mega Drive is a golf shot what Sonic looks like. What if you want to relive the Sega experience? This compact recreation is the answer. Inspired by the Mega Drive 2, the 2nd Gen Mini comes with 60 classics installed. A wired controller is included in the box, and a second USB port lets you add another pad for multiplayer nostalgia.
AMAZFIT GTR4
Do you like a smartwatch that doubles as an analog tick tocker? Amazfit’s GTR4 comes loaded with the latest smart features like dual-band GPS, PPG biometric sensors, and extensive fitness and sleep tracking features. The classic chronograph style maintains a vintage feel. It’s only stepped up if you opt for a leather strap rather than a silicone or fabric band, but you can’t get away from the 1.43-inch circular, always-on AMOLED display.
Klipsch Promedia Heritage 2.1
When Klipsch first started making speakers in 1946, Bluetooth was the dead Danish king. This 220-watt wireless system may look dated, but it adds a retro twist to your desktop. An 8-inch subspeaker handles the low end, and the two main speakers have a 3-inch long-throw his woofer, a 1-inch soft-dome his tweeter, and a removable grille. There are also RCA inputs if you prefer retro connectivity and looks.
LEGO Atari 2600
It’s hard to imagine Lego making an Xbox Series X in 40 years (mainly because building a simple black cuboid is pretty boring), but the Atari 2600 was born in a time when consoles looked more interesting. When the 2532 pieces are put together correctly, there are flickable switches and a waving joystick, and when you open the front you’ll find a nostalgic ’80s living room scene.
Bubble Bobble Quarter Scale Arcade Cabinet
Building a miniature arcade for Santa’s little helpers? This faithful replica of the Bubble Bobble Cabinet has been scaled down to a quarter size. It’s also fully playable, so those with diminutive figures can orient the little dinosaurs around an emulated ’80s display. and can be pasted on the cupboard when the adults come over.
Nokia 8210 4G
If you know someone who claims they don’t make phones like they used to, buy the Nokia 8210 4G. It’s not exactly the same as the late 90’s original, but the similarities are clear. Plus, it has a suitably simple 2.8-inch QVGA screen, a 0.3MP camera, 128MB of internal storage, and a removable battery that lasts about a month. Wait. Oh yes, it comes with Snake.
Luark R2 Mk4
Ruark’s R2 may look like an old-fashioned radio, but behind its handcrafted wooden grille, auto-dimming color LCD display, and Rotodial control system is a very capable little music system. Listen to music via Bluetooth or stream directly from Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer, as well as DAB, FM and internet radio. If it sounds half as good as Ruark’s MR1 desktop speakers, you don’t want to turn it off.
Logitech MX Mechanical Mini
Nothing takes you back to the good old days of computing like having a decent mechanical keyboard, but Logitech’s compact Bluetooth version is packed with modern features. Smart backlighting only appears when your hand is close to the low-profile switch and adjusts according to darkness. You can switch between connected devices with the push of a button, and there’s even a dedicated Mac version.
Stand for Elago W8 Apple Watch
Remember when the definition of a smartwatch also had a built-in calculator? Apple’s wearables may be much smarter than that, but there’s still plenty of time to use this silicone stand. Plug in the charger from the back and the Apple Watch on top, and the screen peeks out through the top hole, making it look like you have a calculator on your bedside table.
Polaroid P3
Polaroid ranks alongside Sinclair, DeLorean, and Woolworths when it comes to much-loved retro brand names, but when you try to get a picture taken with one of their latest offerings, you’ll be very disappointed. The P3 is a 35-watt Bluetooth speaker that comes in five different colors – yellow, blue, red, gray and black – and lasts up to 15 hours on a single charge. But what sets it apart from a sea of other wireless speakers, with its chunky analog dials for adjusting volume and polished metal handles for carrying over your shoulder, is its old-school boombox design.
Back to the Future vs Knight Rider Skalex Trick
1980s icons never get bigger than Marty McFly and Michael Knight. In this his 5.3 meter Scalextric track, knight riderKITT and Time Travel DeLorean back to the futureUnfortunately, it’s powered by electricity, not plutonium, so it’ll have to stay here in 2022.
Evercade EXP
Retro gaming used to suffer from joystick pain, but Evercade’s EXP is easier than beating a blindfolded toddler. street fighter ⅡThe handheld incorporates a 4.3-inch IPS screen and 18 Capcom Classics. Strider, final fight In addition to the aforementioned 2D fighting game, there are 6 more arcade games in the bundled cartridge. Tired of all that? There are 35 other collections available for individual purchase.
