You might think that in 2026, printers are relics of the past like floppy disks or dial up Internet, but the truth is that a printer still holds an important place in homes and offices, especially when paired with a reliable HP ink or other quality supplies. We definitely do live in more of a digital world these days where emails, PDFs, and cloud storage dominate, but sometimes nothing beats having a physical copy in your hand.
There are moments when a digital version of anything just doesn’t cut it.Think last minute forms, boarding passes, or important contracts that need a signature. Printers can be a convenience here, so instead of scrambling for any coffee shop or hunting for Wi-Fi, a home or office printer can save the day. Printing at home is faster, easier, and is much less stressful than running errands in rush hour traffic.
Image source: Pexels
Printers also remain essential for education and creative projects. Students still need hard copies for essays, artwork and science projects. Parents and hobbyists use printers for scrapbooking, DIY gifts or personalized decorations. There is something undeniably satisfying about holding a colourful poster, a photo collage, or a neatly printed schedule. These are some things that just don’t translate the same on a screen. Even in an eco conscious era, printers have adapted many modern models that are energy efficient, duplex capable, and use recycled or refillable cartridges. High quality inks like HP Ink ensures longevity and reduces waste by producing vibrant prints at last. So contrary to what some might think, printing isn’t about waste, but about making the most of physical media where it truly matters.
Is another factor. Digital documents are convenient, but they can be hacked, lost, or misfiled. Printing sensitive documents like tax forms, legal papers, or medical information adds an extra layer of security. A hard copy is a tangible thing, and it can’t be accidentally deleted and ensures that you always have access, even if your devices fail or the Internet goes down. Also do play a role in professional settings, even in a highly digital industry, presentations proposals have asking materials often benefit from printed copies.
Sometimes physical copies can feel more polished, professional and impactful in meetings or conferences. Vibrant brochures or crisp reports can make an impression that screen just can’t replicate. And then let’s not forget the fun. Printing photos from your latest adventures or crafting personalized cards for your birthdays and holidays brings a tactile joy that screens just can’t match. We are dominated by digital everything, so printers give us a little analogue magic that feels refreshing and personal.
Finally, printers have evolved with technology. Modern printers can connect to your phone, tablet, or cloud storage seamlessly. These days, in 2026, the printer isn’t dead. It’s still adaptable, relevant, and surprisingly handy. Screens are great, but nothing beats the satisfaction of holding your work in your hands and seeing something physical rather than just on a screen.
There is something rather special about great audio gear. Whether it is a cherished pair of bookshelf speakers from the seventies or a hefty amplifier that once powered many late nights, older kit carries a charm that refuses to fade. The trouble is that modern streaming rarely considers this history. We juggle apps, fight with compatibility issues, and often end up restricted to one manufacturer’s ecosystem.
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
Atonemo, a young company based in Stockholm, has stepped in with a refreshingly simple answer. Their new device, the Streamplayer, aims to bring every speaker you own into the streaming age. It works with speakers of any brand, size, or era and gives older equipment a modern purpose again.
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
Listening to music used to be an uncomplicated affair. You pressed play, and the sound travelled through a cable without any fuss. Today, we navigate multiple services that do not always get along. Streamplayer strips away that complexity by giving you a single, universal way to stream music across your home.
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
The concept is brilliantly straightforward. Streamplayer is a compact wireless audio streamer that connects to any speaker or amplifier. Once it joins your Wi Fi network, you can play music through AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, or Tidal Connect. Your vintage hi fi becomes wireless. Your modern speakers can work side by side with your older favourites. You can even synchronise completely different speakers into one unified system.
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
For fans of classic audio equipment, this is especially exciting. Many older speakers sound superb but lack the streaming features that modern life expects. Atonemo’s mission is to bring them back into everyday use, turning beautiful old gear into fully capable modern systems.
Atonemo’s Approach
The company was founded by two childhood friends, one a mathematician and the other a designer. Their shared passion for music and frustration with over engineered audio systems inspired them to create products that feel human, simple, and purposeful. Their philosophy focuses on clear communication and design that does exactly what it needs to do without clutter.
Key Features
Streamplayer is small, but the specification is impressive:
24 bit 192 kHz audio
Gapless playback
AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect
Analogue line out and optical S PDIF out
Wi Fi 6 with WPA2 and WPA3 security
USB C power
Works with active speakers, amplifiers, hi fi systems, and vintage audio gear
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
Everything about it is built around compatibility and convenience. It arrives with a USB C power cable, an AUX cable, and a simple quick start guide, making setup as painless as possible.
A Simple Idea with Real Impact
The launch of Streamplayer feels like a moment for anyone who loves audio but dislikes unnecessary complication. It brings your favourite speakers back into daily use, unifies the systems you already have, and avoids locking you into any single brand.
For anyone with a cupboard full of forgotten gear or a cherished pair of speakers that deserve to be heard again, this little box might be one of the most appealing products of the season.
Bambu Lab have officially announced the launch of their new multi-material 3D printer, the Bambu Lab H2C, taking place on 18 November 2025 at 3:00 PM CET—and I’ll be there at Formnext in Frankfurt to witness the reveal in person.
This is shaping up to be one of the most significant announcements in desktop 3D printing for years.
For the past three years, Bambu Lab have been working on a cleaner, more efficient approach to multi-colour and multi-material printing. Their teaser hints at something genuinely ground-breaking: the end of purge waste.
Back in 2022, the X1 series opened the door to accessible multi-colour printing, but the trade-off was always the same—purging. Endless little strings of wasted filament, time lost, and the compromises that every multi-colour printer still struggles with today.
Bambu’s engineers zeroed in on the real culprit: contamination within the hotend. Their solution? Don’t purge—swap the hotend.
Image and Video Credit: Bambulab
Introducing the Vortec Hotend Change System
The H2C is expected to showcase a brand-new technology called Vortec, described as one of the first induction-heated, fully automated hotend-swap systems.
The innovations highlighted in the teaser include:
• Dedicated hotends instead of purging
Like using a fresh paintbrush for each colour. No cleaning required, no cross-contamination, and no filament waste.
• Induction heating in just 8 seconds
Rapid heating without the slowdown of bulky toolheads or complex gantries.
• Wireless data and power sync
Each hotend contains its own chip that communicates temperature, filament data and status to the printer—without cables or pogo pins to wear out.
• No sacrifice in speed, volume or reliability
Rather than adding multiple nozzles or loading a heavy toolhead, Bambu Lab have focused on keeping things fast, compact and robust.
According to Bambu Lab, Vortec represents “the epilogue to the imperfections of X1” and marks their first major step toward eliminating purge altogether.
I’ll Be Reporting Live from Formnext
As The Gadget Man, I’ll be on the ground at Formnext in Frankfurt when the H2C is unveiled. Expect hands-on impressions, photos, early thoughts and—as always—my honest take on whether this could be the next revolution in multi-material 3D printing.
Stay tuned. This could be the moment multi-colour printing finally becomes clean, fast and… uncompromising.
Well, this is exciting. The lovely folks at Anycubic have been in touch again, and this time they’ve got something rather special lined up for the 3D-printing world. If you’ve been following my recent adventures in the workshop — shelves of resin bottles, spools of filament, and printers humming away like a busy beehive — you’ll know I’ve been especially taken with Anycubic’s approach to innovation lately.
And now, they’ve gone and done it again.
Introducing the Kobra S1 Max Combo
A brand-new machine built to push desktop 3D-printing further — louder, brighter, more colourful, and more capable of serious engineering-grade work.
This is not just a quiet upgrade. This is one of those big leaps.
Kobra S1 Max ComboKobra S1 Max
What Makes It Stand Out?
The expanded spec list from the official campaign page reveals some key details:
Up to 16-colour printing: Start with one ACE 2 Pro module for 4 colours; combine up to four for the full 16-colour capacity.
Huge build volume: 350 × 350 × 350 mm.
Enclosed, actively-heated chamber up to 65 °C. Hotbed up to 120 °C, hotend up to 350 °C.
Hardened-steel hotend (0.4 mm standard with extra 0.6 mm included), optional 0.25 mm brass / 0.8 mm hardened steel nozzles.
CoreXY motion system, active carbon-filter air purification, WiFi6/Ethernet support, 720p monitoring, spaghetti-recognition AI, U-disk/app control.
Materials covered: from PLA/PETG/TPU right up to engineering-grades like ABS, ASA, PC, PA, PA6-CF, PC-CF/GF, PET-CF.
Put simply: whoever said “desktop printers are only for PLA” is going to have a rethink when this lands.
Early Bird Deal (This One’s Actually Worth It)
Anycubic are running a clever early-bird scheme:
Pay £50 now → receive £100 discount off the launch price (5th November to 24th November)
After that, the pricing rolls through phased levels — each with perks (as previously noted).
£749 (25 Nov-1 Dec) with £400 worth of perks
£799 (2 Dec-25 Dec) with £350 perks
£849 (26 Dec-31 Jan) with £300 perks
£949 (from 1 Feb) with £200 perks
So yes — if you’re thinking about it, the earlier the better.
And Here’s the Extra Bit I’m Excited About…
I’ll be in Frankfurt on the 18th November attending formnext — the global additive-manufacturing expo. It’s basically the Glastonbury of 3D printing: people everywhere talking filament, lasers, printheads, sintering furnaces — heavenly stuff.
I’m absolutely planning to track down Anycubic while I’m there and get a closer look at the Kobra S1 Max Combo in the flesh. Expect photos, impressions, maybe even first-hand print samples — all coming your way.
If you’ve got questions you’d like me to ask the Anycubic team directly, let me know in the comments.
Final Thoughts
This is shaping up to be a very compelling machine:
✔ Larger build volume ✔ Multi-colour support baked in ✔ Enclosed, CoreXY, heated chamber = better reliability ✔ Designed for real materials, not just for show
If it delivers what the specs promise, this could be one of the stand-out printers of 2025 — especially for makers and small business production.
I’ll bring back everything I learn at Formnext — stay tuned.
—
Matt Porter – The Gadget Man Currently surrounded by printers. Not sorry.
From Pixels to Platinum: When AI Designed My New Hairstyle
There’s something oddly thrilling about letting technology take creative control. I’ve spent years testing gadgets, reviewing innovations, and exploring the limits of artificial intelligence — but this time, I let the tech get a little more personal.
A few weeks ago, I asked Midjourney — my go-to AI image generator — a simple question: “What would The Gadget Man look like with a fresh new hairstyle?”
The result was, quite frankly, impressive. The AI produced a series of strikingly realistic portraits featuring a textured, platinum-blonde cut that looked part cyberpunk, part 21st-century rockstar. I loved it. The catch? It wasn’t real… yet.
The AI Concept
Armed with a few reference prompts and an experimental mindset, I spent an evening fine-tuning the digital version of myself. Midjourney, in its infinite wisdom, decided that bleached hair and choppy texture were the future of The Gadget Man brand.
At first, it was just a bit of fun. But the more I looked at the AI render, the more I realised — this was something I could actually pull off. So, I decided to make it happen.
Turning AI Into Reality
I booked an appointment with my stylist and brought along the AI images on my phone — full 360-degree green-screen shots of the “digital me.” It’s not every day you walk into a salon and say, “I’d like this look, please — it was designed by artificial intelligence.”
To their credit, they didn’t flinch. Instead, we broke it down into human-achievable steps:
The Cut: Short, faded sides with plenty of texture on top.
The Style: Tousled and natural, with enough lift to keep things casual.
The Colour: A cool, silver-white platinum tone — bold but clean.
The Result
Wait and see!!!
AI as a Creative Partner
This little experiment isn’t just about hair — it’s about what happens when AI moves from the screen into the real world. Whether it’s designing products, testing ideas, or in this case, reinventing a hairstyle, AI has become a kind of creative partner.
From Pixels to Platinum: When AI Designed My New Hairstyle
From Pixels to Platinum: When AI Designed My New Hairstyle
Coming soon: a behind-the-scenes video of the full transformation — from my original hairstyle to the final platinum reveal. Keep an eye on The Gadget Man socials for the big unveil.
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to upgrade your laptop, Acer UK has just dropped some seriously tempting offers as part of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days this October — and they’re live right now.
We’re talking up to 40% off some of Acer’s most popular models — from AI-powered Swift notebooks to Predator gaming beasts and Chromebooks for work or study. Whether you’re a creator, student, or gamer, this lineup covers all bases.
For a limited time only, you can bag cutting-edge tech featuring Intel Core Ultra processors, Snapdragon X Plus power, OLED displays, and AI-ready performance — all with solid discounts.
Here’s a quick look at the standout deals worth clicking “Add to Basket” for:
💻 Top 9 Acer Prime Big Deal Day Offers
Acer Predator Helios Neo 14 PHN14-51 – £899.99 (was £1,499.99) Compact yet powerful 14.5″ gaming laptop boasting NVIDIA RTX 4060 graphics, a 120Hz WQXGA display, and Intel Core Ultra 5 performance — perfect for gaming on the go. 🔗 View on Amazon
Acer Swift Go AI SFG14-01 – £649.99 (was £999.99) Super-slim, AI-powered laptop running the Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD. Built for all-day productivity and portability. 🔗 View on Amazon
Acer Swift 14 AI SF14-51 (Intel Core Ultra 5) – £749.99 (was £1,099.99) A stunning 2.8K OLED display meets Intel’s new AI computing capabilities in this sleek, next-gen notebook. 🔗 View on Amazon
Acer Swift 14 AI SF14-51 (Intel Core Ultra 7) – £849.99 (was £1,199.99) Premium build, gorgeous OLED visuals, and faster performance thanks to the Intel Ultra 7 processor. 🔗 View on Amazon
Acer Swift Go 16 SFG16-72 – £849.99 (was £1,199.99) A creator’s dream: 16″ 3.2K OLED 120Hz display, Intel Core Ultra 7, and a sleek aluminium chassis. 🔗 View on Amazon
Acer Aspire 3 A315-59 (Intel Core i7) – £399.99 (was £649.99) Dependable, no-nonsense 15.6″ full-HD laptop with Intel Core i7 power and SSD speed — ideal for everyday work and study. 🔗 View on Amazon
Acer Swift Go 14 SFG14-63 (AMD Ryzen 7) – £749.99 (was £999.99) Lightweight and powerful, pairing Ryzen 7 performance with a 2.8K OLED display for a stylish balance of form and function. 🔗 View on Amazon
Acer Aspire Go 14 AG14-21P (AMD Ryzen 3) – £269.99 (was £429.99) Great-value portable machine for home or student life — slim, capable and ideal for day-to-day use. 🔗 View on Amazon
Acer Chromebook Plus 514 CB514-3H (AMD Ryzen 5) – £279.99 (was £449.99) A Chromebook Plus model with upgraded Ryzen 5 power, premium design and all the simplicity and security of ChromeOS. 🔗 View on Amazon
🗣️ Acer on Making Tech More Accessible
“We’re proud to make powerful, reliable and sustainable technology more accessible during Prime Big Deal Days,” said Jamie Purser, National Account Manager at Acer UK. “Whether you’re a student, creator or gamer, there’s an Acer device to elevate your experience at a great price.”
🧠 The Gadget Man’s Take
I love seeing big-brand tech getting proper discounts that actually mean something — and this is one of those rare occasions. Acer’s latest AI-ready laptops bring future-proof performance within reach, and the Predator Helios Neo looks like a steal at under £900.
If you’ve been holding off for a new laptop, this could be the ideal moment to make the leap — especially with those OLED screens and next-gen chips on offer.
💡 All prices were correct at time of writing and available exclusively through Amazon.co.uk as part of the October Prime Big Deal Days event. Visit Acer’s Amazon Storefront to browse the full range.
Frankfurt is getting ready to host the world’s largest 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing (AM) event once again. From 18–21 November 2025, Formnext will transform the Messe Frankfurt exhibition halls into a showcase of innovation, collaboration, and real-world applications across industries.
This year promises over 800 exhibitors, including some of the biggest names in the AM world alongside a healthy mix of start-ups and research groups. Expect plenty of world premieres, live demonstrations, and a packed programme across aviation, aerospace, engineering, jewellery, watches, and more.
Spain takes centre stage as the partner country for 2025, bringing around 30 companies to Frankfurt. The Spanish AM sector has been growing rapidly and plays an interesting role as a link between Europe and Latin America, particularly strong in systems, materials, and research.
The Gadget Man will be attending formnext
The supporting programme looks just as impressive as the show floor itself. Three stages will run throughout the event, each with a different focus: industry trends, real-world applications, and the latest technologies. Seminars, talks, and showcases will cover everything from large-format 3D printing to data-driven design and construction AM. Add to that the Formnext Awards, start-up pitches, career opportunities, and networking events, and it’s clear this isn’t just an exhibition – it’s the meeting point for the global AM community.
I’ll be there on Tuesday 18 November for the Press Breakfast and then I’m looking forward to catching up with many of the 800 companies, checking out the latest announcements and exploring the halls. It’s always fascinating to see how far the technology has come, and this year looks set to offer plenty of inspiration.
Tickets are available now from formnext.com/visitors, with an early-bird discount running until 21 October.
When you open your browser and type in a web address like www.thegadgetman.org.uk, how does your computer know where to go? That’s where DNS – the Domain Name System – comes into play. It’s one of the hidden heroes of the internet, and understanding it can help you browse smarter and more securely.
What is DNS?
In simple terms, DNS translates human-friendly domain names into machine-friendly IP addresses. Think of it as the internet’s phone book. Instead of remembering a string of numbers like 172.217.169.206, you just remember a name – like google.com – and DNS handles the rest.
Every website, email server, and online service has an IP address. DNS ensures you don’t have to memorise any of them.
How Does DNS Work?
Here’s what happens behind the scenes when you visit a website:
Your browser checks its cache to see if it already knows the IP address.
If not, it asks your operating system, which checks its own cache.
If still no luck, it asks the DNS server provided by your internet service provider (ISP).
If the ISP’s server doesn’t know, it asks a chain of other DNS servers – starting from the root, to TLD (.com, .uk), and finally to the domain’s authoritative server.
Once the IP address is found, it’s returned to your browser, and the connection is made.
All this typically takes milliseconds – faster than blinking.
Why Should You Care About DNS?
Most people never think about DNS, but it plays a vital role in your online experience. Here’s why it matters:
Speed: A faster DNS can mean faster browsing, especially when accessing new websites.
Privacy: Many DNS providers log your queries. That means they know every website you visit.
Security: Some DNS services help block malicious websites or phishing attempts.
Surfshark’s DNS: Private and Free
Surfshark, known for its VPN services, offers afree public DNS designed with privacy in mind. Unlike many default ISP DNS services, Surfshark’s DNS doesn’t log or track your online activity.
Key Benefits of Surfshark DNS:
No logs or tracking – Your DNS requests aren’t saved, sold, or snooped on.
Improved privacy and anonymity – Especially useful when combined with a VPN.
Free to use – No hidden costs or annoying ads.
Reliable infrastructure – Globally distributed servers for stable, fast resolution.
How to Change Your DNS
Switching to a privacy-focused DNS like Surfshark’s is easy:
On Windows or macOS, you can change DNS settings via your network preferences.
Routers often allow DNS changes at the network level, covering all your connected devices.
Surfshark also offers setup guides for specific devices and platforms.
Final Thoughts
DNS is like the backstage crew of the internet – you rarely see it, but it keeps the show running. Understanding how DNS works gives you more control over your online experience. And by switching to a privacy-first service like Surfshark DNS, you can enhance your digital safety without spending a penny.
If you’re serious about your gadgets, online privacy, and speed, don’t overlook your DNS.
I’m always excited to bring you news of cutting-edge tech that blends innovation with affordability – and today is no exception. If you’re into 3D printing or thinking about diving into the world of filament fabrication, this announcement is for you!
Say hello to the Anycubic Kobra 3 V2 Combo – a machine that promises to be Vibrant, Versatile, and Visionary. Developed with creators in mind, this latest printer from Anycubic is loaded with features that make it perfect for hobbyists and professionals alike.
Introducing the Kobra 3 V2 Combo – A Vibrant New Chapter in 3D Printing! Super Early Bird Pricing Announced
Super Early Bird Price – Just £359!
From 15th to 18th May, you can grab the Kobra 3 V2 Combo at a stunning £110 off the retail price – just £359 instead of £469! But you’ll have to be quick: this Super Early Bird offer is available for a limited time only.
Early adopters aren’t just saving money – they’re unlocking exclusive perks worth over £100, including:
50% OFF all filament packs (PLA Special, PLA Metal, High Speed, and even random bundles)
£10–£30 Gift Cards (500 winners up for grabs!)
FREE 8-Colour Hub – When purchasing the 8-colour kit version (exclusive to the Kobra 3 V2 Combo)
Mystery Box – Who doesn’t love a surprise?
Free Access to Premium Quality Models to kickstart your print library
This makes it one of the best value 3D printer launches we’ve seen all year.
Colourful, Creative and Capable
The Kobra 3 V2 Combo is designed for multicolour printing straight out of the box. With its smart automatic material station and easy-to-use touchscreen interface, it’s a dream machine whether you’re printing functional parts or jaw-dropping figurines.
Combine that with high-speed capabilities and robust build quality, and you’ve got a machine that’s ready to keep up with your creative demands.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re upgrading your current printer or taking your first step into the world of multicolour 3D printing, the Kobra 3 V2 Combo is a no-brainer – especially at the early bird price.
Once upon a time, a phone was just a phone. The exact when of that once-upon-a-time depends on how far back you travel between now and Alexander Graham Bell. For some, it’s when phones were chunks of Bakelite with rotary dials, while for others the cut-off point is when phones started to offer more than calls, text, and playing “snake”. Today, that’s what we’d call a basic phone. And it’s making a comeback.
Rethinking How Smart We Want Our Phones To Be
Dumbing down
Pretty much every mobile phone available today falls into one of three categories: basic, feature and smart.
A basic phone is designed primarily for calling and texting, with very limited or no internet access and minimal extra functions. It usually has a small screen, physical keypad, and lacks apps or an advanced interface.
A feature phone falls between a basic and a smartphone; it often includes some multimedia functions like a basic camera, FM radio, Bluetooth, and sometimes limited internet access. While it may support some apps, it runs on a lightweight operating system and isn’t built for the kind of multitasking or app ecosystems that smartphones offer.
A smartphone can be your office, your library, your entertainment centre and your link to family and friends. It runs on advanced operating systems like Android or iOS and supports full internet access, multitasking, high-resolution touchscreens, downloadable apps from app stores, GPS, and a wide range of sensors and connectivity options. It essentially functions like a handheld computer and is central to modern digital life.
And a pushback against that modern digital life is partly behind a boost in basic sales.
While “dumb” phones represent a small slice of the overall handset market (around 2%), it is a trend mobile phone manufacturers have taken notice of and are responding to; minimalist or feature-free versions of many phones are being developed and promoted to younger generations, especially Gen Z adults (those born between 1997 and 2012).
Interestingly, older members of Gen Z were on the cusp of the transition from basic phones to smartphones, giving them a unique perspective on both types of devices.
And nostalgia does play a role.
The re-release of classic models like the Nokia 3210 in 2024 has tapped into a sense of longing for the past. These updated versions maintain iconic designs while incorporating modern features such as 4G connectivity and USB-C charging, appealing to both those who remember the originals and younger users drawn to retro aesthetics.
Health and safety
Many seek to reduce their screen time and disconnect from the constant smartphone barrage of notifications and social media updates. There is a growing body of research linking increased levels of anxiety, stress and depression to excessive smartphone use; many feel a “hypervigilance” is forced on them because of constant connectivity.
Social media apps have been associated with increased anxiety and depression – social comparison, fear of missing out (FOMO), and cyberbullying all play their part in pushing people away from a digital lifestyle. And parents are increasingly opting for basic phones for their children to limit exposure to social media and online content.
In addition to mental health concerns, mobile phone users are becoming increasing alarmed by potential security risks associated with smartphones. A 2022 Deloitte survey revealed that nearly 60% of respondents worry about their devices being vulnerable to security breaches and organisations tracking them through their devices. This distrust is further fuelled by the lack of transparency regarding data collection practices and the increasing complexity of mobile operating systems.
Impact on Mobile Entertainment Services
The return to basic phones inevitably limits access to mobile entertainment services a trade-off that sits at the heart of this trend.
Without app stores or constant connectivity, users are stepping away from on-demand video, social media feeds, and mobile gaming. For many, this is a deliberate move a way to disconnect from digital noise and regain focus.
But beyond the digital detox narrative, this shift could also reignite interest in the early formats of mobile entertainment. Just as the return to physical media (like vinyl records or Polaroid cameras) has found a nostalgic and passionate following, the revival of feature phones could mark the rise of a “vintage mobile entertainment” movement.
In this light, basic phone users may come to represent a new niche of digital consumers almost like the purists of mobile culture. People who value minimalism, intentional usage, and a stripped-back experience. This creates an interesting opportunity for content creators and service providers to revisit simpler formats: downloadable tones, static graphics, or even text-based games entertainment designed for accessibility, light data usage, and offline consumption.
Could this be the next micro-market in mobile a new segment of business shaped by nostalgia, simplicity, and purposeful tech use?
Impact on advertisers
The resurgence of basic phones could significantly reshape how advertisers operate, particularly by shifting the expectations and mechanics of engagement. The main challenge is the loss of data-rich environments that smartphones provide. With fewer users engaging via apps or the web, there’s reduced access to behavioural tracking, precise geolocation, and interactive ad formats like video or programmatic banners. This could erode the effectiveness of digital advertising campaigns. However, it also revives older formats such as SMS marketing. Brands might turn to simpler, more direct communication, which can feel more personal or urgent, especially in markets where basic phone usage is growing rapidly. These campaigns could see higher engagement due to their lower saturation and novelty in a world now dominated by digital noise.
Advertisers will need to rethink not only their platforms but their assumptions about user attention, availability, and intent. Those who adapt to offer meaningful engagement in low-tech contexts—rather than trying to recreate the smartphone experience—stand the best chance of staying relevant.
Summary
The resurgence of basic phones represents a significant trend in the mobile phone market, driven by a complex interplay of factors. This movement highlights a growing awareness of the need for a more balanced and intentional relationship with technology. As consumers seek greater control over their digital lives, basic phones offer a viable alternative, promoting mental well-being, privacy, and a more focused lifestyle.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicholas Rossman is a Programme Director at The Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), a global trade body established in 2000 and headquartered in the UK with members across the world. As the voice of the mobile ecosystem, it focuses on cross-industry best practices, anti-fraud and monetisation. The Forum, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025, provides its members with global and cross-sector platforms for networking, collaboration and advancing industry solutions.
