BlackBerry Phones Are Trending Again

BlackBerry Phones Are Trending Again

Byte-Sized Brief

  • Gen Z is switching to retro phones.
  • eBay BlackBerry searches up 10 percent.
  • Flip phone interest rose 25 percent this year.

Less screen time doesn’t have to mean cutting tech out completely. That’s what a growing number of Gen Z users are doing as they swap out iPhones and Androids for classic BlackBerrys. Some are drawn in by the keyboards, smaller form factor, and early 2000s vibes. Others are just tired of the constant stream of pings and want a break without going fully off the grid. BlackBerrys and similar old-style phones offer just enough smartphone functionality without all the noise.

BlackBerry searches on eBay have jumped over 10 percent in just the past few months, averaging more than 5,000 per day globally. Interest in flip phones is also rising fast, up a whopping 25 percent from last year. And with BlackBerrys often selling for around $100, they’re a low-cost alternative for people who want to feel connected without all the modern “conveniences” (distractions, let’s be real). One company in China is even bringing back a modernized version of the BlackBerry Q20, and the Passport lookalike Titan 2 5G phone has surged past its Kickstarter goal. But for most people, the appeal is probably less about features and more about simplicity.

The Bottom Line

Gen Z is bringing back BlackBerrys not just for the aesthetic, but as a deliberate move to stop doomscrolling and create more boundaries with their tech.

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