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Retro Tech Is Back, and Younger Canadians Are Driving the Trend

  • 40% of Canadians are likely to buy tech gifts out of nostalgia, with Millennials (53%) & Gen Z (49%) leading the trend.
  • 33% of Canadians value owning physical media, such as vinyl records & video game cartridges, as a key driver for past tech.
  • 23% of Canadians bought music, movies, or games in physical formats in the past year, rising to 32% for Millennials & 30% for Gen Z.
  • Shopping demand is growing for retro items including iPods, media players, Pokémon cards, single-use film cameras, & classic game franchises like The Legend of Zelda.
  • The iPod tops the list of desired comeback technologies, followed by BlackBerry keyboards, Nintendo 64/Super Nintendo, flip phones, & VCR/VHS tapes.
  • Gen Z favors the iPod, Millennials prefer Nintendo consoles, & Boomers are most nostalgic for VCR/VHS tapes.
  • 46% of Canadians are considering at least one tech product for holiday gifts, prioritizing regular use & personal interests equally.
  • Top tech gift categories include small kitchen appliances, headphones/speakers, video games, wellness tech, & turntables/vinyl records.
  • The Best Buy Canada Holiday Tech Gifting Report surveyed 1,500 Canadian adults via the Angus Reid Forum from October 16–20, 2026.