Old Tech Is the New Tech, Say Anduril’s Luckey and Reddit’s Ohanian
At a time when AI chips and quantum leaps dominate headlines, two of tech’s most influential voices are urging a surprising pivot: look backward. At CES 2026, Palmer Luckey—founder of Oculus and now CEO of defense tech firm Anduril—and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian delivered a joint keynote that doubled as a love letter to analog-era design, arguing that yesterday’s tech wasn’t just nostalgic—it was better. But what exactly do they mean, and could retro aesthetics really define the future of innovation?
Tech Nostalgia Isn’t Just About Memory—It’s About Quality
Luckey and Ohanian weren’t pining for slower internet or floppy disks. Instead, their critique zeroed in on the intentionality and tactile richness of older tech. “It’s not just about nostalgia for the old; it’s about the fact that it’s just objectively better,” Ohanian declared, citing everything from physical keyboards to album artwork as examples of thoughtful design lost in the age of glass slabs and streaming algorithms. For them, the emotional resonance of tech stems from craftsmanship—not just convenience.
Why Gen Z Is Buying Record Players and Tamagotchis
Interestingly, Luckey noted that younger generations—who never lived through the dial-up era—are driving much of this retro revival. “Why do they think it’s good? It’s not because they’re remembering their childhoods… It’s because they’re recognizing that it is literally better,” he said. From Polaroid cameras to cassette tapes, analog aesthetics are surging not as kitsch, but as a reaction to the homogenized minimalism of today’s devices. This isn’t mere trend-chasing; it’s a demand for more human-centered tech.
The Death of Physicality in Modern Gadgetti
Today’s smartphones, tablets, and even laptops prioritize thinness and uniformity over tactile feedback or visual distinction. Compare that to the chunky, colorful gadgets of the ’90s and early 2000s—each with unique buttons, sounds, and even smells. Luckey lamented the loss of these sensory cues, which once made tech feel alive. “You built a music library album by album, or mixtape by mixtape,” he recalled. “Now, it’s just infinite scrollers and algorithmic playlists. You lose something real.”
Aesthetic Minimalism vs. Emotional Design
The rise of flat design, gesture-only interfaces, and monochrome color palettes has made devices sleek—but sterile. Luckey and Ohanian argue this trade-off sacrifices user delight for the illusion of efficiency. “Old tech had personality,” Ohanian said. “Your Tamagotchi wasn’t just a toy—it was a pet. Your Game Boy wasn’t just a screen—it was a portal.” In an era of AI assistants and auto-generated content, that emotional connection feels increasingly rare—and valuable.
Retro Isn’t Anti-Innovation—It’s Pro-Intention
Critics might accuse the duo of romanticizing the past, but both emphasized they’re not anti-progress. Luckey, whose company Anduril builds AI-powered defense systems, affirmed his support for advanced AI—just not at the cost of user experience. “AI can streamline workflows, but it shouldn’t erase the joy of interaction,” he said. Their stance isn’t Luddite; it’s a call for intentional innovation—where form follows feeling, not just function.
CES 2026 Embraces the Analog Comeback
This year’s CES reflected that shift. Booths featured tactile dials on smart speakers, modular smartphones with swappable backs, and even a “neo-retro” smartwatch with analog hands and e-ink displays. Startups are betting that consumers crave distinction—not just specs. “People are tired of black rectangles,” one designer told reporters. “They want gadgets that spark joy, not just notifications.”
The Business Case for Vintage-Inspired Tech
From a market perspective, nostalgia sells. Limited-edition retro consoles, reissued film cameras, and vinyl records continue to outperform digital counterparts in engagement and perceived value. Companies like Motorola (with its Razr flip phones) and Fujifilm (with its Instax line) prove that “old” can be premium. Luckey and Ohanian’s CES talk may signal a broader strategic pivot: the future of consumer tech might be less about raw power and more about emotional resonance.
Could Foldables and Haptics Bring Back the Feel?
For reviewers like Aisha Malik—who’ve tested everything from Galaxy Z Folds to rugged field devices—the tactile feedback of foldable screens and advanced haptics offers a middle ground. These modern innovations reintroduce physicality: the satisfying snap of a hinge, the subtle vibration mimicking a button press. If the next wave of devices leans into these sensory experiences while borrowing retro design cues, they could satisfy both nostalgia and novelty seekers.
The Risk of Style Over Substance
Of course, there’s a fine line between homage and gimmick. Slapping a faux-leather back on a smartphone doesn’t make it meaningful. True retro-inspired design, Luckey stressed, must be rooted in usability and emotional honesty—not just cosmetic throwbacks. “Nostalgia without purpose is just decoration,” he warned. The challenge for engineers and designers is to blend past wisdom with present capability.
What This Means for the Next Decade of Tech
As AI and wearables become ubiquitous, the differentiator may no longer be speed or resolution—but soul. If Luckey and Ohanian’s vision holds, the devices of 2030 might feature warm materials, audible feedback, and interfaces that encourage slowness and curation over endless consumption. In a world of ambient computing, the most revolutionary tech might be the kind that reminds us we’re human.
The Past as a Blueprint—Not a Cage
Ultimately, their message isn’t about rejecting progress. It’s about redefining it. The future of tech, they argue, doesn’t have to be cold, seamless, or invisible. Sometimes, the most advanced thing a device can be is memorable. And if that means borrowing from the chunky keypads and jewel-toned casings of the ’90s, so be it. After all, as Luckey put it: “Better doesn’t always mean newer.
