This power bank is pure ’90s nostalgia
In the age of iPhones and smart watches, pagers are often seen as relics of the 1990s or dramatic props for doctors in shows like Grey’s Anatomy or ER . But those looking to relive the glory days of the beeper may do so by stepping into the aisles of the MoMA Design Store and finding a power bank masquerading as the old-school gadget. The Retro Beeper Portable Power Bank looks like a ’90s pager…
In an era dominated by iPhones and smartwatches, pagers have taken on a nostalgic allure, reminiscent of the 1990s. The Retro Beeper Portable Power Bank, currently on display at the MoMA Design Store, offers a unique twist on this classic technology. Designed to resemble the iconic pager, this modern power bank is sized approximately like a credit card but boasts a thicker, ABS and polycarbonate plastic construction.
Its belt attachment or keychain convenience, complemented by USB-C and USB-A ports, allows it to charge an iPhone 15 up to two times, or serve as a lifesaver for laptops and tablets.
The power bank features a screen that displays the remaining charge and can be fully charged in just two hours. Interestingly, the Retro Beeper can also communicate with other devices of the same kind, sending and receiving messages using radio waves. This feature, reminiscent of the original pager's functionality, comes with 86 preset messages, including "Hello!" and "Call me back." These messages can be transmitted to other Retro Beepers within range, which will emit a distinctive beep when a message is received.
This product is part of a broader trend of retro design, with customers gravitating towards turntables, cassettes, film cameras, and analog products. The Retro Beeper is showcased in a "retro tech" section of the MoMA Design Store, alongside other vintage items such as keychain-sized Kodak cameras and Bluetooth-enabled boomboxes.
According to the store's merchandising director, Emmanuel Plat, two distinct customer types are drawn to these products: those reminiscing about the past and others seeking a reprieve from their present-day hyper-connectivity to technology and AI. In essence, the Retro Beeper offers a simpler alternative to our constantly connected world, allowing users to press play and rewind to a simpler time.
Priced at $60, this power bank serves as a tribute to the single-function devices that once dominated our lives, while also offering the practical benefits of modern technology.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
