1980s and 1990s / back in production
Cassette players that talk to Bluetooth headphones. Consoles that plug into a flat screen. Film cameras still coming off a line. We track what came back from the 80s and 90s, and we tell you exactly what is different about it.
Audio 1980s
1979 2023
Portable cassette player
What changed Bluetooth output and USB-C charging.
No marketing fluff. Just the whens and what.
Then
The original release year, the thing you actually owned or a later revision of it.
Now
The year the current version reached shelves. Some of these never stopped being made.
Different
USB-C, HDMI, Bluetooth, better optics. Usually one or two real changes. Some call it reimagined.
Links go to Amazon, where the current price and availability are shown.
Audio 1980s
1979 2023 Originally released 1979, current version 2023.
A metal bodied cassette player built for the tapes still sitting in your garage. It records too, so you can dub from a phone or a turntable onto a blank tape.
What changed Bluetooth output and USB-C charging, so it feeds modern headphones.
Check price on Amazon for We Are Rewind portable cassette player, opens in a new tabAudio 1980s
1985 2016 Originally released 1985, current version 2016.
A full size boombox with a top loading CD tray and an AM/FM tuner. It runs on wall power or on batteries, the way the originals did.
What changed Bluetooth and a USB port sit next to the CD tray.
Check price on Amazon for Sony ZS-RS60BT CD boombox, opens in a new tabAudio 1980s
1982 2019 Originally released 1982, current version 2019.
A belt drive turntable with a built in phono preamp, so it works without a receiver. Fully automatic start and stop, which is the part people forget they liked.
What changed Pairs to a Bluetooth speaker if you do not want to run cables.
Check price on Amazon for Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT turntable, opens in a new tabGaming 1980s
1980 2023 Originally released 1980, current version 2023.
A modern build of the wood grain console that reads original 2600 and 7800 cartridges. A joystick and a ten game cartridge come in the box.
What changed HDMI out and a widescreen switch, so it plugs into a current TV.
Check price on Amazon for Atari 2600+, opens in a new tabGaming 1990s
1989 2022 Originally released 1989, current version 2022.
A shrunken Genesis with games already loaded, including a set of Sega CD titles. Save states let you stop partway through a level.
What changed HDMI out and USB power, with no cartridges to hunt down.
Check price on Amazon for Sega Genesis Mini 2, opens in a new tabGaming 1980s
1980 2020 Originally released 1980, current version 2020.
The handheld shape from 1980 rebuilt in metal, with a colour screen and the original Super Mario Bros. on it. It also works as a clock.
What changed Rechargeable over USB-C instead of running down watch batteries.
Check price on Amazon for Nintendo Game and Watch: Super Mario Bros., opens in a new tab