Bringing Old PCs Back to Life
With Big Tech AI initiatives increasing in the price of RAM and the rumored increase in RTX 5000 GPUs, consumers will try to extend the lives of their own PCs. This may result in upgrading individual PC components instead of buying completely new PC desktops.
Tech savvy hobbyists may even revitalize old PCs by installing more hardware friendly operating systems such Linux.
Return of the Boxsets
Digital media streaming services was an alluring proposition at first. Instant access to seemingly endless library of music and movies without dealing with the burden of physical media. But consumers soon realized that the subscription economy meant never truly ‘owning’ any of your media. Shows can be removed without warning and movies can be censored or altered.
In 2026 I predict consumers purchasing physical media such as DVDs and CDs, allowing them to enjoy at will, and without an internet connection. If you’re a business owner, this could separate yourself from the competition. Consider stocking up on physical copies movies and selling functional DVD and CD players
| 2025 | 2026 |
| Spotify | CD players, Vinyl |
| Netflix | DVDs |
Resurgence Point + Shoot Cameras
“Hey can you take our picture?” I was out for dinner and a group of young adults handed me a silver, point + shoot camera. Not a phone. A single functioning camera (well technically two, since it also records video ). I attached the wrist strap, pressed the top bottom, and was nearly blinded by the surprise flash. But I enjoyed every moment of picture taking experience.
But ‘why a dedicated digital camera?’ i hear you asking. It’s one extra thing to lug around in your pocket, and modern phones have excellent cameras, so why bother? First, it’s that vintage late 90’s early 2000’s look. Second, is privacy. The photos on that SD card belong to you and are not uploaded to Google Cloud or Meta where they are used to train AI models.
‘Thank you!’ the young group expressed their gratitude in unison, without bothering to check the camera to review the results– that would be for tomorrow. They were out on the town, enjoying the moment. Speaking of which
Growing Audience for Minimalist Phones
Yes, folding phones are projected to increase in popularity in 2026. Yes, mobile carriers entice customers with discount upgrades to the latest models. Yes, iPhones and Samsung Galaxies are the most popular models in the US. The flagships will always reign popular, but I also see a growing movement against being perpetually online. Enter the minimalist phone, sometimes called the ‘dumb phone’. Inspired by both the retro look and limited functionality, I predict a growing sector of population demanding flip phones.
I can see this gaining traction among teens who grow tired of their parents who choose to ignore them in favor of scrolling on their phones.
Back to Basics- Demand for Base Model Cars
CES 2026 will undoubtedly unveil new semi-autonomous driving technology and state of the art car features wired together and controlled through a single computer console. For manufacturers and some consumers this sounds like a dream come true. But to others see connected cars as another way to paywall and upsell features. Examples:
Consumers will seek alternatives, demanding base models with minimal technology or even used 10 year old models before uptick of computers and sensors.
Return to Elegant Design
Minimalism design has crept into all facets of our life without us realizing it. Fast food buildings look like banks, corporate logos are flat and generic , new homes are cookie cutter templates, and web apps all look the same. Even the beloved Home Alone house was criticized for losing its once warm, signature charm.
Companies across all disciplines use templates so they can easily scale up/down as needed and to reduce production time and costs.
But despite the 2026 Pantone Color being “Cloud White”, forward thinking companies will buck this trend return to ornate embellishments and commit to distinguishable brand identities.
| 2025 | 2026 |
| Minimalist Logos | Ornate hand drawn logos |
| Flat app designs | Skeuomorphism and realism |
Summary
While connected devices and subscription models will try to continue to creep into every aspect of our waking lives, we’ll start to see more counter rebellions in the form of offline devices, ‘dumb phones’, single function devices, and physical media.
