In this modern age of smart technology and intelligent gadgets, there's still a considerable market for all things retro. Whether it's genuine retro technology or modern-day tech with retro stylings, plenty of different products out there evoke that sense of nostalgia in us.

That sense of time and place that some retro products can bring about can feel very personal for many people, and the pull of the past can be powerful. It's what makes so many of these products so desirable. So if you're looking for a retro (or retro-style) gift to make a loved one feel all gooey inside this Christmas, we're here to help.

Here are the best retro gifts for Christmas.

What could be more retro than owning your very own arcade cabinet? This dual headliner from Arcade1Up features the classics Ms. Pacman and Galaga and gives gamers a chance to capture that authentic arcade experience from the comfort of their home.

Featuring an additional ten classic arcade titles, including Galaxian and Dig Dug, this arcade machine is the perfect gift for 80s gaming fans. This looks and feels like the real deal. It has a light-up marquee and deck protector and comes with its own riser in case you need a bit of extra height. And authentic arcade controls make this an absolute pleasure to play.

With a fantastic Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga split design on the outside of the cabinet (and on the matching riser), this arcade classic makes the ideal retro gift for any man cave or gaming den. It’s easy to assemble, and there’s even a WiFi-enabled leaderboard for them to check their high score ranking; it’s retro-gaming heaven!

Key Features
  • 12 games in one
  • Light-up marquee
  • Light-up deck protector
  • Includes riser
  • Wi-Fi LIVE for leaderboards
  • Ms Pac-Man/Galaga split design on cabinet
Specifications
  • Box Dimensions: 6.75 x 23.75 x 47.75 inches
  • Brand: Arcade1UP
  • Adjustable Volume Control : Yes
  • Weight : 80 pounds
Pros
  • Retro arcade fun in the comfort of your own home
  • Authentic arcade feel and design is great
  • 12 classic games in one
Cons
  • Expensive
Buy This Product
ARCADE1UP Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga Class of '81 Arcade Machine

This three-speed belt-drive turntable has a fantastic retro 1970s look but houses modern-day functionality inside. It comes complete with two external speakers and a built-in Bluetooth receiver for wireless streaming from your favorite devices.

The bookshelf speakers can be stood upright or on their side and are easily placed anywhere around the room. That means they needn’t be an intrusive part of your furniture if you don’t want them to be. The turntable’s belt drive itself produces minimal sound, so your listening experience won’t be impaired by loud motor noise. And an auto-stop function means the needle is protected from excessive wear once the music stops.

Made from audio-graded wood, you’ll also enjoy a reduction in unwanted vibration while your records play, ensuring that the only sounds you’ll hear come from the music itself. Whether you’re spinning your favorite vinyl or streaming, this LP&No.1 Bluetooth record player is the perfect gift for music fans. And if you’re feeling generous, maybe you could treat yourself to one too?

Key Features
  • 3-speed belt-drive turntable
  • Wireless Bluetooth turntable
  • Includes two external bookshelf speakers
  • Auto-stop function
  • Diamond stylus
  • Wooden base with PU Leather wrapping
Specifications
  • Brand: LP&No.1
  • Drive: Belt
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Speeds (RPM): 33, 45 and 78 rpm
Pros
  • Great retro 70s design
  • Versatile speakers can be stored anywhere conveniently
  • Wireless Bluetooth streaming
Cons
  • Doesn't deliver a deep bass sound
Buy This Product
LP&No.1 Bluetooth Vinyl Record Player

Supporting both bordered and borderless photographs, this retro-style instant camera from Kodak provides a wireless instant camera and photo printer with a cool retro look. Using 4Pass technology, you can be assured of high-quality photographs and prints with a laminated finish every time. And Bluetooth connectivity means you can also print directly from your photo gallery.

Producing 3-inch-by-3-inch photographs, you have complete control over what gets printed and what doesn’t. Bordered photos can be written on and make a great retro-style way to pin your memories up at home, on the fridge, on notice boards, and so on. And borderless photographs offer a decent alternative if you’re looking for a slightly larger image.

The Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro comes with 60 sheets to get you started, and the Kodak AR app gives you various customization options to add before printing. Choose from multiple augmented reality features and more cosmetic options such as filters and frames. This portable wireless camera makes a perfect gift for anybody who loves to add a personal touch to their prints.

Key Features
  • Wireless instant camera and printer
  • 3 x 3-inch bordered or borderless photographs
  • AR app customization features
  • Retro look
  • Ultra-high-quality prints with laminated finish
  • Uses 4Pass technology for printing
  • Comes with Carry case
Specifications
  • Brand: Kodak
  • Photo Resolution: 10 megapixels
  • Battery: USB rechargeable
  • Connection: Bluetooth
  • Size: 3 x 3 inches
  • Weight: 1.87 pounds
  • Water Resistance: None
Pros
  • Print directly from your gallery
  • Super high-quality images
  • Portable
  • Complete control over what gets printed
Cons
  • Photo sheets refill are expensive
Buy This Product
Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro 2-in-1 Portable Wireless Instant Camera & Photo Printer

Instantly recognizable to anybody who grew up in the 1980s, the boombox was an essential accessory piece for streetwise boys and girls to ‘share’ their favorite sounds with the rest of us. This modern-day variant from Riptunes also allows for wireless streaming and can convert cassette tapes (Google them, kids!) to USB or SD.

It looks great, straight out of the 1980s. And importantly, that cassette player isn’t just cosmetic; it’s fully functional. So get ready to dust off all your old favorites out of the garage and give them a new lease of life. There’s AM/FM/SW1/SW2 radio, plus a recorder for radio to digital files. Any cassette tapes you have can easily be converted to MP3 files and stored on USB or SD, and easy wireless pairing means you can stream music from your smartphone.

Built-in stereo speakers provide a high-quality, bass-heavy sound. For an extra splash of authenticity, you can even raise the collapsible radio antenna to the sky and run this boombox on old-school-style batteries! The perfect gift idea for retro 1980s enthusiasts—they’ll love carrying this bad boy around their shoulders while their crew dances around them.

Key Features
  • Retro style Bluetooth cassette player
  • Built-in stereo speakers
  • AM/FM/SW1/SW2 Radio
  • Collapsible radio antenna
  • Convert cassette to MP3 files
  • Stream music through your favorite platforms
Specifications
  • Brand: Riptunes
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Color: Gray
  • Weight: 6.01 pounds
  • Dimensions: 16.45 x 12.05 x 7.09 inches
  • Power Supply: Corded electric
  • Wireless: Yes
Pros
  • Doesn't get much more 80s retro than this!
  • Breathes new life into old cassette tapes—in more ways than one
  • Stereo speaker streaming
Cons
  • Carrying this around on your shoulder could make your arm hurt after a while
Buy This Product
Riptunes Boombox Radio Cassette Player Recorder

When Run D.M.C and Aerosmith were encouraging everybody to “Walk This Way”, there was a very iconic shot of an ADIDAS sneaker tapping along in the video. Well, this is that sneaker. Or at least, the LEGO equivalent of it.

This 731-piece kit commemorates this most distinguished ADIDAS footwear for the pleasure of collectors and retro streetwear fans everywhere. Featuring their famous trefoil logo and three-stripe design, this kit includes 17 extra elements so that builders can choose whether to make this a left shoe or a right shoe. It comes with a presentation plaque, a stand, and authentic ADIDAS laces.

This is an original and super cool idea for anyone who loves the sports streetwear of the 70s and 80s. This is bound to take pride of place in their home and win you an almost unlimited number of cool points as a top gift giver this Christmas!

Key Features
  • 731-piece kit
  • Presentation plaque and stand
  • Real shoelaces included
  • Authentic ADIDAS branding
Specifications
  • Brand: LEGO
  • Set Number: 10282
  • Theme: Shoe
  • Pieces: 731
  • Mini Figures: None
  • Age Suitability: 17 years and up
Pros
  • Great fun to build and great to display
  • Genuine ADIDAS branding makes this a must for collectors
  • Makes for a pretty unique showpiece
Cons
  • Only one shoe included
Buy This Product
LEGO Adidas Originals Superstar Building Kit

Capturing the look of an old-fashioned ‘wireless’, this Victrola Retro Wood Radio Speaker is, in fact, a modern-day wireless—wireless speaker, that is. This Bluetooth speaker has built-in FM/AM radio and can be used for wireless streaming from your favorite devices and makes a great retro gift idea.

Fashioned with a vintage solid wood design, this handsome showpiece really does look like it belongs to a bygone era. Packed with charm and analog dials, you can enjoy modern-day functionality with vintage trappings. It has a Bluetooth range of around 33 feet and carries the high-quality sound we’ve expected from Bluetooth speakers.

On its exterior, there’s an AM/FM tuner to dial to your favorite radio station, plus bass and treble settings to tweak to your preference. The simplicity of this design is what makes the aesthetic so appealing. This speaker is in the fifties on the outside and nifty on the inside; this is one retro Christmas gift that’s bound to delight anybody who happens to be a fan of that elegant vintage style.

Key Features
  • AM/FM radio
  • Bluetooth wireless streaming
  • 1950s vintage design
  • Stereo sound
Specifications
  • Brand: Victrola
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Color: Brown
  • Weight: 2.83 pounds
  • Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 4.9 inches
  • Power Supply: Corded electric
  • Wireless: Yes
Pros
  • Great vintage design
  • Lightweight and portable Bluetooth speaker and radio
  • Decent quality sound
Cons
  • Unlikely to appeal to those who don't like vintage style
Buy This Product
Victrola Retro Wood Bluetooth FM/AM Radio

The reinvention of a classic is what’s on offer here with the C64 mini, a repackaged miniature version of gaming royalty, the Commodore 64. This C64 minicomputer houses (yep, you guessed it!) 64 built-in games and comes with a classic USB joystick, HDMI cable, and USB power cable.

It supports high-definition output at 720p via HDMI and has a built-in save function, which is de rigueur for modern-day builds of old-school game consoles and computers. You’ll find titles like Spindizzy, Speedball, Impossible Mission, and Boulder Dash among the veritable treasure trove of gaming greats.

Offering hundreds of hours of glorious gaming nostalgia, with modern-day load times and save functions, the C64 mini is a beautiful walk down memory lane for 1980s gamers and retro game enthusiasts. The perfect retro gaming gift for nice (not naughty) gamers this Christmas.

Key Features
  • Miniature C64 computer with joystick
  • Includes 64 built-in games
  • HD output via HDMI
  • USB charging
Specifications
  • 4K Capability: No
  • 4K Capabilities: No
  • Power Source: Corded electric
  • What's Included: C64 mini computer, c64 joystick, HDMI cable, USB power cable, 64 built-in games
  • Screen: N/A
Pros
  • Great piece of gaming nostalgia
  • Great value for money
  • Lets you relive your youth
Cons
  • Novelty may wear off after a while, in the face of more sophisticated modern-day games
Buy This Product
Retrogames The C64 Mini USA Version

These JLab Rewind wireless retro headphones are a very cool retro Christmas gift idea for music fans. They have a classic throwback 1980s look, designed to replicate the wired headphones of that era that would have been attached to a cassette walkman and your belt.

Providing up to 12 hours of playback time on a full charge, these Bluetooth-enabled wireless headphones are perfect for capturing that cool retro vibe without compromising on sound quality. The EQ3 sound feature allows you to change sound settings to suit the music you’re listening to, with JLab signature, balanced, and bass boost settings. And a function button on the headset allows you to stop, start, and skip tracks easily.

An onboard microphone means wearers can communicate clearly during phone calls or by activating voice control with Siri or Google Assistant. Comfortable and lightweight, these cool headphones provide all the feels of an old-school headset but with superior quality and without those pesky wires to tie you down—an ideal retro gift idea for audiophiles everywhere.

Key Features
  • Wireless headset with retro 1980s design
  • Custom EQ3 sound equalizer
  • 12-hour playtime
  • Supports Siri and Google Assistant
  • Built-in mic for hands-free calling
Specifications
  • Battery Life: 12 hours
  • Wireless?: Yes
  • Microphones: Yes
  • Brand: JLab
  • Weight: 4.2 ounces
  • Dimensions: 5.91 x 1.06 x 3.54 inches
  • Noise Cancellation: No
  • Foldable: No
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Waterproof: No
  • Charging type: USB
Pros
  • Great retro 80s vibe
  • Customizable sound output is always good
  • Battery life is pretty good
  • Reasonably priced
Cons
  • They don't fold and there's no carry case to protect them when not in use
  • Not noise cancelling
Buy This Product
JLab Rewind Wireless Retro Headphones

FAQ

Q: Why Is Retro Gaming So Popular?

Many people seem to think that modern games just aren't quite the same as retro games and probably never will be. Why is retro gaming so popular? Because it offers a unique, nostalgic, comforting, simple, and, most importantly, joyous experience that's tough to replicate.

Q: Why Is Retro So Popular?

Whether we're driven by nostalgia for the "good old days", a desire to stand out and rebel against fashion trends or we're just drawn to the retro aesthetic, many of us can't resist a throwback. The retro style is an undeniable favorite—from how we listen to music to what we wear and decorate our homes.

Q: What Makes Retro Unique?

At its core, retro design is a new design that utilizes trends and characteristics of the past. Features of an older design style could inspire it, or it could be an updated version of it. Images from previous generations are brought back in a new creation that adopts old styles and presents them in a modern way.