Just because something looks old doesn’t mean it has to perform like an old gadget. The look of retro is clearly in, and is a vibe we’re seeing more manufacturers play to.
Take the look of old school cameras, something Fujifilm plays to in its cameras and Nikon in its equivalent, and they’re not the only ones.
Over in France, a technology company has been dabbling with the idea of gear from yesteryear, as We Are Rewind has been shining a light on its name by reviving the cassette tape, complete with a style of portable player featuring Bluetooth and a large boom box boasting similar tech.
While the cassette player is definitely retro, it’s a gadget that needs media of a certain type to work. You can, of course, find cassettes, but if you don’t have them, you’re largely out of luck.
However, We Are Rewind have a new spot of technology designed to look old that will play nicely with almost anything made today: headphones.
Specifically, the “Freddie” headphones are retro-inspired headphones sporting the foam-style pads and metal headbands of the 80s, but made with modern tech today. That includes Bluetooth 6 for wireless playback and support for 3.5mm cabled listening, as well as up to 14 hours of battery life and a built-in microphone.
They’ll even have interchangeable ear cushions in the box, covering black, orange, and yellow.
Officially known as the EQ-002, We Are Rewind’s Freddie probably won’t take on the best noise cancelling cans, or even the worst, as these headphones are simply just headphones made in the old style.
However, they’re made to be really light, catching a weight of merely 66 grams, compared to the hundred or two hundred minimum most headphones gather these days.
For Australians keen on jumping into a pair designed from yesteryear, the We Are Rewind Freddie doesn’t appear to have a local release date just yet, though the cans are beginning to appear about the place, priced at $59 USD, which means they’ll likely be found locally for around $99 when everything is settled.
