4 minimalist tech gadgets that Gen Z can’t get enough of

Gen Z and technology are intertwined, not through the active decision to like millennials, but because it has always been there since they entered life. It’s also difficult to define a minimalist technology that they can’t get enough of, because ultimately, almost every major tech device now comes in a minimalist design. Can you blame Jony Ive and Apple for this? Technology and demographics born between 1997 and 2012 have a complex relationship.

As companies try to develop artificial intelligence or new and improved gadgets, some Gen Zers have returned to devices that existed back when they weren’t even a blink of an eye. However, some of the modern technologies they use try to do the most with a little. From cameras to computers to wearables and more, Gen Z will soon be fully grown-up. Maybe soon they’ll end up writing articles about the technology used by Generation Alpha. How minimalist will things become once the beta generation can form sentences? It could just be a giant white block that projects holograms.

A recent trend among Gen Z is adopting older cameras. It’s not even millennial obsessives returning to the movies, but Gen Z re-adopting old digital cameras. Yes, cameras with crappy quality, mediocre highlights, and that horrible flash of a group of people suddenly embarrassed by the bright light.

One of the main reasons for this is nostalgia, with Gen Z having grown up around this type of image during the 2000s. It is also nostalgia-driven, in that it recreates the look of the 2000s that became cool again. However, as with the other products on this list, it’s also a way to reduce distractions. One thing Gen Z is strangely pushing back on with the adoption of minimalist devices is maximizing what’s in their bags. A camera to take pictures, older MP3 players or even dedicated music players to listen to, and a stupid phone to make calls.

The return to old compact digital cameras has also led to the emergence of a new vertical in the market. Newer cameras, with more modern internals, invade the space, trying to imitate the feeling of absence of distraction, while offering modern conveniences and better image quality. This also led to a batch of cams going “viral” as Gen Z is always under the influence of trends.

As phones have become a central part of your daily life, it has been pointed out that part of Generation Z longs for a pre-telephone era. A survey from ExpressVPN indicates that Gen Z is taking active steps to reduce screen time. Other reports also share similar sentiments with segments of the generation. The move to a “dumb” phone was inevitable.

Rather than being subjected to tons of notifications or relying on them for entertainment, some Gen Zers are simply ditching the modern smartphone to reconnect. It’s become such a “trend” that there has been a surge of interest from manufacturers to develop phones aimed directly at this booming market. Commodore Callback, Light Phone and other less connected or deliberately disconnected devices are now regularly entering the market for purchase.

Despite the friction these devices can cause, especially among those who are still bothered by the blue or green bubbles on iPhones, Gen Z really seems to like them. There is also data-backed evidence that this could be a good thing for Gen Z, as in recent cases with Meta it has been established that social media apps are designed to be addictive.

One of the surprises from our conversation with a few Gen Zers was that Whoop Groups can do some things that an Apple Watch can’t, and they’ve become very popular. The strap is designed to be worn 24/7, tracking sleep, recovery, stress and other data points to build a profile. It advertises to many older people, but on social media it seems to be a topic involving Gen Z more than anything else.

Whoop 5.0 starts at $200, with a completely minimal design. It relies on the app for functionality, as it’s literally a strap with a small monitor without a screen attached. It gets more expensive once you start having to subscribe to additional data, but the reason we think it’s become so appealing to Gen Z is because it’s hit the target demographic right between the eyes.

Not only is it an ultra minimalist design, giving the illusion of fewer distractions – something you’ll notice in many minimal tech ads – but it also gives more health information. Over the past few years, there have been numerous reports about Gen Z’s approach to health. With exposure to probably the greatest amount of health-related content available via social media, it’s no wonder Whoop hasn’t gone the way of other wearable devices.

During our conversation, one last piece of technology was mentioned: “those drawing pads that look like paper.” Remarkable notepads have become a popular product, with the intention of recreating the “feel” of paper when writing on E-Ink actually achieved with the latest iterations. With Gen Z now deeply entrenched in the workplace, it’s fascinating to find traditional methods (writing on paper) that still fit into their all-digital workflow.

Remarkable tablets are essentially one-tools, devices meant for just one thing. However, Gen Z seems to find this incredibly useful, as it again removes some of the distractions that an iPad or Android tablet might bring. Being fully focused on work means they won’t find themselves scrolling endlessly or accidentally playing a game absent-mindedly. As technology has improved, so have critics. Our ReMarkable Paper Pro Move review even called it a “note-taker’s paradise,” due to its smaller size and minimalist design.

The author spoke to a group of people in the Generation Z age range, ranging from 24 to 28 years old. They also used social media, online reporting and statistics to write the article.