If you see someone using an iPhone 4, don’t think you’re hallucinating. Members of Gen Z have dusted off the 15-year-old handset and put it back into action.
It’s part of a trend toward retro tech, so it might be time to pull your old gadgets out of storage to see if you can turn them into cash. Or maybe starting using the devices yourself, now that they are cool again.
Explaining iPhone 4’s surprise return with Gen Z
We really are talking about the iPhone 4, a product Apple introduced in 2010. Despite its age, the device marked a major turning point in smartphone design and technology, pairing a striking glass-and-stainless-steel body with a sharp, compact form that still feels iconic today.
It’s back in use in 2026 largely because of the distinctive look of the pictures it takes, which some people find refreshingly different from today’s hyper-polished smartphone photography. The iPhone 4’s 5-megapixel sensor, limited dynamic range and older image processing produce photos with harsher contrast, visible noise and a slightly gritty, lo-fi character that many users now find appealing.
Photo: Leander Kahney
In an era where modern iPhones aggressively smooth skin, boost colors and rely heavily on computational photography, people turn to the iPhone 4 for images that feel more raw and authentic. For some, it’s a form of digital nostalgia; for others, it’s a deliberate creative choice, using outdated hardware to achieve a look that’s hard to replicate with newer phones, even with filters.
A TikTok video sums up the whole vibe.
Digital nostalgia is trending
2026 is marked by a growing trend toward retro technology, with people rediscovering older phones, cameras and music players. This movement is driven primarily by Gen Z and younger millennials — roughly those in their late teens through mid-30s — who are drawn to the distinctive looks and built-in limitations of older tech. For Gen Z in particular, retro devices offer novelty and authenticity, while younger millennials often approach them through nostalgia for technology they grew up with.
Across both groups, the appeal is less about practicality and more about intentional use: choosing tools that do fewer things, feel more personal, and produce results — like grainy iPhone 4 photos — that stand apart in a world dominated by more polished, algorithm-optimized digital experiences.
Don’t use an iPhone 4 as your smartphone!
iPhone 4 units can be found on eBay for roughly $30 to $50 to let you jump on the trend of posting retro-looking #digicam photographs on Instagram or TikTok. But if you love the look of pictures made with an iPhone 4, making one your primary or even secondary smartphone isn’t wise. Simply use it as a camera.
For one thing, the iPhone 4 doesn’t support 4G LTE cellular networks, and certainly not 5G. Some carriers still offer 3G service, but the device is mostly reliant on Wi-Fi for internet.
Beyond that, Lee Elliott, chief product officer at Compare and Recycle, warns of the dangers of using a device from 2010.
“The iPhone 4 comes with digital security risks users may not expect,” said Elliott. “This is because the latest iOS version that the iPhone 4 can support is iOS 7.1.2 — a version released in 2014. That’s over a decade without updates or security fixes. Because of this, the iPhone 4 will not be able to protect any personal data in the way that more modern iPhones do, leaving users vulnerable to issues like data leaks, hacking, and other security breaches.”
He recommends creating a separate Apple account just for the device, then transfer images manually — connect the handset to a Mac with a cable. Don’t use iCloud, and don’t connect the device to your email or social media accounts.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
