Nostalgia Sparks a Quiet iPod Comeback (Even Without Official New Hardware)

Nostalgia and rising streaming costs are reviving interest in iPods and other dedicated audio players, with secondhand iPods selling faster and a wave of new DAPs echoing the iPod experience. Gen Z and other listeners are drawn to owning music and a phone-free listening setup, boosting demand for wired EarPods and retro formats. While Apple hasn’t announced a new iPod, the brand’s legacy keeps pulling people toward owning music rather than relying on streaming.