# 80s-Era MP3 Players The Retro Mobile MP3 Player is Perfect for Marty McFly By Michael Hines | Published 2010-09-19 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retro-mobile-mp3-player References: [technabob](http://technabob.com/blog/2010/09/16/brando-brick-phone-mp3-player/) & [usb.brando](http://usb.brando.com/usb-retro-mobile-mp3-player_p01858c033d15.html) I'm guessing that if MP3 players had been invented in the 1980s, they would look something like the Retro Mobile MP3 Player from USB Brando. This MP3 player is modeled after a cell phone that time forgot. The Retro Mobile MP3 Player is so much more than a [1980s knockoff](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/16bit-display), however. This MP3 player can play music from an SD card or the radio, and it even doubles as a [portable speaker](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retro-radio1). Now you can finally listen to your old Don Johnson songs the way they were meant to be heard. You've gotta love the 80s. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 54% | Activity: 47% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Retro-tech Revival:** Opportunities to bring back classic technology products with modern enhancements for a nostalgia-loving audience. - **Multipurpose Audio Devices:** Creating portable audio devices with multiple functions such as playing music, serving as a speaker, and supporting radio capabilities. - **Reimagined Cell Phones:** Incorporating retro designs of cell phones and MP3 players with modern technology such as cellular data and social media apps. ### Who This Affects Most - **Consumer Electronics:** Companies specializing in portable audio devices, headphones, and small speakers can capitalize on the rising trend of MP3 players with added features. - **Fashion and Apparel:** Collaborations between fashion brands and audio device manufacturers to create retro-style audio accessories such as carry cases and headphones. - **Entertainment:** Opportunities abound for media companies to market retro-themed playlists and station channels on streaming music services such as Apple Music and Spotify. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cassette-Inspired Music Players](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retro-audio-player.md) - [Compact Cassette-Inspired Music Players](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snowsky-retro.md) - [Digitally Enabled CD Players](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-cd-player.md) - [Nostalgic Retro Music Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-mixtape-kit.md) - [Pop Band Cassette Players](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/we001-duran-duran-special-edition.md) - [90s-Inspired Music Players](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bang-olufsen4.md) - [Modernized Portable Music Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tl1-music-player.md) - [Playfully Retro CD Players](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/k8-cd-player.md) - [Modernized Boomboxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/we-are-rewind.md)