Why the Apple iPod Is Making a Comeback

Secondhand sales of Apple’s iPod are surging four years after the company discontinued the digital music player in 2022. This resurgence is being driven largely by younger generations seeking a break from the distractions associated with internet-based smartphone applications.

According to reporting from NBC New York and Quartz, Gen Z users are increasingly adopting the device to facilitate distraction-free listening. This trend is linked to a desire for focused music consumption and a preference for playlists that are not determined by algorithms.

Drivers of the iPod Revival

The shift toward dedicated music hardware is often motivated by mental health and well-being concerns. Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, notes that younger users are attempting to mitigate the ease with which smartphones cause distractions.

Having a dedicated music device, such as an iPod, is a good way to reduce your dependence on a smartphone and avoid being drawn into other activities, like doomscrolling through social media feeds, when you only really want to listen to music.

Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight

Beyond mental well-being, the comeback is fueled by a craving for a product from an era that many younger users perceive as more hopeful compared to the current period of angst. This cultural shift has manifested in a renewed interest in the retro aesthetic of the device.

Market Data and Availability

Quantitative data supports the observation of a growing market for these legacy devices. Google Trends indicated that searches for the iPod and the iPod Nano rose in 2025.

Marketplace data from Back Market shows that total sales of refurbished iPods increased by an average of 15.6% per year between 2024 and 2026. While new units are no longer available for purchase, the secondhand market remains robust due to the high volume of devices originally produced. Apple sold 450 million iPods over two decades.

Currently, thousands of listings for used iPods are available on eBay, facilitating the growth of the refurbished market.

Industry and Creative Perspectives

The resurgence has caught the attention of the original creators of the hardware. Tony Fadell, the ex-Apple engineer known as the Father of the iPod, has suggested that the device deserves an encore.

I think Notice smarter ways of making an AirPod that has an iPod in it. So, I think they need to bring back the iPod.

Tony Fadell, ex-Apple engineer

The device’s aesthetic appeal is also being leveraged in professional content marketing. Liam James Ward, CEO and co-founder of the UK-based content strategy studio Something Something, has integrated iPods and wired headphones into marketing releases for artists including Djo, Laufey, and Billie Eilish.

Ward stated that the studio utilized these devices because the specific aesthetic was resonating deeply with their audiences.

Technical Context

The revival comes at a time when music consumption is dominated by streaming services and algorithmic discovery. By returning to the iPod, users are reverting to a model of music ownership and curation that requires manual organization via iTunes or the transfer of files, moving away from the automated suggestions typical of modern platforms like Apple Music.