If you grew up before the aughts, your idea of talking on the phone probably involves holding an actual telephone to your ear. Kids today have probably never seen that kind of communication device, but those of us who were used to cradling the handset will feel a certain nostalgia for it. Of course, we need to move on and accept that mobile phones and smartphones are the present and the future.
But if you still want a bit of nostalgia that is also highly functional, Native Union has just relaunched the POP Phone. It is a retro‑styled handset that plugs directly into any USB‑C‑enabled device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop) and instantly turns it into a hands‑free speakerphone. It requires no charging or Bluetooth pairing as you just plug in and talk without any distractions. This classic‑looking, high‑fidelity speakerphone for everyday conversations and video calls will also make you look like you time-traveled from 20 years ago.
Designer: Native Union
The handset looks like the telephones we had in the ‘80s and ‘90s, complete with a vintage‑style spiral cord. Instead of being connected to a landline, the cord ends in a 3.5 mm headphone‑and‑microphone combo plug, so you can attach it to your device. It even has pick‑up and hang‑up buttons on the handset, so you don’t need to touch the device. (Unfortunately, you still can’t slam the handset down like you might have when hanging up angrily; doing so would risk damaging your device.)
The POP Phone is optimized for most video‑call platforms, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and FaceTime, in case that’s where you want to use it. It also includes a noise‑reduction system that minimizes background noise when you’re outdoors or in a less‑quiet environment. The device is available in several colors: alarm red, pine, black, sandstone, lemon, candy, azure, slate green. It features a luxurious textured surface. It also has universal USB‑C compatibility with smartphones, laptops and tablets; iPhone 15 and later models work via USB‑C (not compatible with Lightning).
Why would you use a handset like this for your audio and video calls? Besides the nostalgic retro aesthetic, the POP Phone reduces the amount of radiation absorbed by your head because the phone is kept away from it. In practice, you simply look cooler holding a POP Phone to your ears. Well, if retro is cool to you, this accessory delivers both style and function. It also frees up your hands for multitasking, and its built‑in noise‑reduction keeps your voice clear even in noisy environments.
The post Native Union’s POP Phone is the perfect retro-tech companion first appeared on Yanko Design.