iPhone 4 demand increased by almost 1000%

The old iPhone 4 has unexpectedly become popular on social media, causing excitement in the secondary market and a sharp increase in user interest in the device. Experts link the trend to nostalgia and the fashion for "vintage" digital aesthetics.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to TechRadar, for the new audience, the iPhone 4 today is not so much a means of communication as it is an aesthetic object and a symbol of a "simpler" digital era. Users are attracted by the smartphone's compact body, 3.5-inch screen, and distinctive design that has become iconic.

According to research by Compare and Recycle, a company operating in the smartphone recycling and reuse market, over the past year, the number of Google search queries for the phrase "buy iPhone 4" has increased by 979%. Analysts explain this growth by the popularity of using outdated devices as digital cameras.

It is noted that the trend is actively supported by social networks. The hashtag #digicam is used in approximately 350,000 videos on TikTok and about 700,000 posts on Instagram. iPhone 4 owners emphasize that its 5-megapixel camera, despite technically lagging behind modern models, including the iPhone 17, is valued for its graininess and the special "atmosphere" of the photos.

At the same time, experts warn about digital security risks. The last update for the iPhone 4 was iOS 7.1.2, released in 2014. The operating system has not received updates and security patches for more than ten years.

Specialists believe that using the iPhone 4 as a primary smartphone can lead to personal data leaks. Users are advised not to sign in to Apple ID, not to install applications for email, banking, and storing confidential information, limiting the use of the device exclusively to creative tasks.