The cult smartphone returns to the peak of popularity

Smartphone from the past: iPhone 4 unexpectedly won the hearts of young people 15 years after its release. Gen Z was captivated by the gadget's camera with its "warm vintage photo" effect and the nostalgic atmosphere of the early smartphone era from Apple.

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to The New York Post, Google Trends analytics showed an astounding growth in search queries for "buy iPhone 4" — popularity increased by an incredible 980 percent.

The publication emphasizes that the younger generation considers the iPhone 4 an iconic device. This smartphone went down in history as one of the last Apple products created under the leadership of the legendary Steve Jobs. In social networks, the phenomenon is described as the return of "a generation disillusioned with tech giants" to an era when technological innovations were a symbol of hope and romance.

However, experts warn against using the iPhone 4 or other retro devices as a primary phone. The gadget has long stopped receiving operating system updates, which significantly increases the risk of hacking and vulnerability to cyber threats.

"iPhone 4 supports maximum iOS 7.1.2, released back in 2014," warns Lee Elliott, director of the Compare and Recycle tech recycling service. In his opinion, using a smartphone that has missed a decade of critical security updates may be associated with serious risks.