LASER sees three‑fold retro tech sales rise Australia

LASER said on May 21 that sales of its retro-tech range in Australia had risen three-fold as consumers bought more vinyl turntables, cassette players and retro gaming devices. The Australian electronics company tied the increase to demand for products that offer offline or analogue use, according to a company statement published by Digital Reviews Network. Chris Lau, LASER's managing director, said the company had expanded the line with a cassette boombox, Bluetooth turntable, lava lamp speaker and retro gaming products. The range is being rolled out through major Australian retailers including JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and BIG W. ### What exactly did LASER say rose three-fold? LASER said its retro-tech sales had increased three-fold after the launch of its newer retro-inspired range, according to the May 21 post carried by Digital Reviews Network. The company described the growth as concentrated in products such as turntables, speakers and retro gaming devices. (digitalreviews.net) ChannelNews, citing LASER, reported a three-fold increase in demand for retro-inspired products and listed the lineup as cassette boomboxes, Bluetooth turntables, retro gaming consoles and a lava lamp speaker. The same report said retail prices in the range run from A$69.95 to A$299. (digitalreviews.net) ### Which products are driving the increase? LASER said the expanded range includes a Retro Portable Cassette Boombox, a Retro Bluetooth Turntable with built-in speakers, a Retro Lava Lamp with an integrated Bluetooth speaker, a Handheld Retro Console and a Retro Gaming Projector. ChannelNews listed prices of A$99.95 for the cassette boombox, A$69.95 for the turntable, A$69.95 for the lava lamp speaker, A$129.95 for the handheld console and A$299 for the gaming projector. (channelnews.com.au) A LASER media post from Dec. 2, 2025, showed the company had already been promoting the same category on Australia's Today Show, which featured its Retro Cassette BoomBox, vinyl turntable, gaming projector and handheld console. The company said the segment highlighted demand for retro-style speakers, turntables and gaming gear. (channelnews.com.au) ### Who is buying this, according to the company? Chris Lau said the trend spans both younger and older buyers. In the Digital Reviews Network post, LASER said younger consumers were turning to vinyl and retro gaming, while older Australians were revisiting DVDs, CDs and cassette tapes. (laserco.com.au) LASER also cited outside survey data to support the pitch. The company said an Australian Youth Digital Index survey of more than 5,000 people aged eight to 25 found 36% said the internet and devices negatively affected their sleep, and it said 76% of Zoomer respondents were drawn to retro tech. The post did not identify the source study for the 76% figure beyond LASER's summary. (digitalreviews.net) ### Why is LASER linking the trend to digital detox? Lau said the company viewed the demand as more than a design preference. "We don't see this as just another trend, but moreso a cultural shift," he said in the Digital Reviews Network post. He added that Australians were seeking experiences that feel "real – not just digital" in a period of constant technological change and anxiety around AI. (digitalreviews.net) LASER said the products combine nostalgic formats with newer features rather than copying older devices exactly. The company cited a portable cassette player with Bluetooth streaming and a lava lamp with a built-in Bluetooth speaker as examples of blending analogue styling with modern functions. (digitalreviews.net) ### How does this fit LASER's broader business? LASER said it has been in the consumer technology market for 40 years and is approaching its 40th anniversary next year. Lau said DVD players had remained one of the company's best-selling categories over the last five years, which he said showed continued demand for physical, simple and lower-cost entertainment. (digitalreviews.net) The company's next step is product distribution. LASER said the retro range is expanding and becoming more widely available through JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and BIG W, while the company enters its 40th anniversary year in 2027. (digitalreviews.net)