People are clamoring for dumber tech. HIDIZSIn recent years, the tech landscape has seen a rise in "dumb devices" that aim for minimalism and offline capability. This trend is evident in the AP30 Music Boy's Kickstarter campaign, an audio player inspired by the Game Boy with hi-res specs. Slated to ship in October, the device comes from HIDIZS, a brand with previous successful audio campaigns. The campaign launched with a modest goal of HK$40,000 (~$5,100) and concluded at HK$3,954,885 (~$504,311), over 98 times the target. Late backers can still participate.

Two versions exist: an 80g aluminum model and a 56g plastic model. Both offer three carrying options — magnetic phone case, lanyard, or bag clip. Specs include a 2.0-inch HD IPS screen, RKNano D master chip, CS43198 DAC, RT6863 AMP, 3.5mm/4.4mm outputs, Bluetooth 5.3, and micro SD support up to 256GB. Battery life reaches 8-10 hours wired and 6-8 hours wireless. Playback supports MP3, FLAC, DSD256, and more. Physical buttons, a scroll wheel, 6 EQ presets, and USB-C DAC functionality are included. The device also reads e-books and runs 6 retro games like Tetris and Snake.

Smartphones "killed the magic" of dedicated listening, driving demand for offline devices. This aligns with Gen-Z's Y2K nostalgia and desire to escape invasive algorithms and notification fatigue. The Music Boy represents a broader shift toward simpler, intentional tech.