I’ve been reviewing tech for 16 years, and Philips’ new retro range has me the most excited I’ve been in ages

After more than a decade reviewing tech like the best Bluetooth speakers and best headphones, I’m jaded. Where are the bright eye-searing retro colour combos of the 90s? The weird and wacky designs of the early 2000s? 

Sadly, like cars, slapping on a simple paint job to stand out among the countless black, white, and navy options appears to be as wild as most manufacturers go these days. But I want a proper nostalgia fix, damn it.

Thankfully for those craving more soul in their tech, there appears to be some hope – Philips’s new Moving Sound range is here to tantalise retro fans with bright colours and unapologetically bonkers designs that feel lifted straight from the halcyon days of yesteryear. I can almost smell the whiff of N64 cartridges in the air…

Kicking things off is The Tube (MS80) – a beefy portable speaker that looks like it was plucked straight out of Borderlands. Its boxy/cylindrical design demands attention even in its all-black garb, but it’s the bright yellow option that ticks my boxes. 

Looks aside, it pushes out 140W of sustainable performance through a proper stereo setup – two five-inch woofers, two tweeters, plus dual passive radiators – so it’s built to be heard as well as seen.

Elsewhere, there’s an IP67 rating to fend off pool party mishaps, an integrated carry handle and shoulder strap, and up to 24 hours of battery life. As for playback, you can stream over Bluetooth 6.0, plug in via USB, or link it with other speakers using Auracast. 

Better yet, there’s even a colour display with a looping cassette animation and a built-in light show. Necessary? No. Refreshingly fun? Yes.

Another headliner, The Roller (MS60), takes the same idea and shrinks it down a little, sticking with a stereo layout while using separate acoustic chambers with dedicated woofers, tweeters and passive radiators, while adding Philips’ Bass+ tuning for a bit more low-end weight

Power drops to 60W, but you still get the same core features – Bluetooth 6.0, USB playback, Auracast support, app control, and another 24-hour battery claim. It’s also IP67 rated and can double as a power bank, so it’s just as happy being dragged outside as its bigger sibling

For a more personal, modernised retro listening experience, The Buds (MS3) are some of the funkiest wireless earbuds I’ve seen in recent years. Their circular case (complete with virtual cassette visuals) is a welcome breath of fresh air, and the colour combo hits all the right notes – bright yellow, with a hint of 90s-approved teal and a bright splash of neon pink. Even the eartips are different colours, which is a nice touch.

As for features, they pack in hybrid ANC, Spatial Audio, multipoint connectivity, Swift Pair support, and Auracast, along with six microphones in total. Three of those are dedicated to handling voice calls, with AI noise reduction to keep things clear in busy environments.

Battery life runs up to an impressive 42 hours with the case (with ANC off), and a 10-minute charge gets you around two hours of playback. The buds themselves are IP54 rated as well.

Lastly, there’s The Ringo Duo (MS1) – a pair of on-ear headphones that Marty McFly would don with great enthusiasm. Lightweight, and deliberately uncomplicated, they offer Bluetooth or USB-C wired listening, 40mm drivers, and up to 26 hours of battery life

Three sets of detachable ear cushions are also included, for sustainability bonus points. Across the range, Philips is also making a point of using recycled plastics, plastic-free packaging, and replaceable or detachable parts where possible

Price-wise, the lineup runs from €34.99 for the headphones up to €349.99 for the larger speaker, with the earbuds at €79.99 and the smaller speaker at €179.99. There’s no confirmed UK or US pricing available at the time of writing.

We’ve yet to test any of these retro-laden devices out, so I  can’t comment on their performance. But from a pure design perspective, this is the type of nostalgia-laden tech that millennials stuck in the past are crying out for. Thanks, Philips.

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