'It's so romantic': Gen Z's bring back landline phones

The 90s called. They want their phones back.

Ranging from the return of vinyl records to 90s fashion trends, Gen Z's love of nostalgia and all things retro is well documented.

And it seems like landlines are the newest vintage style that has caught the eye of younger generations.

Those born before 1995 will fondly remember a house phone, often attached to the wall and occasionally in a garish and novelty design.

Cult 90s and noughties TV shows, including "Juno", "Lizzie McGuire", and "Mean Girls", all relied on their main character's love of the landline.

And now it appears teens and those in their early twenties are bringing back the landline phones, with vintage phones selling out on eBay and other resell sites, and some people even getting landlines installed in their homes.

Looking back at the late ’90s and early 2000s TV shows and rom-coms, you can most likely picture your favourite character lying on their bed with a colourful landline phone.

“One of my first memories is the tan landline that my parents had mounted to the kitchen wall,” Nicole Randone told the Guardian. “I always fantasised about the day I’d have one in my own room.”

The 24-year-old from Westchester, NY, added: “Having a landline really bridges that gap between reality and my childhood fantasy. I feel like the main character in my favourite TV shows — ‘One Tree Hill,’ ‘The OC,’ ‘Gilmore Girls’ — when I use it.”

Sam Casper, 27, owns a light pink Crosley landline. She told the Guardian it was her “mom’s husband’s grandma’s phone.”

“It’s so cute and romantic,” she said.

Here are six advantages to keeping your landline in your home.

• Reports show landline phone quality is better than cellular phones.
• Landline phones never run out of battery, making them better for emergencies.
• Oftentimes, home security systems require a home phone connection.
• It’s easier for kids to use and helps keep them away from screen time.
• Landline phones are better for long-distance and international calling.
• Besides, it also adds an aesthetic element to your house.