Until recently, no one paid special attention to the boxes our tech products come in, but that has changed radically and packaging is now an art. Manufacturers brag about their boxes and supplies, and we users have done something amazing: save and even collect them.

The box is part of the product. In 2014, the OnePlus One was launched, a mobile that stands out in its own right but the attention to detail extends to the box it came in.

One of the ‘unboxes’ of the time, in ‘drawer’ format, mobile foreground and lower compartment, showed the good taste of the box design with this characteristic charging cable and opening tool. The SIM tray, which in turn has a very careful design. I bought that product and kept the box until I sold it years later. It wasn’t the first box I’ve kept, and it won’t be the last.

Unboxing period. The truth is, this passion for boxes has also been fueled by ‘unboxing’ videos that show a user unboxing a product to show off their first contact with a new cell phone, laptop or other device.

There are YouTube channels that have become surprisingly popular just for this – one of the best known is Unbox Therapy, which has over 18 million subscribers – and such videos are often part of our tech culture. By the way, these videos are often an invaluable help when, for example, we are returning a product and we want to do this, sometimes more complicated than it seems, by putting everything in the original box in its original form.

More ecological boxes. A manufacturer’s attention to ‘packaging’ is already part of the product’s identity, and in recent years we’ve seen how many companies have highlighted how they use recycled materials in their boxes, especially in the mobile phone world. environmentally friendly devices. Apple is one of the most supportive of these moves: with the iPhone 12 they reduced the thickness of the case (not including a charger or earphones) and also removed the protective plastic on the iPhone 13 (they state this at the end of this press note to avoid spending a ton on this little item).

why keep the box. There are of course several reasons for doing this. First, and most popularly, this means that resale value can increase: a second-hand cell phone or laptop in its original box often increases this resale value.

There are other advantages to holding. For example, to be calm with the warranty period: If something goes wrong and we threw the box away, we might have trouble returning it. If we plan to move in the future, these boxes can be perfect for transporting all kinds of tech items.

From nostalgia to decoration. Storing the box has become an act of mixing nostalgia and collecting for many, but eventually it can even become part of the decoration of certain spaces. We’re not just talking about technological products here: box collecting extends to sneakers, toys – for example Lego sets or Funkos – or many other products such as watches and jewellery.

There are also manufacturers who do great things with the box – ASUS has created one that becomes a support for the laptop it holds – and there are manufacturers who show that such items can have a useful life beyond their product packaging functions.

Storing boxes doesn’t always make sense. Storing the box for inexpensive items often makes little sense, and it is generally not particularly recommended to store boxes for larger items such as televisions. It’s true that it’s okay to store for a few days if there are any technical issues and we need to return it, but beyond that, these large boxes are often a bulky nuisance that takes up a lot of space and doesn’t add up. more.