Clicks Launches BlackBerry-Inspired Smartphone With Snap-On Keyboard
▼ Summary
– Clicks Technology is launching two new products: the Communicator smartphone and a slide-out Power Keyboard, both featuring physical keyboards.
– The Communicator is a $499 “purpose-built” second phone for productivity, focusing on messaging and work tools while excluding social media and games.
– A key feature is the customizable Signal Light button, which indicates messages and can be used for voice dictation, with potential future AI integrations.
– The phone includes old-school features like a headphone jack, expandable storage, and interchangeable back covers, alongside modern specs like a 50MP camera and 5G.
– The $79 Power Keyboard attaches magnetically to various devices and is designed to improve typing on smartphones, tablets, and even TVs.
Ahead of next week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Clicks Technology is introducing two new devices that cater to users seeking a more tactile and focused mobile experience. The company, already known for its smartphone keyboards, is launching a versatile slide-out keyboard and, more notably, its first-ever smartphone: the Clicks Communicator. This $499 device is designed as a secondary phone, specifically for professionals who carry separate devices for work and personal life, emphasizing productivity over distraction.
The Communicator’s design will feel familiar, bearing a strong resemblance to classic BlackBerry phones with its integrated physical keyboard. Clicks describes the smartphone as “purpose-built” for intensive communication tasks like messaging, email, and document work, where a tactile keyboard provides a clear advantage. It runs a streamlined version of Android via the Niagara Launcher, providing access to core productivity and messaging apps such as Gmail, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Slack, while intentionally omitting social media and games.
A unique feature is the Signal Light, a customizable illuminated button on the device’s side. Users can program it with different colors and patterns to visually alert them to messages from specific contacts, groups, or applications. This button, also called the Prompt Key, can be pressed to dictate messages or record voice notes directly from a text field. The company hints at future integrations with AI applications for tasks like note-taking, though such features are not currently available.
The keyboard itself is a central selling point, offering ergonomic, touch-sensitive keys designed for faster typing. The touch capability allows for scrolling through messages and web pages without needing the touchscreen. The device embraces several classic features, including a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a physical SIM card tray alongside eSIM support, expandable microSD storage up to 2TB, and a physical switch for toggling airplane mode. This switch can also be configured to interact with the Signal Light or keyboard.
For personalization, the back cover is removable and interchangeable, available in initial colors like Smoke, Clover (a dark green), and Onyx. An early-bird price of $399 is available for customers who place a $199 deposit before February 27; paying the full $399 upfront also includes two extra back covers. Shipping is expected later this year.
Key technical specifications include:
- Android 16 with five years of security updates
- Dimensions of 131.5 mm tall and a weight of 170 grams
- Global unlocked support for 5G, 4G LTE, and 3G/2G networks
- A 4,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery
- 256GB of internal storage plus microSD expansion
- A 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization and a 24MP front camera
- NFC for Google Pay, Bluetooth 5.4, and Wi-Fi 6
- USB-C and wireless charging support
In a statement, Clicks CEO Adrian Li pointed to the company’s prior success, having shipped over 100,000 keyboards to more than 100 countries, as validation for this new direction. “Clicks Communicator is a natural evolution of that idea,” he stated, emphasizing the demand for tools that help people communicate confidently and take action.
The company’s second new product is the Clicks Power Keyboard, a $79 slide-out keyboard that attaches magnetically to smartphones, tablets, and even smart TVs, offering an alternative to tedious on-screen typing. Powered by a 2,150 mAh battery, it attaches via MagSafe or Qi2 connections and works with existing phone cases. Its adjustable slider accommodates various device sizes in both portrait and landscape orientations. When used with tablets, TVs, or AR/VR headsets, it functions as a standalone wireless keyboard. Like other Clicks keyboards, it features tactile buttons and customizable settings through a dedicated mobile app. The Power Keyboard will retail for $109 after its early-bird period, with preorders starting January 2 and shipping anticipated in the spring.
(Source: TechCrunch)
