Hands-On: Clicks Communicator Prototype, a New BlackBerry-Style Phone
▼ Summary
– Clicks Technology has announced the Communicator, a new $499 smartphone with a physical keyboard, and a separate $79 slide-out keyboard accessory for other devices.
– The Android-powered phone features a BlackBerry-like keyboard, a messaging-focused touchscreen, and a minimalist launcher, with specs including 256GB storage and a 4000mAh battery.
– Initial sales reception has been strong, with the company reportedly making a sale every 6.5 seconds for its two products in the week following the announcement.
– The device’s design, including a contoured back and elevated screen, is focused on ergonomics, and it includes a customizable “Signal Light” for visual notifications.
– The phone is scheduled to ship in the second half of 2026 and will offer five years of security updates alongside other standard features like dual cameras and wireless charging.
The physical keyboard makes a notable return with the Clicks Communicator, a new Android smartphone designed for messaging efficiency. Announced by Clicks Technology, the device evokes the classic BlackBerry form factor with a modern twist, running the latest Android software and offering a separate slide-out keyboard accessory for other phones. At CES, we had the opportunity to examine a prototype, providing a clear sense of the hardware experience ahead of its planned launch.
Reception for the new devices has been better than expected, according to Clicks’ chief marketing officer, Jeff Gadway. While specific sales figures remain confidential, he noted the company was recording a sale every 6.5 seconds across both the phone and the accessory keyboard in the week following the announcement. The prototype we handled matched the final product’s intended size and weight, offering a tangible preview. It features 256 gigabytes of onboard storage, expandable via microSD card to a substantial 2 terabytes. Power comes from a 4000mAh silicon-carbon battery, and the device weighs approximately 170 grams.
A unique design element is the interchangeable back cover, which users can pop off to change the phone’s appearance. The final cover will include a small notch at the top and a finger pick at the bottom for easy removal. In hand, the phone feels substantial and secure, a result of extensive prototyping. The company settled on a contoured back after testing dozens of 3D-printed shapes, making the device easy to pick up and grip. The screen sits slightly elevated, with a curved chin that creates a recess to protect the physical keyboard when the phone is placed face-down.
A distinctive feature is the “Signal Light,” a configurable side button that illuminates with different colors or patterns for specific notifications. This allows users to instantly identify messages from key contacts, like a boss or family members, without needing to check the screen. The tactile keyboard itself felt responsive, though the prototype’s keys may be less “clicky” than the final version. Gadway mentioned an ongoing internal debate about the optimal actuation force, with current feedback leaning toward a firmer, more pronounced keypress favored by fast typists, while a softer feel could be more accessible for newcomers.
The keyboard and touchscreen are aligned at the same vertical height, enabling a seamless transition between typing and tapping. For photography, the phone includes a 24-megapixel front-facing camera and a rear camera system capable of 50-megapixel stills with both optical and electronic image stabilization for video. Under the hood, it uses a 4-nanometer MediaTek 5G processor paired with 8 gigabytes of RAM.
The display is a 4.03-inch AMOLED panel with a 1,080 x 1,200 resolution. Charging options include wired speeds up to 18 watts and wireless charging up to 15 watts with Qi compatibility. The device is also Android Strongbox-ready, enhancing security for sensitive data. Standard connectivity like GPS and NFC is included, and Clicks promises five years of security updates along with Android version upgrades through Android 20. The Clicks Communicator is scheduled to begin shipping in the second half of 2026.
(Source: TechCrunch)
