Clicks constructed its status on one thing trendy smartphones quietly made tougher: typing. At CES 2026, the corporate is doubling down with two new releases that really feel like a wise, trendy nod to the BlackBerry period, however with out the nostalgia lure. The headline merchandise are the Clicks Communicator, its first smartphone, and the Clicks Energy Keyboard, a pocket keyboard that additionally works as a battery.
This isn’t about bringing again “retro.” It’s about bringing again management.
Picture Credit: Gizmodo
Clicks Communicator: a keyboard first telephone for individuals who truly write
The Communicator is Clicks’ try and make a telephone that prioritizes communication over consumption. Consider it as a tool designed for messaging, e mail, notes, and getting issues carried out, not infinite scrolling.
Picture Credit: ZDNET
What makes it totally different
- An actual QWERTY keyboard with bigger, sculpted keys for thumb typing
- Contact delicate keyboard gestures so you possibly can scroll with out transferring your thumb to the display screen
- A compact show that makes the entire telephone really feel extra centered and one hand pleasant
It’s exhausting not to consider BlackBerry whenever you see it, however the vibe right here is extra “BlackBerry vitality” than “BlackBerry remake.” The aim is pace and confidence, the sensation that you may reply individuals rapidly and transfer on.
The main points productiveness individuals will care about
Clicks is leaning into bodily controls and sensible options that many telephones left behind:
- A bodily mute or kill swap
- A programmable button paired with an indicator gentle for precedence alerts
- Expandable storage and a headphone jack, the sort of throwback selections that keyboard followers have a tendency to like
On paper, additionally it is aiming to really feel present, not compromised: trendy Android, a excessive refresh show, a stable battery, and digicam specs which are greater than “adequate” for every day life.
Who it’s for
- Individuals who write loads on their telephone and hate typing on glass
- Anybody who desires a extra intentional second telephone for messages and work
- Followers of compact gadgets who miss bodily enter
Who ought to skip it:
- In case your telephone is especially for video creation, gaming, or heavy social feeds, that is in all probability not the perfect match
Clicks Energy Keyboard: the accent play that would attain extra individuals
The Energy Keyboard is the extra common thought. It’s a slide out Bluetooth keyboard that snaps on magnetically to suitable telephones and may also prime up your battery. In different phrases, it turns your current telephone right into a keyboard telephone whenever you need it, and it earns its place in your bag by additionally being an influence backup.
Picture Credit: ZDNET
Why it issues
Most telephone keyboards fail as a result of they’re one factor solely. The Energy Keyboard is attempting to be two helpful issues without delay:
- An actual typing software for longer messages
- A battery you’ll truly recognize when your telephone is dying
If it feels sturdy and comfy within the hand, this might be the sleeper hit of the 2 launches, just because it really works with extra individuals’s present setups.
What we need to take a look at at CES 2026
The concept is powerful. CES is the place the expertise has to match it.
For Communicator:
- Key really feel at pace, consolation after a couple of minutes, and the way correct it’s when you find yourself typing quick
- Contact scroll gestures, whether or not they’re easy or simple to set off by chance
- True one hand usability, whether or not it feels balanced or prime heavy
For Energy Keyboard:
- Slider sturdiness and wobble
- Magnet energy in actual motion, not only a desk demo
- Actual world advantage of the battery when it’s charging wirelessly
Early verdict
Clicks is doing one thing uncommon in client tech: it isn’t attempting to win with an even bigger display screen or louder specs. It’s attempting to win with enter, focus, and tactile satisfaction.
If BlackBerry was about e mail in your pocket, Clicks is about trendy messaging in your phrases. The massive query CES 2026 will reply is easy: do the keys really feel nearly as good as the thought?
I’m a tech-savvy advertising strategist who’s all the time exploring how merchandise match into real-world habits and market traits. Leveraging my skilled expertise in advertising, I consider devices from strategic and user-focused views. At The Gadget Stream, I analyze options, advantages, and market affect to present readers a deeper understanding of the most recent tech.