I Clicks Connector is the phone I look forward to many more in 2026. It will come out before the end of the year, but the company recently showed a working version of the $500 smartphone with a physical keyboard for the first time.
Brand new Android phoneannounced in January, it has a physical keyboard that pops out Blackberry again The Palm Treo vibes. Communicato is made by Clicks, the company behind it phone keyboard casesand it is set as an antidote to our constant attention smartphones seems to be wanted.
Every part of the phone has been thought out to prioritize the texting and typing experience above all else. It brings many of the old-school Android features with 2026’s take on the notification light, physical keyboard and a removable back plate (that just happens to support Qi2 wireless charging and magnetic accessories).
This phone isn’t for everyone, but for those of us who appreciate a well-made, thoughtfully designed $500 handset, the Communicator can’t come out fast enough — especially when compared to another $500 “new” Android phone that only comes in gold.
At the time when a number of devices were released that imitated the old BlackBerry phones, such as Unihertz Titan 2 Eliteor BlackBerry Classics repackaged, Clicks is a new handset, actually designed by a former Research in Motion designer who worked on BlackBerry phones. It brings the best of Blackberry and original smartphones, combined with modern features such as Android 16 and wireless charging.
Fortunately, a new video Clicks posted (see above) shows a working production prototype with the first version of the software, giving us a taste to satisfy our appetite. The video opens with a screenshot of the Clicks Communicator, and a close-up of a person using their thumbs to type “hello, world.” Thumb typing on the phone? What year is it? I am very ready for this. The video shows texting and messaging on WhatsApp, navigation apps and opening Spotify.
In the nearly six-and-a-half-minute video, Clicks founder and chief marketing officer Jeff Gadway shows off the phone’s software, home screen and several of its features. The Niagara launcher app ribbon looks incredible. Gadway even took a call on speakerphone, showing off the speakers.
So far, we’ve looked at a non-working hardware prototype of the Communicator and seen its software running on a Motorola Razr cover screen mounted inside a Clicks keyboard case.
I took this photo in March. On the left is a dummy image of the Clicks Communicator, and next to it is a Motorola Razr (closed) inside the Clicks keyboard case. Note that the Razr has a Niagara launcher on its cover screen.
Gadway promises more videos that dive deeper into other features, like the phone’s signal key/notification key, “in the coming weeks.” You can reserve a Communicator on Clicks website for $199. The phone is expected to ship in Q4 2026.
Watch this: Clicks Communicator Phone is My Favorite Thing at CES
