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BlackBerry is back – sort of – thanks to the latest product from the mobile keyboard maker, Click Technologywho last week he announced his first phonethe $499 Communicator, which includes a physical keyboard. The company is also offering a separate $79 slide-out keyboard that fits any device.
At CES, TechCrunch spoke with Clicks’ chief marketing officer and co-founder, Jeff Gadway, and shared a recent hands-on image of the upcoming smartphone.
The device, which offers a BlackBerry-like keyboard and a touchscreen for messaging, runs Android 16 under the hood. This means Communicator can run any Android app, but it has partnered with a small launcher, Niagara Launcher, to display your favorite apps on the home screen. Other programs can be easily accessed through the navigation menu.
The reception of the new devices has been better than expected, Gadway told TechCrunch. Although he declined to share sales numbers, he did say that last week the company was selling every 6.5 seconds between the two devices.
Although the model we tested is not a working phone, it is the same size and weight as a device that is preparing to ship at the end of this year, giving a first taste of what it would be like to use Communicator.
The flexible back cover can be switched off so you can change the look of the phone whenever the inspiration strikes. Although not on the prototype, the cover will have a small notch at the top and then a small finger picker at the bottom.
The bottom back is where your nano-SIM card will go. On-board storage is up to 256 gigabytes, with microSD storage up to 2 terabytes of data. The device will also have a 4000mAh silicon-carbon battery and currently weighs around 170 grams (or 6 oz).
In our hands-on testing, the phone feels comfortable to hold. The device is not too heavy but light, and easy to hold.
The final form was established after several 3D printed models, Gadway notes. The excellent design of the phone includes a curved back that makes it easy to carry and hold.
The screen of the device is also raised from the body, and the chin of the device is curved, which creates a closed space for the keys to be protected when you place it face down. (You’ll want to put the phone down if you’re trying to avoid distractions!)
That’s where the button on the side of the device can help. Called “Signal Light,” the button can be changed to appear in different colors or patterns when you receive messages from people, groups, or other apps. That way, you can be sure to answer if it’s your boss or kids who are meeting you, but you can ignore it if it’s not the most important information.
The strong, physical keys feel great, although the prototype version may be a little “smaller” than the final version. (There is a debate between whether keys should have 110 grams of pressure or more like 120 or 130 grams, and the answers so far are that the latter numbers are winning.)
With less pressure, the keys feel soft, which can be found for those who have not used BlackBerry before. But fast typists tend to choose high-pressing keys because there are more responses.
“This is something that Michael Fisher and I and Kevin Michaluk fight about all the time,” Gadway said, referring to the co-founders. “We’re dealing with grams.”
The keys and the screen are also at the same distance, so you can go from the keyboard to the touchscreen.
The phone’s standard, punch-hole front camera can take 24-megapixel photos. The rear camera, which has image stabilization and electronic image stabilization for video, can take 50-megapixel photos.
The phone will also have a MediaTek 4-nanometer processor, 5G IoT, with 8 gigabytes of RAM.
The Communicator display will be a 4.03-inch AMOLED display at 1,080 x 1,200 resolution. Wired charging is up to 18 watts, and wireless charging is up to 15 watts. The device is also Qi-compatible and Android Strongbox-ready, which will appeal to security-conscious customers.
The phone also has some standard features, such as GPS, NFC, and will provide five years of security updates and Android updates through Android 20.
The device is expected to be shipped in the second half of 2026.
