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Click Technologya company known for manufacturing physical keyboard for smartphones, is introducing two new devices ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week. In addition to a new, $79 slide-out keyboard for smart devices, the company is also unveiling its first phone: the Communicator, a smartphone with a physical keyboard, designed to be carried around as your second device.
Yes, it looks like a BlackBerry. (Quick, someone tells Kim Kardashian, famous BlackBerry hoarder.)
The $499 smartphone is described as “designed” for people who carry two phones – one for work and one for personal use. That is, the company believes that its market will be people who do a lot of real work on their devices – that is, texting, sending emails, working with documents, or other things where using a physical keyboard would be beneficial.
Although it provides a screen for viewing and replying to messages, Communicator does not offer access to social networking applications or games. Instead, the company partnered with Android launcher maker, Niagara Launcher, to offer messaging and productivity tools like Gmail, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Slack.
The most famous feature of the phone is its Signal Light, a light button on the side of the device that can be changed with different colors and light patterns to show when you receive messages from other people, groups, or programs. For example, you can make messages from VIPs light purple while WhatsApp chats are green.
You can press this button, known as the Text Key, to review messages while typing, or to take a quick note, if not. The company is teasing the possibility of integrating AI applications with this button – such as notes, voice recorders, or AI assistants – but nothing like that is available yet.
Like other Clicks products, the Communicator has a responsive keyboard with ergonomic keys designed for fast typing. The keyboard is also responsive, allowing users to navigate through messages, lists, and pages without needing to use the screen.
The device also includes some old-school features, such as a headphone jack, SIM card tray (including eSIM), microSD storage (up to 2TB), and an on/off airplane switch. The switch can also be programmed to work with Signal light or keyboard touch, the company says.
The back cover can be removed so you can change the look of the device by changing the color. The phone itself comes in Smoke, Clover (dark green), and Onyx.
The device will be offered at $ 399 for early bird customers who deposit $ 199 before February 27. Customers who pay the full price of the early bird of $ 399 up front will receive two additional accessories in the back. The phone is expected to ship sometime this year.
All technical specifications of the phone are:
- Android 16 with 5 years of security updates
- 131.5 mm long; weight of 170 g
- Global 5G, 4G LTE, and 3G/2G support, unlocked
- 4,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery
- 256GB of internal storage and microSD expansion
- 50MP main camera with OIS and 24MP front camera
- NFC with Google Pay, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 6
- USB-C and wireless charging
- Adjustable back covers of different colors to customize the device
Clicks CEO Adrian Li announced in an announcement that the company has shipped more than 100,000 of its keyboards to customers in more than 100 countries.
“This response confirmed what we believe most: the growing need for purpose-built products that help people communicate with confidence and take action.” Clicks Communicator is a natural evolution of that idea,” he said.
Another innovation of the company is a slide-out keyboard that can be attached to smartphones, tablets, or used with smart TVs, to save you from tedious typing on the computer with your remote control.
The keyboard is powered by a built-in 2,150 mAh battery and attaches to phones via MagSafe or Qi2 magnetic connectors. It can also be used with existing phone cases, the company says. Multiple sliders allow the keyboard to accommodate different phone sizes, and can be docked when the phone is in portrait or landscape mode.
When used with tablets, TVs, or other smart devices, such as AR/VR headsets, the keyboard is used independently from the device it is connected to.
Like other Clicks keyboards, the Dynamic Keyboard offers intuitive buttons, and its settings can be customized using the Clicks mobile app for iOS and Android.
The Power Keyboard is priced at $79 for early bird customers and will later retail for $109. Pre-orders begin on January 2; the device should ship within a year, the company says.
