Clicks Communicator is arguably the most unique phone of the year. It has a physical keyboard, an audio jack, and a beautiful system

In a sea of glass slabs that you can only distinguish by their logo, the Clicks Communicator appears as a phenomenon from another era. This compact Android with a physical keyboard has now been shown for the first time in a more detailed hands-on video, making it a good opportunity to review what it aims to impress with — and who it actually makes sense for.

What the Clicks Communicator offers

At its core is an almost square 4.03-inch AMOLED display, beneath which lies a full-fledged backlit QWERTY keyboard. It can do more than just type — thanks to its touch-sensitive surface, it also functions as a touchpad, allowing you to scroll through your inbox or the web without touching the screen. The fingerprint sensor is cleverly hidden in the spacebar, and there’s also a dedicated button for voice dictation and a colored notification LED that lights up according to who is messaging you.

The software runs on Android 17 with a custom interface built on the Niagara launcher, which, instead of an endless grid of applications, opts for a clear list and a so-called Message Hub consolidating messages from various applications in one place. Hardware-wise, it’s worth mentioning the 50MP main camera with optical stabilization, a 24MP selfie camera, a 4000 mAh battery, and support for Qi2 magnetic wireless charging.

Return of features that disappeared from phones

And this is where the Clicks Communicator is most interesting. Behind the phone is Clicks Technology, a company known for its keyboard cases for iPhone, co-founded by, among others, the famous YouTuber Michael Fisher, also known as MrMobile. Their first proprietary phone is a declared rebellion against current trends — the manufacturer’s motto is “for creating, not for endless scrolling.”

The phone therefore revives features that have gradually disappeared from common models: a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot, a notification LED, and a removable back cover, under which you’ll find access to the SIM, memory card, and battery.

Catches and price

However, enthusiasm should be tempered. The biggest question mark is the processor — the manufacturer has only revealed that it’s a 4nm MediaTek chip, but the specific model remains a secret. For a phone priced at 499 dollars, this is quite a significant unknown. Add the fact that it’s a small company and their first proprietary device, for which delivery times tend to be extended, and caution makes sense. Sales are scheduled to start in the last quarter of the year.

For Czech interested parties, two things apply. The price of 499 dollars (399 dollars in early pre-order, i.e., around 8,400 CZK) is more pleasant than thousand-dollar flagships, but you won’t officially get the phone in the Czech Republic, so expect import and customs duties. And also note one detail: among the localized keyboard layouts are German, French, or Arabic, but Czech is missing.

Do you miss a physical keyboard on phones, or have you long gotten used to touchscreens?

Source: Notebookcheck