The Clicks Communicator Ships in December With More RAM and New Mobile Service - cnet.com
Clicks Technology announced the keyboard phone at CES in January. You can hop into the Message Hub at any time by pressing the Prompt Key or the Clicks Key on the keyboard. The physical keyboard has a red Clicks Key that can be used to trigger shortcuts, similar to Click’s keyboard cases and the Power Keyboard.
A new video shows off the BlackBerry-like phone's features, including the speech-to-text Prompt Key, Message Hub and new Clicks Mobile wireless service.
At a time when nearly every phone-maker is raising prices and cutting memory, one company is bucking the trend by adding more RAM.
The $649 Blackberry-inspired Clicks Communicator phone will launch in December, but the company behind it just announced that the unreleased handset will have a larger battery and more RAM than originally expected. Clicks Technology, better known for its keyboard cases and Power Keyboard accessory, released a video on Friday sharing a number of upgrades, feature details and news about the launch.
The Clicks Communicator will ship with 12GB of RAM (up from the promised 8GB) and a 4,350-mAh battery (up from 4,000 mAh). Given this year’s trends, it is absolutely wild that the company is adding more RAM while keeping the previously announced preorder price of $499. Google, Motorola, Samsung and, most recently, Apple, have raised prices on most of their phones, including the new iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, citing higher RAM and component costs driven by the increased demand for memory by AI data centers.
Clicks Technology announced the keyboard phone at CES in January. The marquee feature is a built-in physical keyboard that is similar to the one found on the company’s keyboard cases. The design was inspired in part by using a Motorola Razr’s cover screen inside a Clicks keyboard case for the phone. After receiving an unexpectedly high number of preorders, Clicks was able to upgrade the design and features, including the processor.
Turns out, plenty of people want a thoughtfully designed handset that combines old-school features — including a keyboard, dedicated notification light and headphone jack — with a modern smartphone focused on messaging, calls and efficiency. The Communicator, designed by a former BlackBerry designer, is the phone I’ve been looking forward to most this year.
People who preordered the Clicks Communicator can now configure their phone’s color, keyboard layout, charging covers and accessories on the company’s website. If you’re considering buying one, you can preorder it for $499 ($150 off) until Sept. 30.
The Communicator is sold unlocked, meaning that you can use your current carrier’s nano SIM card or eSIM with it. But you also have the option to use the company’s new voice and data service for phone called Clicks Mobile. It’ll run on AT&T in the US and Vodafone in the UK.
The video also showcases a number of Communicator features in depth. Here are a handful that stood out.
You can extend the warranty beyond a year and add accidental damage protection. “If something happens, even from day one, we’ll ship you a replacement,” says Jeff Gadway, Clicks Technology co-founder, in the video. Clicks Care will be available in the US and Canada for $129 for two years.
While the physical keyboard is the main attraction, you can press the Prompt Key for speech-to-text input. The feature is powered by an on-device model, but Clicks Technology is exploring ways for Communicator owners to use other apps and services for voice input. The Prompt Key can also be used to bring up Gemini when you’re not in a text field.
An LED loop around the Prompt Key glows in different colors for calendar reminders, tasks and to indicate incoming calls and messages. You can customize the Signal Light with different colors for different contacts and priorities. The light will flash in different patterns to distinguish between a call and a message. This is what Pixel HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max should have been; instead, that sits mostly dormant on the back of the phone and only glows during calls or when Gemini is “listening” to a prompt.
You can read and respond to message previews straight from the home screen, without opening the app. Gadway explains that the company is working to make it possible to reply and dismiss message previews using just keyboard shortcuts: No need to touch the screen.
A curated pop-up on the home screen, the hub prioritizes incoming message notifications according to your Signal Light preferences. You can hop into the Message Hub at any time by pressing the Prompt Key or the Clicks Key on the keyboard.
The physical keyboard has a red Clicks Key that can be used to trigger shortcuts, similar to Click’s keyboard cases and the Power Keyboard. You can also reassign the bottom-row keys to take screenshots, switch between apps and perform other tasks.
You can lock the Click Communicator by double-tapping the app list on the home screen. The phone uses a special version of Niagara Launcher, which displays apps in a list that you can navigate by sliding your finger along the right side of the screen.
The phone supports 15W Qi2 wireless charging and has a swappable backplate available in a variety of colors. There will be two Saffiano leather charging covers.
Accessory maker Dbrand is creating a $39 case for the new phone called MNML (pronounced “minimal”) and a $35 screen protector. Clicks is selling its own bumper case for $49 — it gives off a strong iPhone 4 bumper vibe.