CES 2026 Live: Tech’s Big Event Kicks Off From Las Vegas

The all-screen design of today’s smartphones is ubiquitous, but there are still pockets of people who long for the early days when mobile phones had clicky, hardware keyboards. (Maybe they could avoid the autocorrect and autocomplete annoyances we all struggle with.) A new device is bringing back that tactile experience, with a twist.

If you (or your parents) rocked a BlackBerry phone, the new Clicks Communicator, with its physical keyboard beneath a rectangular screen, will look immediately familiar. However, it’s not a phone.

Instead, the Communicator is a side device that connects to your smartphone to provide an experience that is less distracting than what your phone provides. “Doing, not doomscrolling,” is how the company describes its function.

Is a hardware keyboard worth the $499 price (with early-bird pricing down to $299)? If the retro styling appeals to you, one other feature might be what compels you to order: It has a 3.5mm headphone jack.