> At a Glance
> – The Clicks Communicator Android phone pairs a 4-inch screen with a BlackBerry-style keyboard
> – $499 list price; preorders open at $399, or reserve for $199 today
> – Ships later this year with Android 16, five years of security updates, and a distraction-free Niagara launcher
> – Why it matters: It revives the headphone jack, microSD, physical SIM, and notification LED in a 170 g “secondary” device
A former BlackBerry designer has built the Clicks Communicator, a palm-sized Android phone that swaps AI overload for thumb-friendly typing and voice dictation.
Hardware Throwbacks in a Modern Shell
The 170 g aluminum-and-polycarbonate body squeezes in every port the industry deleted:
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- microSD slot and 256 GB onboard storage
- Physical SIM tray plus eSIM
- User-swappable backplates (Qi2.2 wireless charging built-in)
- Customizable mute switch
A 50 MP stabilized rear camera and 24 MP selfie sensor sit above a 4,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery that charges via USB-C or wireless pads.
Software Built for Focused Messaging
Android 16 runs a custom Niagara launcher that surfaces WhatsApp, Telegram, and Slack threads on the home screen so you never open an app to reply.
Press-and-hold the Prompt Key and the surrounding Signal light glows in user-assigned colors while voice-to-text captures your message.
Pricing & Positioning
| Option | Cost | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Preorder | $399 | Now |
| Reserve | $199 | Now |
| Retail | $499 | Later this year |
Clicks markets the handset as a complementary device-think “Kindle to your iPad”-or a standalone work phone that keeps TikTok temptations at bay.
Jeff Gadway, chief marketing officer, sums it up:
> “We’re building purpose-built tech for people who want to do shit and not doom scroll.”
Key Takeaways
- Physical keyboard keys are 43% larger than those on the existing Clicks case
- Global 5G/4G/3G/2G bands come unlocked, with NFC for Google Pay
- Five years of security updates promise longevity rare in sub-$500 Android phones
The Communicator is the anti-flagship: smaller, slower to grab your attention, and unapologetically built for thumbs that still miss 2007.
