Clicksâ Power Keyboard brings BlackBerry-style typing to any phone â with some compromises
Clicks Technology, the startup determined to bring back physical keyboards to smartphones, began shipping its now-$99 MagSafe-compatible Power Keyboard this summer, after some delays. As
Clicks Technology, the startup determined to bring back physical keyboards to smartphones, began shipping its now-$99 MagSafe-compatible Power Keyboard this summer, after some delays. As of last week, 75% of the pre-orders from the first batch had shipped to customers. Designed to work with a range of devices, this new, slide-out keyboard with tactile buttons can accommodate different phone sizes and can be used in either portrait or landscape mode, the company says, giving any phone a BlackBerry-like feel. The device is something of a teaser for whatâs to come when Clicks ships its first smartphone, the BlackBerry-like Clicks Communicator, also featuring a physical keyboard, later this year. Like the upcoming smartphone, the idea behind the Power Keyboard is to provide an alternative to onscreen keyboards for those who miss the speed and reliability that came with typing on a small, physical keyboard. However, in its current implementation, the Power Keyboard suffers from the same fate as the companyâs earlier Clicks keyboard â a smartphone case that included a physical keyboard. It can make the phone feel top-heavy and difficult to hold in portrait mode, especially if youâre using a larger smartphone as I did in tests with the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Pixel 10 XL. Still, the device itself is crafted with care, and could appeal to those who still desperately long for their BlackBerry. Image Credits:Clicks Technology Unboxing the device, we noticed the Power Keyboard was nicely packaged as a premium device would be, with peel-away cling films to prevent scratches during shipping and a full-color Quick Start guide to using the product. You may first need to charge the deviceâs battery via USB-C, though we found ours shipped with a charge already. To pair the device with your phone over Bluetooth, press and hold the power button and slide out the keyboard. We quickly paired the device with our Android phone. We ran into trouble once we switched over to the iPhone.
Even after âforgettingâ the device on Android, it still refused to pair with our iPhone. Returning to the instructions, it appears this was our mistake. The trick is to press a number key alongside the power button on the keyboard to add a second Bluetooth device. (The only way to actually âforgetâ a device is by removing it from its slot using the Clicks mobile app.) The keyboard attaches to your phone via MagSafe or Qi2. If your phone doesnât support either technology, you could opt to use an adhesive ring or a phone case that adds the magnetic power profile instead. Image Credits:Clicks Technology Once connected, you can then pull the keyboard out when you need to type. Helpfully, the keyboard adjusts to different phone sizes, so it will work with standard models as well as larger âUltraâ or âPro Maxâ devices. We appreciated the satisfying clicks as the keyboard locked into place on the various sliders. The keyboard offers an adjustable LED backlight, so you can type in the dark. The keys themselves have a nice, clicky feel and are well-placed, making them easy to reach. While it takes quite a bit of adjustment after years of on-screen keyboards to return to pressing buttons, the learning curve is less steep than it was on the earlier Clicks keyboard case. Itâs clear that the company has been iterating on what it learned with its older device, and those lessons have been channeled into this product. In addition, while Clicksâ older keyboard case pulled power from the phone by way of its USB-C connection, the Power Keyboard instead includes a built-in 2,150 mAh battery. Image Credits:Clicks Technology The product itself has a slimmer profile than some snap-on battery packs, at 119.7 Ă 76.6 Ă 15.2mm, and doesnât add an unreasonable amount of weight at 180 grams. Nevertheless, this is not something that would fit well in a womanâs pants pocket. The keyboard could get caught on a back pocket as well, as it could slide open if you press against the device while trying to cram the phone and keyboard into your pocket too quickly.
