Clicks Dives Into Smartphones With a Purpose-Built Communicator for Digital Minimalists
It sounds wild, but Clicks — the company better known for its physical keyboard accessories — is launching its first smartphone at CES 2026. Rather than chasing specs wars, flashy cameras, or social media addiction, Clicks is going after a very specific crowd: people who just want to communicate without getting pulled into endless feeds and content consumption.
The new device is called the Clicks Communicator, and it looks like a modern take on the classic BlackBerry-style messaging phone. It packs a tactile physical keyboard, a 4-inch OLED display, expandable storage, a headphone jack, and runs Android 16 with support for 5G and essential apps. A built-in Signal LED lets you track important messages without doomscrolling through distracting notifications.
The idea is simple but intriguing: instead of wasting hours on social media and notifications, you use this phone as a communication-first device — for messaging, calls, paying with Google Pay, and staying focused. Clicks positions it as an ideal secondary phone for people tired of modern smartphone overload, or even as a primary device for those who want fewer distractions. Also, the UI reminds me a lot on Nokia’s great Z Launcher from 2014. Ah, that N for nostalgia.
Clicks Communicator – detailed specs
- Display: 4.03-inch AMOLED touchscreen with 1080 × 1200 resolution.
- Keyboard: Built-in physical QWERTY keyboard, also touch-sensitive for scrolling and navigation.
- Battery: 4,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery with USB-C and Qi2 wireless charging support.
- Cameras: 50 MP rear camera with OIS and a 24 MP front camera.
- Storage: 256 GB internal storage with microSD expansion up to 2 TB.
- Software: Android 16 out of the box with a promised five years of security updates.
- Connectivity: 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, nano-SIM and eSIM support.
- Audio: 3.5 mm headphone jack.
- Security: Fingerprint sensor integrated into the spacebar.
- Extras: Customizable Signal LED for priority notifications.
- Dimensions and weight: Approx. 130.5 × 78.6 × 12 mm, around 170 g.
Alongside the Communicator, Clicks is also expanding its keyboard ecosystem with the Clicks Power Keyboard — a magnetic, slide-out QWERTY keyboard with an integrated power bank that works with phones, tablets, TVs, and other devices.
Clicks Communicator is expected to retail at $499, with early-bird reservations around $399 if you preorder with a deposit — some offers start as low as $199 to lock in the discounted price before late February. The Clicks Power Keyboard accessory will start at about $79 during early-bird preorders and go up to $109 at full price.
This positions the Communicator as a premium niche device focused on communication and focus rather than specs-first competition, with pricing reflecting its unique positioning. (Sources: AppleInsider, Digital Trends)
In a world where flagship phones keep getting bigger and more immersive — often at the expense of our attention — Clicks is betting there’s a growing audience for purpose-built simplicity. This isn’t about high refresh rates or AI cameras; it’s about reclaiming focus and communication as the core of a phone. And for some, that’s exactly the kind of device they’ve been waiting for.
