The company’s accessory Clicks Technology proposes a return to the times of the physical keyboard on iPhones.
Photo: Michael Fisher
In the fast-paced world of mobile technology, innovation is not only about advances in hardware and software, but also about how these devices adapt to the changing needs and preferences of users.
An example is BlackBerry, the cell phone company that marked an era in the history of mobile telephony, being a pioneer in the integration of email and establishing a standard for business devices. However, the arrival of the iPhone and touch screen devices destabilized its position in the market, which led it to decide in 2016 to raise the white flag and abandon the race in the world of cell phones.
Despite this, the BlackBerry physical keyboard and its legacy endure as a reminder of technological evolution and the importance of adapting to change.
However, nostalgia combines a series of emotional and commercial factors that turn past fashions into current trends. Clicks Technology, the startup founded by Kevin Michaluk, known online as CrackBerry Kevin, and his co-founder Michael Fisher, alias MrMobile, has one purpose and that is to get iPhone users to use a physical keyboard on their cell phones again.
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The two content creators and a group of workers with experience at Google, Apple and BlackBerry, developed a new case that aims to offer a physical keyboard for the iPhone. It was presented for CES 2024 in January 2024 and can now be purchased through its website.
Features of the Clicks case
To insert the iPhone into the case, the user must pull down on the top of the case and slide the iPhone into the USB-C or Lightning port, depending on the model purchased. This process connects the keyboard to the iPhone, meaning it does not require Bluetooth or a battery to operate as it is powered directly by the iPhone’s power.
One of the most particular and noticeable aspects is the change in size. The iPhone, especially the Max models, are large cell phone styles and the case makes the device look taller. Fisher, one of the founders of the venture, indicated through his YouTube channel that he is aware of the measurements that the cell phone reaches with the case; However, he insisted that it is worth it to enjoy a physical keyboard.
Around the case, there are bumpers for the volume and side buttons, a cutout for the Action button and mute switch, and a charging port Passthrough so you don’t have to remove the case to recharge the iPhone.
Technology journalists, such as Sarah Perez of TechCrunch and Max Buondonno of CNN, had the opportunity to test this new tool. They both agree that although the keyboard is comfortable and sized for good interaction, they had difficulty using it at first. After a few days of use, they said they began to type more easily.
On its help pages, the company suggests a proper holding technique to make the Clicks more stable. He advises holding the phone with your pinky fingers on the bottom edge and your middle and ring fingers on the back. The index fingers, for their part, can rest on the back or sides of the case.
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Like computer or iPad keyboards, Clicks offers shortcuts for users. Some examples are CMD and H to go to the cell phone home, CMD and Space to open the Search engine or CMD and T to open a new tab in Safari. The entire list of shortcuts is on the company’s website.
iPhone Physical Keyboard Reviews
Sarah Perez of TechCrunch concluded that the clicks case should be seen as a whimsical accessory and not in a practical or useful sense “It is not a product that you buy for its functionality.” For his part, CNN’s Max Buondonno indicated that it could be useful for those who have a daily routine with physical keyboards on other computers.
The truth is that both agree that the great attraction is the experience of going back in time and writing on a physical keyboard, in the style in which the BlackBerry was all the rage.
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The Clicks costs for iPhone are USD $159 for the 15 and 14 Max models, and for the other designs of those two generations they have a value of USD $139.
At the moment they are only available for iPhone generations 14 and 15. However, the company states that models for Android and other generations of Apple are in the works.
Clicks: A Real Keyboard For The iPhone!
