Practical with a prototype of Clicks’ Communicator, a new BlackBerry type smartphone

The BlackBerry is back – sort of – thanks to the mobile keyboard maker’s latest product, Click technologywhich last week it announced its first phonethe $499 Communicator, which has a physical keyboard. The company also offers a separate slide-out physical keyboard for $79 that fits any device.

At CES, TechCrunch spoke with Jeff Gadway, CMO and co-founder of Clicks, and tested the latest hand-built prototype of the upcoming smartphone.

The device, which offers a BlackBerry-like keyboard and a messaging-focused touchscreen, runs Android 16 under the hood. This means that the Communicator can run any Android app, but it has partnered with the minimalist Niagara Launcher to display your favorite apps on the home screen. Other apps are easily accessible via a drop-down list.

Reception of the new devices has been better than expected, Gadway told TechCrunch. Although he declined to share sales figures, he said that over the past week the company has made a sale every 6.5 seconds between the two devices.

Although the prototype we tried is not a working phone, it is the same size and weight as the device that is preparing to ship later this year, giving a first idea of ​​what using the Communicator would be like.

The interchangeable back covers can be removed so you can change the phone’s design whenever inspiration strikes. Although not present on the prototype, the cover will have a small notch at the top and then a small fingerpick at the bottom.

Under the back is where your nano-SIM card will go. Onboard storage tops out at 256GB, with microSD storage expandable for up to 2 terabytes of data. The device will also feature a 4,000mAh silicon-carbon battery and currently weighs around 170 grams (or 6 oz).

In our hands-on test, the phone felt good to hold. The device is neither too heavy nor too light and easy to grip.

The final shape was chosen after dozens of 3D printed shapes, Gadway notes. The phone’s winning design includes a contoured back that makes it easy to grip and hold.

The device’s screen is also somewhat raised from the body and the device’s chin is curved upward, which creates a recessed area to protect the keys when you place it face down. (You’ll want to place the phone face down if you’re trying to avoid distractions!)

This is also where the device’s illuminated side button can help. Called “Beacon Light,” the button can be set to glow with different colors or patterns when you have received messages from certain people, groups, or apps. This way you can be sure to respond if it’s your boss or your kids contacting you, but you can ignore it when it’s a less important notification.

The tactile and physical keys are nice, although the prototype version may actually be a little less “clicky” than the final product. (There’s some debate about whether keys should have 110 grams of pressure or more, like 120 or 130 grams, and so far the feedback is that the latter numbers are the winner.)

With less pressure, the keys feel smoother, which might be more accessible to those who have never used a BlackBerry before. But people who type quickly tend to prefer clickier keys because there’s more feedback.

“This is the thing that Michael Fisher, myself and Kevin Michaluk fight about all the time,” Gadway said, referring to his co-founders. “We are fighting for grams.”

The keys and screen are also at the same vertical height, allowing you to easily switch from keyboard to touchscreen.

The phone’s fixed-focus punch-hole front camera can capture 24-megapixel images. The rear camera, featuring optical image stabilization and electronic image stabilization for video, can capture 50-megapixel images.

The phone will also feature a 4-nanometer MediaTek processor, 5G IoT, with 8GB of RAM.

The Communicator’s display will be a 4.03-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 1200. Wired charging can reach up to 18 watts and wireless charging up to 15 watts. The device is also Qi-enabled and Android Strongbox compatible, which will appeal to security-conscious customers.

The phone also has other standard features, such as GPS, NFC, and will offer five years of security updates and Android updates through Android 20.

The device is expected to ship in the second half of 2026.