Sleek desk holds two phones with a retro smartphone screen showing BlackBerry Communicator and a charged phone off‑screen.

Clicks Unveils Retro-Styled Communicator to Cut Smartphone Distractions

At a Glance

  • Retro-styled Communicator pairs with your smartphone to cut distractions.
  • Priced at $499, it runs Android 16 and features a 50-MP camera.
  • CES 2026 will showcase the device, with preorders starting at $199.

This new gadget from Clicks Technology looks like a vintage BlackBerry and is built to work alongside your existing phone, aiming to reduce digital distractions.

A Device That Works With Your Phone

The Communicator connects to your primary phone so you can receive emails and texts, but you still need a separate smartphone for full functionality. It runs Android 16, weighs 170 g, and measures 131.5 mm tall. The design includes a touch-sensitive keyboard that lets you scroll through messages without using the screen and supports voice recordings.

Jeff Gadway stated:

> “It’s a complementary product that stands on its own, optimized for a specific purpose, just like a Kindle to an iPad.”

  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
  • Airplane-mode switch
  • Expandable microSD and a physical SIM tray plus eSIM
  • 50-MP main camera, 24-MP front camera

Power Keyboard and Other Accessories

Person holding a BlackBerry Communicator with a phone attached via wireless charging dock and fingers scrolling messages

Clicks also unveiled the Power Keyboard, a magnetic attachment that looks like the bottom half of a BlackBerry. It slides to fit phones of different sizes and can hold a phone in either vertical or horizontal orientation. The keyboard can pair with tablets, smart TVs, and AR/VR environments and is available for preorder at $79, expected in the spring.

Kevin Michaluk said:

> “Power Keyboard brings a consistent, confident typing experience to all your smart devices, in a compact keyboard you can take anywhere in your pocket.”

Metric Value
Price $499
Camera 50 MP main / 24 MP front
OS Android 16
Weight 170 g
Height 131.5 mm

Key Takeaways

  • The Communicator is a retro-styled, distraction-free companion that links to your phone.
  • It comes with a touch-sensitive keyboard, headphone jack, and dual-camera setup.
  • Preorders start at $199; the Power Keyboard is available for $79.

The device will debut at CES 2026, giving consumers a chance to see how a classic design can help focus in a smartphone-heavy world.

Author

  • Natalie A. Brooks covers housing, development, and neighborhood change for News of Fort Worth, reporting from planning meetings to living rooms across the city. A former urban planning student, she’s known for deeply reported stories on displacement, zoning, and how growth reshapes Fort Worth communities.

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