Clicks Technology is giving the world a closer look at its upcoming Communicator phone. The startup released a new hands-on video today showing off pre-production hardware and software for a device that looks and feels a lot like what a modern BlackBerry might be.
According to TechCrunch, the Communicator was first shown at CES in January and is aimed at people who spend a lot of time texting and emailing on their phones. It is priced at $499 and expected to ship in the fourth quarter of this year.
The phone combines a screen for reading and replying to messages with a tactile, touch-sensitive keyboard below, which is clearly meant to bring back the typing experience that made BlackBerry phones popular with business users before touchscreens took over.
Physical keyboards have had a quiet but persistent fanbase for years. Many people who type long emails or messages on their phones still argue that tactile keys are faster and less error-prone than glass. Clicks is betting that crowd is large enough to support a dedicated device, and the Communicator is built around that idea from the ground up.
The phone goes further than just being a BlackBerry copy, though. It has a few features that make it stand out on its own:
- Signal Light: A customizable light-up button on the side of the phone that can be set to different colors and patterns depending on who is messaging you or which app sent a notification
- Swappable back covers: The rear panel can be removed and replaced with different options
- 3.5 mm headphone jack: A physical audio port that most modern phones have dropped
- Physical SIM tray plus eSIM support: Both options are available
- MicroSD card slot: Expandable storage up to 2TB
- Airplane mode switch: A physical toggle to cut connectivity without going through software menus
The Signal Light feature is worth paying attention to. It gives users a way to filter out noise without checking the screen constantly. If the light does not blink in a color tied to someone important, you can leave the phone alone. That is a meaningful difference from most Android phones, where every notification competes equally for your attention.
That kind of intentional design connects to something bigger happening in tech right now. A growing number of people are actively trying to use their phones less, or at least more deliberately. Devices designed around that idea, rather than around maximizing time spent on apps, are starting to attract real interest. The Communicator fits into that trend. Clicks also partnered with the Niagara Launcher to manage access to Android apps on the device, which should help keep the experience focused.
TechCrunch got to handle a prototype at CES that matched the size and weight of the final production unit. The report described it as comfortable to hold and easy to grip, with keys that had a satisfying, clicky feel. At the time, the team was still planning minor adjustments to key pressure to better suit fast typists.
The new video covers the overall hardware and software experience. Clicks says future videos will go deeper into specific features, including the Signal Light, the Prompt Key, Message Hub, and the touch-sensitive keyboard. If the company keeps releasing detailed previews before shipping, buyers should have a clear picture of what they are getting before they commit.