The Clicks Communicator — a BlackBerry-style Android phone with a real physical keyboard — has finally been shown running in a new video, and it looks like the genuine article. Announced in January and priced at $500, the Communicator is the phone many keyboard fans have been waiting for, and this is the first time the company has demonstrated a working unit rather than a static prototype.

What the new video shows

The nearly six-and-a-half-minute clip opens with a close-up of someone thumb-typing “hello, world” on the Communicator’s physical keyboard — double-thumb typing on a modern smartphone, a sight that feels pulled from an earlier era. Clicks co-founder and chief marketing officer Jeff Gadway walks through the phone’s software, home screen, and several features, showing texting and messaging in WhatsApp, navigating apps, opening Spotify, and even taking a speakerphone call to demonstrate the audio.

Notably, the device runs the Niagara launcher, whose app ribbon looks slick on the tall display. Until now, the public had only seen a non-working hardware prototype and the software running on the cover screen of a Motorola Razr housed in a Clicks Keyboard case. Seeing a real preproduction unit in action is a meaningful step. Readers who follow new smartphone launches have reason to take this one seriously.

Design and features

The Communicator is built around one idea: making messaging and typing better than anything a slab touchscreen offers. It revives several old-school Android touches with a 2026 spin:

  • A physical QWERTY keyboard reminiscent of BlackBerry and Palm Treo devices
  • A modern take on the classic notification light
  • A swappable back plate that supports Qi2 wireless charging and magnetic accessories
  • Android 16 out of the box

Crucially, this isn’t a retrofitted old handset. The Communicator is a new phone designed by a former Research in Motion designer who worked on BlackBerry devices, blending that keyboard heritage with contemporary hardware. It arrives amid a wider revival of physical-keyboard phones, alongside devices like the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite and retrofitted BlackBerry Classics.

Price, release date, and how to reserve

The Communicator will cost $500 and is expected to ship in Q4 2026. Buyers can reserve one now on the Clicks website for $199. That positions it as a thoughtfully designed mid-priced alternative for people who want a distraction-reducing, typing-first phone — a pitch Clicks explicitly contrasts with another “new” $500 Android phone that comes only in gold. Gadway has promised more deep-dive videos on features like the signal light and prompt key in the weeks ahead. If you keep tabs on unusual phones and keyboard devices, this is one of the most anticipated of the year.

Why it matters

Physical keyboards nearly vanished from smartphones a decade ago, and their return speaks to a growing appetite for devices that prioritize deliberate communication over endless scrolling. Clicks has framed the Communicator as a deliberate antidote to the constant attention modern smartphones demand — a phone built around focused messaging rather than feeds. A brand-new handset designed by someone who actually built BlackBerry phones, rather than a modified relic, gives the trend real credibility. The company’s prior product, keyboard cases that attach to existing phones, also gives it a track record with the exact hardware challenge at the heart of this device.

Whether the Communicator can deliver on its ambitions will come down to keyboard feel, software polish, and shipping on time. The Niagara launcher shown in the demo suggests a clean, text-forward interface that suits the hardware, and Gadway’s promise of more feature videos indicates Clicks is confident enough to keep showing off the device ahead of launch. For now, the working demo is an encouraging sign that the Communicator is more than a nostalgia pitch.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Clicks Communicator cost?

$500 at retail, with reservations open now for $199 on the Clicks website.

When will the Clicks Communicator ship?

It’s expected to ship in Q4 2026.

Does the Clicks Communicator have a physical keyboard?

Yes. It features a physical QWERTY keyboard designed by a former BlackBerry designer, along with Android 16, a notification light, and a swappable Qi2-compatible back plate.