Clicks Showed in Video Communicator Smartphone with BlackBerry-Style Keyboard for 499 dollars

Clicks Technology published a video on June 30, 2026, demonstrating a pre-production Communicator smartphone — a device with a physical keyboard priced at $499, described as the closest analog to a new BlackBerry in recent years.

What was shown in the video

The video demonstrated pre-production hardware and internal software of the Communicator — a version of the device not yet ready for mass production, but already functional.

• Video published on June 30, 2026
• Device price — $499
• Smartphone equipped with a physical keyboard
• Communicator first presented at CES in January 2026
• Shipments scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026

Why it's compared to BlackBerry

Physical keyboards have nearly disappeared from smartphones after the market shifted to touch-only screens, and BlackBerry itself discontinued phone production. Clicks Technology builds its product precisely in this niche: a QWERTY-keyboard device, described in the material as the closest to a new BlackBerry device to emerge in recent years.

The fact that the company shows pre-production hardware and software several months before scheduled shipments in the fourth quarter is standard practice for niche devices: this allows the manufacturer to gather feedback and build anticipation among the audience eager for keyboard phones before sales begin.

What this means

The Communicator is a bet on a narrow but loyal audience waiting for physical keyboard phones to return: the device's success will depend not on competition with Apple and Samsung flagships, but on whether enough customers are willing to pay $499 for this niche form factor.

Frequently asked questions

How much will the Communicator smartphone cost?

$499 — the price Clicks Technology announced for a device with a physical keyboard.

When will the Communicator go on sale?

The device was first shown at CES in January 2026, with shipments scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.