If you will have fond reminiscences of clicking away on the BlackBerry, the Palm Treo, the T-Mobile Sidekick or comparable handhelds from again within the day, I’ve excellent news for you: Phones with keyboards are making a comeback. Sort of.
There’s a rising variety of firms seeking to carry again clicky, tactile buttons, whether or not for that nostalgic enchantment or to reinvent cellphone keyboards as an addition to your iPhone or Android device. Some of those have even simply introduced their plans at CES 2026 or might be bringing these button-filled telephones to this 12 months’s Mobile World Congress.
From keyboard instances to modern-day BlackBerry clones, this is what we all know in regards to the potential QWERTY renaissance.
The BlackBerry Classic, as seen right here, is certainly one of a variety of telephones having an surprising revival. An organization known as Zinwa is swapping out the cellphone’s internals with up to date {hardware}, after which promoting it.
Why are keyboards on telephones making a comeback?
It’s troublesome to evaluate the precise turning level for when bodily cellphone keyboards made a comeback, however we’ve a couple of guesses. Perhaps the most important cause that is occurring is that individuals rely on their telephones as their major laptop. As such, they’re in all probability typing lengthy emails or enhancing documentation with simply their cellphone’s contact keyboard.
While that is completely wonderful for most individuals, some yearn for the consolation and tactile really feel of bodily keys. And maybe getting bored with bad autocorrect errors when typing too shortly.
Another potential case for telephones with keyboards is just the need for selection. Some individuals may really feel a basic fatigue over the acquainted feel and appear of modern smartphones. Having a handset that capabilities in another way — see the recognition of current flip and folding telephones — is a welcome change.
Plus, telephones with keyboards enchantment not simply to the older technology who miss them, but in addition to the youthful technology who’re more and more into retro tech.
The Clicks case, as seen right here throughout CES 2024, helps you to add a keyboard onto your current cellphone.
Can I get a BlackBerry in 2026?
Not actually. If you need to get a new BlackBerry proper out of the manufacturing unit, you are out of luck, as the corporate discontinued {hardware} manufacturing in 2020 and additional discontinued its software program providers in 2022.
You may attempt to get a BlackBerry on the secondary market (just like the TCL-made KeyOne or Key2), however the Android model is outdated and will not be as useful as different smartphones. Wirecutter’s Brenda Stolyar not too long ago tried to revive a Blackberry Classic Q20 from 2015 and found that, whereas it might probably nonetheless run fashionable apps, it takes a lot of persistence to sideload them onto the machine.
Zinwa is one firm that is shopping for up previous inventory of BlackBerry {hardware}, changing the internals with new elements, putting in Android after which reselling them. Its first “product” is the Zinwa Q25, which is basically a retrofitted BlackBerry Classic. You can purchase the completed product for $400 or get a conversion equipment for $300.
What keyboard telephones and equipment are presently obtainable?
There are a number of choices for keyboard telephones on the market.
Clicks keyboard case
The best option to get a cellphone with a keyboard is to show your current cellphone into one. That’s the promise of the Clicks keyboard case, which provides a bodily keyboard to most fashionable smartphones. It made a massive splash at CES 2024 and has continued to broaden its lineup (we’ll get to that shortly). Simply pop your cellphone contained in the case, and voila, you may have a cellphone with a keyboard.
In our hands-on, we preferred the additional display screen actual property, how shortly the keyboard interface labored, the preprogrammed keyboard shortcuts and the tactile keys. That mentioned, the keyboard does really feel a bit crowded, and it is unclear if it is that rather more snug than the default contact keyboard. Currently, the Clicks keyboard case works with the iPhone 14 and newer, the Razr 2024 and newer and the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. Its value begins at $139.
There are additionally plans to launch a Clicks Power Keyboard, that attaches to your cellphone through MagSafe or Qi2 magnetic connection. The Power Keyboard has a slider that accommodates telephones of various sizes, plus it may be paired with a pill, a good TV or something that makes use of Bluetooth. This makes the Power Keyboard way more versatile than the Clicks case, because it would not should be made for a explicit machine.
The preorder value is $79, although that might go up sooner or later.
This is a non-working prototype of the Clicks Communicator cellphone.
Clicks Communicator
If you’re feeling able to get a devoted keyboard-equipped cellphone, Clicks additionally not too long ago introduced the Clicks Communicator, an Android smartphone centered across the keyboard expertise. It is designed by a former BlackBerry designer to indicate what a new BlackBerry cellphone could be like for 2026. It has a slimmed-down interface that prioritizes messaging apps, a text-based residence display screen and naturally, a tactile and clicky keyboard.
As it is not as full-featured as different fashionable smartphones, Clicks is positioning the Communicator as a secondary productivity-focused machine, which is perhaps a good factor in the event you’re making an attempt to restrict your social media display screen time.
It’ll be obtainable later this 12 months for $499, however you possibly can preorder it now for $399.
Unihertz Titan
Unihertz is a Chinese firm that is been making keyboard telephones for a few years now. They’re all a part of the Titan sequence and run Android. The present lineup consists of the Titan, Titan Pocket, Titan Slim and Titan 2. Plus, an upcoming Titan 2 Elite has been teased for Mobile World Congress. It appears to be like like a curvier addition to the lineup, in contrast with the opposite passport-shaped fashions.
These telephones look a lot like BlackBerrys of yore, and the Titan 2 particularly appears to bear a passing resemblance to the BlackBerry Passport.
Prices begin round $300.
The Ikko Mind One has an non-compulsory keyboard case that provides it a BlackBerry-like look.
Ikko Mind One
The Ikko Mind One is a distinctive “card-sized” Android cellphone that comes with an modern Sony 50-megapixel flip-up digital camera and, certainly, an non-compulsory keyboard case. It additionally ships with an “Ikko AI OS,” although it is unclear how that works simply but. It appears to be like totally cute, however we’ve not heard sufficient about it but.
The Pro model sells for $429.
The Minimal Phone.
Minimal Phone
If you mixed a Kindle with a BlackBerry, you might need the Minimal Phone. As the title suggests, the Minimal Phone is designed to be a super-simple distraction-free various to the fashionable smartphone. It has a generic e-paper show, a simple consumer interface, a QWERTY keyboard and the Android working system.
The value begins at $449. You can try PCMag’s review of the Minimal Phone here.
Which bodily cellphone keyboard ought to I get?
For now, the best option to get a bodily keyboard on your cellphone is probably going one of many Clicks equipment, because the keyboard case and energy keyboard will not require a full cellphone buy.
For most of those different units, you are coming into a area of interest cellphone class, so assist might be everywhere. You’ll need to examine what number of years of software program and safety updates these different telephones are anticipated to obtain. That method, you possibly can have an concept about what number of years of use you possibly can safely get with these telephones.
You’ll additionally need to take into account the way you need to use the machine. If you are in search of one thing that is a step again from a extra highly effective but continuously pinging machine, the Clicks Communicator or the Minimal Phone may make a good secondary cellphone. The Unihertz Titan line and the Ikko Mind One could also be a nearer mimic of that BlackBerry expertise.
