There was a time when keyboards were the norm in the world of smartphones. Long before the arrival of the iPhone, which dictated new rules in terms of interface, and a few years after Apple’s foray, big players like Palm and BlackBerry managed to survive.
But unfortunately, after several failed attempts, the Canadian company fell into the hands of the Chinese TCL, then OnwardMobility threw in the towel definitively, leaving millions of fans of its famous physical keyboard orphaned.
However, this absence seems to be filling little by little. Not officially, obviously, but among prop manufacturers and unexpected projects, we can find Clicks Technology.
A physical keyboard for iPhone
The startup co-founded by tech YouTubers Michael Fisher and Kevin Michaluk recently offered Clicks, a keyboard that fits like a case on an iPhone, adding a full physical keyboard to the bottom. The “Founder” version, which is used to support the company, is now available for the iPhone 14 Pro, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, but for now only in QWERTY. Count between $139 and $159 to treat yourself to this obviously essential item, which will ship during the month of February in two colors: Bumblebee (bright yellow) and London Sky (gray).
Additional compatible colors and models may be released in the coming months.
An accessory that starts from a simple observation
To use Clicks, simply plug your iPhone into this case’s USB-C or Lightning port, then select the corresponding keyboard in the iOS settings. From there, you can freely use this accessory as you see fit.
The company praises the ease of use of the product, which does not prevent charging the phone, either wirelessly or thanks to the USB-C/Lightning port present at the bottom of the keyboard. Additionally, it is possible to use shortcuts to return home or use search.
If the concept can make you smile, we must admit that it has something to seduce. Especially since it starts from a remarkable observation: “We use keyboards on our computers and tablets every day, so it is quite strange that we have abandoned the physical buttons on our smartphones,” explains Michael Fisher. I’m probably not wrong.
Source: BFM TV
