Clicks Technology has announced the Communicator, a companion device designed to reduce smartphone distractions by focusing on communication. The retro-styled gadget, reminiscent of BlackBerry phones, will debut at CES 2026 alongside a new attachable Power Keyboard. Priced at $499, it pairs with users' existing phones for emails and texts.
Clicks Technology, drawing inspiration from the iconic BlackBerry phones of the early 2010s, introduced the Clicks Communicator on Friday as a secondary device aimed at curbing 'doomscrolling' and promoting focused communication. With the tagline 'doing, not doomscrolling,' the Communicator is not a standalone smartphone but a companion that links to a user's primary iPhone or Android device via Bluetooth, allowing access to emails and texts without the full distractions of a large screen.
Jeff Gadway, the company's chief marketing officer, likened it to a Kindle complementing an iPad: "It's a complementary product that stands on its own, optimized for a specific purpose." The device runs Android 16 and features a touch-sensitive tactile keyboard for scrolling messages without touching the screen, voice recording capabilities, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an airplane mode switch, expandable microSD storage, and compatibility with physical SIM or eSIM. It includes a 50-megapixel main camera and 24-megapixel front camera, despite the minimalist ethos, along with NFC for Google Pay, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 4,000 mAh battery supporting USB-C or wireless charging. Measuring 131.5mm tall and weighing 170 grams, it has a 4-inch OLED display, a fingerprint sensor in the spacebar, and a customizable Signal LED for notifications.
Available in three muted colors like onyx with swappable backs, the Communicator starts at an early bird price of $299 after a $199 reservation deposit, rising to $499 at launch later this year. Reservations opened immediately, though one report notes a $399 preorder increasing to $499 on February 27.
Complementing the Communicator, Clicks also revealed the Power Keyboard, a portable QWERTY accessory that attaches to smartphones via MagSafe or Qi2, with a slider for different sizes and support for vertical or horizontal orientations. It includes directional keys, a number row, and a 2,150 mAh battery for charging the phone. Compatible with iOS, Android, tablets, smart TVs, and VR/AR setups, it preorders for $79 to $80 (retailing at $110) and launches in spring. Kevin Michaluk, Clicks president, stated: "Power Keyboard brings a consistent, confident typing experience to all your smart devices, in a compact keyboard you can take anywhere in your pocket."
Both products tap into the growing trend of minimalist 'dumb' phones amid concerns over technology overload, though carrying two devices may require dual plans, posing practicality questions. They will be showcased at CES 2026 in Las Vegas next week.
