The Communicator brings physical keyboards back to Android

Mobile keyboard maker Clicks Technology has announced its debut phone, the Communicator, which features a physical keyboard. Priced at $499, the device represents an effort to bring tactile typing back to modern smartphones. Alongside the phone, the company is also offering a separate slide-out physical keyboard for $79 that fits on other devices. According to Clicks Technology co-founder and CMO Jeff Gadway, reception has been strong, with the company making a sale between both devices every 6.5 seconds over the past week.

The Communicator runs Android 16 and can run any Android app, utilizing Niagara Launcher, a minimalist Android homescreen software, to display applications. The device’s technical specifications include:

• Processor: A 4-nanometer 5G IoT processor from MediaTek, a chipset manufacturer.
• Memory and storage: 8 gigabytes of RAM, 256 gigabytes of onboard storage, and expandable microSD storage of up to 2 terabytes.
• Display: A 4.03-inch AMOLED screen with a 1,080 x 1,200 resolution.
• Cameras: A 24-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel rear camera.
• Battery and charging: A 4000mAh silicon-carbon battery supporting wired charging of up to 18 watts and wireless charging of up to 15 watts.
• Weight: Around 170 grams (or 6 oz).
• Security and software: Android Strongbox-ready, a security feature for Android devices, with five years of security updates.

The physical design of the Communicator features a contoured back and an elevated screen. It also includes a configurable light-up side button called the “Signal Light,” which can glow with different colors or patterns for specific notifications. The tactile keys on the prototype may be less “clicky” than those on the final product, as the company’s co-founders debate the ideal key pressure. The team is currently deciding between 110 grams, 120, or 130 grams of pressure. “This is the stuff that Michael Fisher and myself and Kevin Michaluk fight over all the time. We’re fighting over grams,” said Gadway, the company’s CMO and co-founder.

The device is expected to ship in the second half of 2026. By combining physical keys with modern software, Clicks Technology is positioning the Communicator to appeal to users who miss physical keyboards but require modern app compatibility.

Why it matters

Clicks Technology is attempting to revive the physical keyboard smartphone form factor, targeting a niche market with a device that runs modern Android software.