A phone that costs about 499 USD but has a screen of only 4.03 inches and spends nearly half of the front for a physical keyboard, is it a valuable return of the BlackBerry spirit, or just a niche product for nostalgic people?
The phone model appearing in the picture is Clicks Communicator, the first smartphone from Clicks Technology, a brand known for its physical keyboard accessories for smartphones. The device was announced by Clicks in early January 2026 before CES 2026 and is positioned differently from the current trend of large-screen smartphones. Instead of maximizing display area, Communicator puts the physical QWERTY keyboard right back on the front and focuses on texting, email, work and communication activities.
It is worth noting that Clicks Communicator is not a basic phone or a device used only for texting. According to current information on Clicks Technology's official page, this is still a standalone Android smartphone, supporting Android applications, Wi-Fi and 5G mobile networks. Clicks says the device can be used as a primary phone, although the product philosophy is also aimed at those who want to use it in tandem with an iPhone, Galaxy or Pixel to reduce dependence on large-screen smartphones.
Category Clicks Communicator
4.03 inch AMOLED screen
Resolution1080×1200 pixels
MediaTek Dimensity 8300 processor, 4 nm platform
Internal memory 256 GB
MicroSD memory card up to 2 TB
Rear camera 50 MP, autofocus, OIS
24 MP front camera
Battery according to current specifications 4,450 mAh silicon-carbon
5G, 4G LTE, 3G and 2G networks
nano-SIM and eSIM
Audio Jack 3.5mm
Dimensions 130.5 × 78.63 × 12 mm
Weight 170 g
The parameters in the table are based on the current official product page of Clicks. Notably, the Communicator configuration changed during development. Some articles and documents in early 2026 mentioned a battery of around 4,000 mAh, while the official page currently lists 4,450 mAh. So the manufacturer's latest specs should be given priority over specs from CES prototypes.
The heart that makes the difference is still the physical keyboard. The keys are arranged in multiple rows below the screen, bringing the familiar two-thumb typing experience on BlackBerry back to a modern Android smartphone. This design trades screen real estate for tactile feedback and text input capabilities that groups of people who regularly handle email, messages, and work might appreciate.
Communicator also retains a series of rare features on modern smartphones such as microSD slot, 3.5 mm headphone jack and changeable back cover. The keyboard is backlit, while the device supports NFC, GPS and global 5G bands. This is a blend of BlackBerry-era smartphone design with the connectivity requirements of 2026.
The software is also designed according to the philosophy of distance reductionneglect. The prototypes introduced at CES 2026 use Android 16 combined with Niagara Launcher, bringing important apps and communications to an easy-to-reach location instead of turning the home screen into a place full of icons. TechCrunch confirms the prototype can run regular Android apps, so this isn't a closed OS just for messaging.
One detail that needs clarification is the Android version. The Clicks page currently has a specs section showing Android 17, while the company's FAQ still says the Communicator will launch with Android 16 and be supported at least up to Android 20. Because the official source currently has information that is not completely consistent, it cannot be confirmed that the final commercial device will definitely ship with Android 17. Clicks commits to a minimum of 4 years of Android version updates and 5 years of security updates.
The initially announced list price was 499 USD. Some pre-order programs have brought the price down to $399. Conversion for reference is about 26,000 VND per USD, these two levels correspond to about 13 million VND and 10.4 million VND, not including taxes, shipping or other costs incurred in each market.
The most controversial point also lies at this price. With about 13 million VND, regular smartphone buyers can prioritize larger screens, more versatile cameras and configurations focused on entertainment. Clicks sells a completely different experience. Buyers must accept a screen of only 4.03 inches and a body 12 mm thick to have a physical QWERTY keyboard and microphone.SD, 3.5 mm jack and communication-oriented usage.
Therefore, the comment in the photo that this is a niche product is somewhat consistent with the way Clicks positions the Communicator, but calling the product a sales failure currently has no basis for verification from official sales data. Clicks has not released enough data to conclude whether the Communicator sold poorly or became a commercial failure.
Communicator therefore does not really try to compete directly with the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel in terms of screen, camera and performance. It bets on another question of the smartphone market in 2026, whether there are still enough people willing to sacrifice a large screen to regain the feeling of physical typing and a device more focused on communication. #Clicks #ClicksCommunicator #ClicksTechnology #QWERTY #BlackBerry #Android16 #Android17 #Smartphone #DienThoaiBanPhim #5G #AMOLED #CongNghe2026
