Summary

Clicks says its keyboard-focused Communicator smartphone is on track to begin shipping in December. The device combines a physical keyboard with Android 17, 5G connectivity and a 4.03-inch AMOLED display.

Clicks says its Communicator smartphone is on track to begin shipping in December. The device is designed around a physical keyboard and messaging tools, but it is also a standalone Android phone with 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi and access to Android applications.

The company is taking pre-orders and lists a $499 USD offer against a stated $649 price. The offer is described as ending on 30 September.

Contents

A phone built around typing and messaging

The Communicator combines a touch-sensitive physical keypad with a 4.03-inch touchscreen. Clicks says the keypad is intended to make extended typing more comfortable, while its touch-sensitive surface can be used to scroll through messages, inboxes and web pages without moving away from the keyboard.

A fingerprint sensor is integrated into the spacebar. A side button can be held to convert speech into text, start a voice recording or transcribe a meeting. The phone also includes a customisable ContextSignal LED, which can alert the user when selected people or applications require attention.

Its Message Hub is designed to bring messages from supported applications together on the home screen. Keyboard shortcuts are intended to help users triage messages and take actions without relying entirely on the touchscreen. A dedicated Clicks Key can launch custom shortcuts, while the device includes a physical kill switch and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Clicks describes the Communicator both as a possible primary phone and as a companion to an iPhone, Galaxy or Pixel. Internet-based calling through services such as WhatsApp or Telegram can carry over from an existing phone, according to the company. Traditional cellular calls require a SIM and phone number for the Communicator.

Hardware, software and connectivity

The phone runs Android 17 and supports Android applications. Clicks says it will support Android versions up to at least Android 20, with a commitment to at least four years of Android version updates and five years of security updates.

The main hardware specifications listed by the company are:

  • 4.03-inch AMOLED display with 1080 × 1200 resolution
  • MediaTek Dimensity 8300 (MT8883), described as a 4-nanometre 5G IoT platform
  • 12GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in storage, expandable with a microSD card up to 2TB
  • 4,350mAh lithium-ion battery
  • 50-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and optical image stabilisation
  • 24-megapixel fixed-focus front camera
  • Qi2 wireless charging, described as MagSafe-compatible, plus USB-C
  • Nano-SIM and eSIM support, with both SIMs active at the same time

Clicks says the Dimensity 8300 was selected for multitasking, responsiveness and efficiency. The company also says it moved from silicon-carbon battery chemistry to lithium-ion after its testing found a higher failure rate in commonly accepted battery tests. Battery-life estimates have not yet been provided because the device is still at a development stage.

The Communicator is listed as an unlocked phone supporting 5G, 4G LTE, 3G and 2G bands. It measures 130.5 × 78.63 × 12mm and weighs 170g. Keyboard options at configuration include English QWERTY, French AZERTY, German QWERTZ, Korean and Arabic layouts.

Shipping plans and India availability

Clicks says order shipping is scheduled to start in December, but the timing for individual orders will depend on certification approvals, the availability of the selected colour and keyboard configuration, and regional distribution. The company is accepting orders in a range of markets across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Oceania and South America.

India is not currently accepting Communicator reservations. Clicks says it plans to announce a future launch in the country, but the page does not provide an Indian release date or price.

Sources