Remember the BlackBerry Q5? That phone had a full QWERTY keyboard and stood out like a unique model among the slabs of glass we call smartphones. In a world now dominated by silent slabs of glass, the Q5 stood apart. Then it disappeared, and with it, a way of using phones that many still miss.
Now, something familiar is back, just not in the same name or body. Meet the Clicks Communicator. It isn’t a one-to-one revival of the BlackBerry Q5. But in spirit, it feels like one. The physical keyboard, the compact form, the focus on communication over consumption, it all echoes an era when phones were tools first and distractions second.
Clicks is not a newcomer to nostalgia. The company previously gained attention by releasing QWERTY keyboard attachments for modern smartphones like the iPhone, Pixel, and Motorola Razr. This time, they’ve gone further. Instead of borrowing other phones, they’ve built their own.
This phone is different in the way that it, as the name suggests, is more of a communicator rather than a typical smartphone. It can be compared to the Nokia Communicator (also known as the 9300), which once dominated the world of files, tasks, and managing accounts.
With a 4.03-inch AMOLED display and a resolution of 1080 x 1200, it is exactly the Q5. Its primary focus is to keep you notified of all the texts and emails that you get. That doesn’t mean that it won’t do smartphone stuff. Android 16 also has its own launcher, Niagara Launcher, which will support the usage of apps of various types.
This is a phone that is meant to detox someone from all that doom scrolling and doing nothing at all. Although Minimal phone (a company) was introduced, it didn’t seem to get into the hype of being what is called a boring phone. The Clicks Communicator is a semi-boring phone. Well, at least it can run apps like crazy.
Should you buy it? Yes, if you are looking for a phone that will divert your attention from doom scrolling. And a super yes if you are a BlackBerry enthusiast.
