There’s a new iPhone case at CES 2024 (check out our CES favorites) that gives us something Apple’s engineers might have never dreamed of: a tactile QWERTY keyboard. It’s the kind of retro, “analog” tech that’s been making a splash with Gen Z, but that older generations might find nostalgic, harkening back to the days of BlackBerrys, Palm Treos and other early smartphones. Clicks is the name of this buzzy, new iPhone Pro case, and I got a chance to try it out in person.
As an iPhone user, I still find myself longing for a physical keyboard from time to time, particularly when my fingertips are damp after finishing a sweaty workout or handling a perspiring cup of iced coffee. I sometimes crave the precision typing that I get on my laptop, as well as the somatic satisfaction of smashing a physical keyboard with my thumbs. Here’s the thing: Not only has the iPhone never had a physical keyboard, it was revolutionary in part because it didn’t. Save for the home button and some other controls, the iPhone celebrated its all-virtual keyboard.
The Clicks case, created by decades-long industry veterans, launches Feb. 1 for the iPhone 14 Pro, and later in the spring for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Clicks cases are available for preorder now, ranging in price from $139 to $159. Color options include banana-yellow BumbleBee and a more tame, grayscale London Sky.
Model |
Clicks case price |
Ship date |
iPhone 14 Pro |
$139 |
Feb. 1 |
iPhone 15 Pro |
$139 |
Mid-March |
iPhone 15 Pro Max |
$159, $30 deposit |
Early spring |
Here’s what I experienced when converting my iPhone 15 Pro into a keyboarded handheld smartphone for the first time.
Hands-on with Clicks keyboard case for iPhone Pro
Let’s get to the bottom line first, then dive into the details. The extra screen space while typing is a dream, the case was surprisingly light, and I acclimated to the additional keyboard shortcuts quickly.
The most immediate and obvious benefit to the Clicks case is the change in screen size when typing. Since the case…
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