The Clicks Communicator, a Blackberry-inspired smartphone featuring a physical keyboard, is set to ship in December with increased RAM and battery capacity. Clicks Technology is upgrading the device from 8GB to 12GB of RAM and increasing the battery to 4,350mAh, a move unusual in a market trend of reducing RAM while raising prices. The company cites unexpectedly high pre-order numbers as enabling these improvements, signaling potential demand for a messaging-focused device with old-school features.
The Communicator will launch with Android 17 and receive three OS upgrades and five years of security updates. Clicks is also offering accessories from Dbrand, including cases and screen protectors ranging from $35 to $80, as well as its own Ring bumper case for $49 and customizable Charging Covers for $50-$80. A two-year protection plan, Clicks Care, will be available for $129 with a $49 deductible in the US and Canada.
Additionally, Clicks is launching Clicks Mobile, a new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) providing eSIM service in the US and UK, with two months of free service upon activation. Pre-orders are currently available at $499 until September 30th, after which the price will increase to the MSRP of $650. The company will also offer speech-to-text functionality powered by an on-device model. Cnet notes the device was designed by a former BlackBerry designer and highlights its dedicated notification light and headphone jack. The launch comes as other smartphone makers, including Google, Motorola, Samsung, and Apple, have raised prices citing increased component costs driven by AI data center demand.
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