This whimsical iPhone keyboard case is the smart accessory I didn't know I needed | ZDNET

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The premise of Clicks is rather straightforward: you snap your iPhone into the soft-shell case, the port connection registers the accessory as an input, and suddenly, you've got a full-screen handset plus a physical QWERTY keyboard to type on. The whole concoction feels like what you'd get if you asked an AI image generator in the mid-2000s to create "the phone of the future."

Also: This iPhone keyboard case turns it into the BlackBerry it once conquered

But the vision of Clicks is not as far-fetched as it seems. Besides making mobile interactions a little more fun again -- which, I'd argue, is a valid value proposition considering the most innovative feature today may actually be AI-generated emojis -- the keyboard accessory absorbs what would otherwise be a digital overlay that typically takes up at least 30% of your phone screen.

As an Android user who grew up mostly using touchscreen smartphones, I should be the last person Clicks invites to a pre-holiday season briefing. But after spending an afternoon with the latest version of the accessory, I'm progressively itching for that satisfying tactility every time I tap on my phone screen.

The newest model features larger, more sensitive keys, MagSafe support, USB-C data transferring, and more.

To reiterate, this is version two of the Clicks keyboard, with the original debuting at CES earlier this year. My colleague Matthew Miller covered the first version extensively, and while the essence of the product remains with the successor, several improvements make it drastically better.

Also: I love this iPhone case's physical keyboard, but that isn't even its best feature

Build quality is my favorite change, with Clicks opting for a harder, frosted plastic material instead of the original's spongey silicone. The new material choice makes the two-piece ensemble feel more sturdy, polished, and, dare I say, less like a toy. It also doesn't collect dust and debris as easily when slipping and whipping your phone from your pocket.

Clicks also added two heavily requested features to the case: MagSafe support and USB-C data transfer. The former allows users to snap the accessory onto compatible wireless charging stations, car mounts, and more without the burden of detaching the phone from the case. The same frictionless behavior occurs thanks to enabling data transfer, which means you can now connect your iPhone to Apple CarPlay or an external drive with the Clicks keyboard equipped. Both of these are very welcome changes.

The typing experience with Clicks has been upgraded, too, thanks to more tactile, spaced-out keys with a lower actuation point. Unlike the mushier, jelly-like keys of Blackberrys and Sidekicks of old, typing on the Clicks feels more satisfying, with audible feedback that should please anyone who fidgets.

Also: I switched to a split ergonomic keyboard for a week, and it's spoiled every other peripheral for me

Of course, there are also some familiar tricks hidden beneath the surface, with the most notable being the ability to set hotkeys to trigger iOS Shortcuts. With over 30 keys to map, the Clicks keyboard is basically the iPhone Action Button on steroids. Some shortcuts I demoed included quick-firing Shazam, opening and closing tabs in Safari, and starting a navigation, all of which were done without ever tapping on the iPhone screen.

The big question mark with the Clicks keyboard is ergonomics; specifically, the experience of holding an iPhone that's stretched a few more inches down. Adding thickness to a phone with a rugged case, battery pack, or grip mount is manageable because the whole device still fits within your palm. But the taller form factor with the Clicks goes beyond that and requires some getting used to (and deeper pockets), especially if you opt for the Pro Max/Plus iPhone.

Also: The best MagSafe accessories of 2024: Tested and reviewed

When I spoke with Jeff Gadway, the Chief Marketing Officer at Clicks Technology, he mentioned that some existing users upgraded to the smaller, lighter iPhone 16 Pro because it's more manageable with the Clicks keyboard. I'm in agreement.

The new Clicks keyboard for the iPhone 16 series is available for pre-order right now, with the smaller size selling for $139 and the larger size for $159. If you're on the fence about the accessory, I'd consider Click's 30-day trial program, which lets you test the keyboard for at least 14 days and return it for a full refund within 30 days.