There’s a slight obsession with resurrecting the BlackBerry-style physical QWERTY keyboard, but after several recent attempts, I’m still struggling to see the appeal in 2026, and I’m not sure who really buys these.
The era of the physical smartphone keyboard is one I barely grew up with. My first phone that didn’t have a traditional T9 setup was the Samsung Alias 2, a two-way flip phone that opened up to an electronic paper QWERTY keyboard. I switched to used touchscreen Android phones last decade writes about and lives day by day. So nostalgia doesn’t play the game indeed work with me I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reviving BlackBerry as a brand, but physical switches aren’t something I’m immediately drawn to.
But clearly there is some of them people who really want these devices.
Enough that equipment is still being built for this market.
Two of these devices have crossed my desk recently, starting with the Unihertz Titan Elite 2. It’s a custom QWERTY Android phone that first appeared earlier this year, and as BlackBerry reboots go, it’s pretty solid.
The form factor here is compact and comfortable, with a full keyboard that feels comfortable under my thumb. There is a certain charm in the simplicity of the device, which is only emphasized by the vivid orange color. But the lack of varnish does not help matters. The keyboard’s backlight only turns on when you’re actively typing (or after a long swipe gesture), making typing in a dark room inconvenient at best and nearly impossible at worst. The software is also quite confusing. In addition to the limitations that come with using a phone with such a small screen, Unihertz’s tweaks to Android 16 seem a bit rushed and half-baked.
It’s a good concept. and for $489it’s definitely a way to scratch the BlackBerry itch.
Personally, I was more interested in the Clicks Power Keyboard – which I bought myself.
The $119 add-on is a BlackBerry-style keyboard with a built-in battery and Qi2 connectivity that works with your phone via Bluetooth to type anything. This it works very good and the keyboard itself is surprisingly easy despite the keys being so small. The docking point stretches to best fit your phone, which on my Pixel 10 simply meant extending it fully.
With my Pixel 10, it works very well, although my real gripe here is just that the overall form factor feels too clunky. It is an extension of the telephone a lot it’s satisfactory, but it makes it difficult to balance the weight of the keyboard and the phone, which takes away from the ease of typing. Things are worse when the phone is in landscape, which is the opposite of what I expected.
These are all things you can adapt to, but they put me off carrying it with any frequency. It’s a really good idea and probably the best way to get my BlackBerry back quickly, but it really cemented something for me – I don’t think I do. i want no longer a physical keyboard.
And that’s a shame.
I thought the Power Keyboard would be the difference maker for me and help me find the love of a physical keyboard.
These devices are just not for me, and I think that will be true for a lot of people. The last decade of touchscreen-only smartphones has largely eliminated muscle memory for physical buttons. Don’t get me wrong, I am love good physical key, but for me the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to a numeric keypad. Better layouts, faster emoji/character input, and more make this step back to a physical keyboard difficult.
Where the Unihertz device felt like a “hey guys, we made the modern BlackBerry” game, Clicks at least thinks outside the box. The Power Keyboard only makes a lot of sense as a magnetic accessory that can be used wirelessly with devices other than your phone. the upcoming Clicks Communicator It bills itself as a companion device dedicated to communication, and I like it that way. In either case, I’ll still struggle with the convenience that comes with a small physical keyboard in 2026, but I appreciate the Clicks’ clever approach.
What do you think? Are you in the niche of customers who want a physical QWERTY keyboard in 2026?
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