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Since the original iPhone’s debut in 2007, Apple’s iconic smartphone has always lacked a physical keyboard. This clean, minimalist design was a major innovation that helped the iPhone disrupt and change the mobile industry. But now, a new company aims to challenge that enduring hallmark by retrofitting a QWERTY keyboard onto the iPhone through an add-on case.
Clicks, a company founded by popular YouTuber Michael Fisher and tech blog founder “CrackBerry Kevin”, has created a keyboard case that straps onto iPhones to give them a physical QWERTY keyboard.
The $139 Clicks case connects to iPhones through the charging port and adds a few extra inches to the bottom of the device. An extra port on the bottom means you can still charge without removing the case. Available in bright yellow “Bumblebee” or gray “London Sky,” the case offers a throwback to BlackBerry phones of yore.
So what do you get for adding bulk to your svelte iPhone? There’s more real estate for typing out emails and documents from your phone. The physical keyboard also includes shortcuts like CMD+H to go to the home screen and CMD+Space for search. An upcoming Clicks app will handle these extra keyboard functions.
According to CrackBerry Kevin, the keyboard layout and click-feel aim to appeal to longtime iPhone users and former physical keyboard enthusiasts alike. The founders claim they took extra time to get the tactile experience just right, from the bevel of the keys to the satisfying click sound.
Clicks will debut the keyboard case at CES next week, but you can already preorder for $139 (Rs 11,558) on their website. Units are expected to ship by February 1.
While iOS has embraced gestures and typing-by-swiping, physical keys still have their loyal fans. This niche audience has endured the limitations of on-screen keyboards for over a decade. For those willing to slap a slab of plastic and metal onto their pricey iPhone, the Clicks case may finally offer some reprieve.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 05-01-2024 at 13:47 IST
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