The Clicks Power Keyboard brings physical, BlackBerry-style typing to modern smartphones, offering users a tactile alternative to touchscreens alongside a built-in 2,300 mAh battery and magnetic wireless charging, according to testing by TechCrunch, CNN Underscored, and Boing Boing. Designed to snap onto mobile devices via Bluetooth, the peripheral provides a 47-key layout aimed at reducing typing errors, though reviewers note it adds substantial weight and length to everyday handsets.
Hardware Design and Ergonomics
The accessory features a mechanical-style QWERTY board that extends the physical profile of the phone significantly. According to Boing Boing, the hardware is well-made but results in a device that feels too heavy and unwieldy for comfortable pocket storage.
Powering the accessory is an integrated 2,300 mAh battery paired with a magnetic wireless charging pad.
Accessibility and VoiceOver Integration
Beyond standard typing, the Clicks Power Keyboard offers full VoiceOver compatibility for blind and partially sighted users, according to user testing reported by Double Tap. Rachel Ramos, a blind technology user who pre-ordered the device, noted that once customized, the 47-key layout functions as a compact, travel-friendly input tool. Users can configure a single modifier key in iOS to execute common VoiceOver commands, such as opening the App Switcher or muting speech, without interacting directly with the touchscreen.
However, software accessibility remains a work in progress. Ramos reported to Double Tap that while the Clicks Companion App is usable for adjusting hardware settings, certain controls lack clear screen-reader labels, and the soft return toggle consistently reports an “off” status regardless of actual configuration. Feedback regarding these software bugs has been submitted to the manufacturer for future updates.
Future Releases and Market Context
The release of the Power Keyboard precedes upcoming hardware from the same manufacturer, including the Clicks Communicator—an Android-based smartphone designed specifically for focused, distraction-free communication with a built-in physical keyboard.
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