Retro Phones: The QWERTY Revival

The demand for physical keyboards on smartphones is rising, with companies planning a QWERTY renaissance. This trend is fueled by a desire for nostalgic tactile feedback and a need for more efficient typing on devices used as primary computers. Several options are emerging, including keyboard cases and new phone models. The Clicks keyboard case, starting at $139, adds a physical keyboard to iPhones and Android devices. A more flexible Clicks Power Keyboard is also planned for a preorder price of $79. For those seeking a dedicated device, the Clicks Communicator, designed by a former BlackBerry designer, will be available later this year for $499, with preorders at $399. Unihertz offers its Titan series of Android keyboard phones, with prices starting around $300, and an upcoming Elite model teased for Mobile World Congress. Other unique offerings include the card-sized Ikko Mind One and the distraction-free Minimal Phone, priced at $449. While older BlackBerry devices are available on the secondary market, they lack modern functionality. Some companies, like Zinwa, are retrofitting old BlackBerry hardware with new components and Android for resale.