Keyboard phones went extinct, but these companies just brought them back

The first smartphones had physical keyboards, and after more than a decade of continuous-panel phones, some of us still yearn for our buttons again. Fortunately, the time for physical keyboards has returned, and these four brands are making it happen.

Unihertz

The company with the most keyboard-based options

Among the best touch-tone phones available today, Unihertz has been working the longest. The company took its first steps by launching a QWERTY smartphone in 2019 with the Unihertz Titan. I reviewed its successor, the Unihertz Titan 2, six years later. The sequel was way too big a device for me to recommend, but this year’s story is different.

The Unihertz Titan 2 Elite is a major boost for the company. This phone looks and feels just as premium as a phone from Samsung and Google. The size is extremely compact and the OLED is stunning. I found the keyboard comfortable enough to write most of my Unihertz Titan 2 Elite reviews directly on the device itself. The camera is the phone’s weakest link, but it’s no exception in this regard. This is normal with specialized devices like this. The device is currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter, and if you like phones with physical keyboards, I’m confident you’ll like this one.

5/10

Brand

Unihertz

SoC

MediaTek Dimensions 7300

The Unihertz Titan 2 is the successor to the Unihertz Titan inspired by the BlackBerry of 2023. This new model comes with a newer version of Android, updated specifications, a lighter build, and a refreshed design.

Clicks

A phone accessory manufacturer makes its own phone

Clicks started out as an accessories manufacturer providing a keyboard case for the iPhone and, eventually, Android devices. With a Clicks case, an iPhone or Moto Razr can become the keyboard phone you’ve been waiting for. At least that’s the hope.

Unfortunately, there are inherently compromises to putting a phone in a case. Modern panel phones are already big and a Clicks case makes them even bigger. You also have to buy a new case every time you upgrade, which hurts when the case itself costs as much as a dirt-cheap budget phone.

Enter the Clicks Communicator, an upcoming keypad phone similar in style to the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite. The Communicator is slightly larger, allowing for a larger keyboard with rounder keys. That said, the screen remains the same size and appears to be an identical panel.

The Clicks Communicator runs what looks like a version of my favorite launcher, and the project seems likely to pay more attention to the software experience than Unihertz’s relatively standard Android interface. This of course remains to be seen.

The minimal phone

A touch-tone phone for E Ink enthusiasts

I write these words in long format, by hand, on an Android E-Ink tablet. Years ago, I used to carry around a BOOX Tab Ultra C as my primary computer. I’m drawn to E Ink, and that’s why the Minimal Phone would have once been my dream phone.

The Minimal Phone is a complete Android phone that is distinguished by the presence of a physical keyboard and the use of a 4.3-inch monochrome E Ink screen. It is the latter that sets it apart from modern and classic touch-tone phones.

The Minimal Phone’s screen encourages you to do less with the device. Even if you’re technically capable of watching a video, it’s hardly enjoyable when the image is blurry in black and white. The low refresh rate and lack of saturation have the same impact on the game. Even text-based doom-scrolling loses much of its appeal.

When I reviewed the Minimal Phone, I found that the most enjoyable activity was reading books. This way you can think of the Minimal Phone as a BOOX Palma with a keyboard.

7/10

Brand

Minimal business

SoC

MediaTek Helio G99

The Minimal Phone is a smartphone running a full version of Android on an E-Paper screen. The phone also contains a 35-button keypad, broadening its appeal beyond those looking to reduce their phone addiction and regain focus. This also makes a nice pocket e-reader.

Sidephone

This is not the keyboard you were expecting

During the heyday of touch-tone phones, buttons came in a wide range of styles. On the more creative side, there was the SureType layout found on some BlackBerry phones, a QWERTY keyboard that assigned a number and two letters to each button. This is the kind of keyboard you can buy today for the Sidephone.

The Sidephone, unlike the other phones listed, is not itself a touch-tone phone. Rather, it is a small modular phone whose bottom half can be replaced to transform the physical operation of the phone. The keyboard option turns the Sidephone into a more pleasant device to type on than it is directly.

The Sidephone does not run a full version of Android. Instead, you have to make do with the included apps, the ones the developer has selected for download, and find your own way to install the apps. Fortunately, Android has no shortage of Play Store alternatives. That said, without Google Play Services running in the background, many apps won’t install or run with some of their features missing.

Brand

Sidephone

Display

2.8 inches

The Sidephone is a miniature smartphone in the form of a modular feature phone. It can be paired with a number of interchangeable faceplates and is intended for use with a selection of curated applications.

All of these phones are surrounded by passionate communities. Personally, I find that this is part of their appeal. In an age where people are increasingly tired of yet another panel with a slightly better camera, phones with physical keypads provide an experience that your fingers will remember long after your time with them is over.