Updated
Updated · SlashGear · Jun 22
4 New Phones Revive QWERTY Keyboards With Prices From $120 to $500
Updated
Updated · SlashGear · Jun 22

4 New Phones Revive QWERTY Keyboards With Prices From $120 to $500

3 articles · Updated · SlashGear · Jun 22

Summary

  • $500 Minimal Phone, $500 Ikko Mind One Pro and $490 Unihertz Titan 2 Elite headline a small 2026 wave of BlackBerry-style devices built around physical QWERTY keyboards.
  • Physical keys are paired with distinct trade-offs: Minimal uses an E-ink display for distraction-free use, Ikko adds its keyboard through an $80 snap-in case, and Unihertz builds one into a 4-inch Android phone.
  • $120 Clicks Power Keyboard offers a lower-commitment route by adding a QWERTY case and 2,300 mAh battery to existing phones, while the Clicks Communicator smartphone takes $199 deposits ahead of shipping later this year.
  • The niche revival targets users who want tactile typing and minimalist or business-focused hardware, even as square screens and limited app experiences make these devices less suited to mainstream social and video use.

Insights

Will these new QWERTY phones succeed in breaking our screen addiction, or will they just become another niche tech novelty?
With BlackBerry's former designer leading the charge, is the physical keyboard's return a true revival or a nostalgic last gasp?