The first smartphones had physical keyboards, and after more than a decade of continuous phones, some of us still long for buttons back. Fortunately, the time for physical keyboards is back and these four brands are making it a reality.
Unihertz
The company with the most keyboard-based options
One of the best keyboard phones available today, Unihertz He’s been at it the longest. The company took its first shot at launching a QWERTY smartphone in 2019 with the Unihertz Titan. Yo reviewed his successorthe Unihertz Titan 2, six years later. The sequel was too big a device to recommend, but this year’s story is different.
The Unihertz Titan 2 Elite is a big step forward for the company. This phone looks and feels as premium as a phone from Samsung and Google. The size is immensely pocketable and the OLED is wonderful. I found the keyboard comfortable enough that I could type most of my review of the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite directly on the device. The camera is the weakest link of the phone, but it is no exception in that sense. This is normal with special devices like this. The device is currently available for preorder on Kickstarterand if you like phones with physical keyboards, I’m sure you’ll like this one.
5/10
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Unihertz
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MediaTek Dimension 7300
The Unihertz Titan 2 is the successor to the 2023 BlackBerry-inspired Unihertz Titan. This new model comes with a newer version of Android, updated specifications, a lighter build, and a refreshed design.
Clicks
Phone accessory manufacturer makes its own phone
The clicks started as a accessories manufacturer providing keyboard case for iPhone and eventually Android devices. With a Clicks case, an iPhone or Moto Razr can become the keyboard phone you’ve been waiting for. That’s the hope, at least.
Unfortunately, placing a phone in a case comes with inherent disadvantages. Modern flat phones are already tall and a Clicks case makes them even taller. You also have to buy a new case every time you upgrade, which is detrimental when the case itself costs as much as a super cheap budget phone.
Enter the Click communicatoran upcoming keyboard 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.
Clicks Communicator runs what it looks like a version of my favorite launcherand it seems likely that the project will offer more attention to the software experience than Unihertz’s relatively standard Android interface. That, of course, remains to be seen.
The minimal telephone
A phone with a keyboard for electronic ink lovers
I’m writing these words in long form, by hand, on an Android E-Ink tablet. Years ago he used to carry with him a BOOX Tab Ultra C like my main PC. I’m drawn to e-ink and that’s why the Minimal Phone would have once been my dream phone.
He Minimum phone is a full-featured Android phone distinguished by the presence of a physical keyboard and the use of a 4.3-inch monochrome e-ink display. The latter is what distinguishes it between modern and classic keypad phones.
The Minimal Phone screen encourages you to do less with the device. While you can technically watch a video, it’s not very pleasant when the image is a blurry black and white image. The low refresh rate and lack of saturation have the same impact on games. Even text-based doom-scrolling loses much of its appeal.
when i checked the phone minimumI found reading books to be the most pleasurable activity. That way, you can think of the Minimal Phone as a BOOX Palma with a keyboard.
7/10
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Minimum company
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MediaTek Helio G99
The Minimal Phone is a smartphone that runs a full version of Android on an e-paper display. The phone also includes a 35-button keypad, broadening its appeal beyond those looking to reduce phone addiction and regain their focus. It’s also a good pocket-sized e-reader.
side phone
It is not the keyboard you expected
In the heyday of keypad phones, buttons came in a wide range of styles. On the more creative side, there was the Safe type Design found on some BlackBerry phones, a QWERTY keyboard that assigned a number and two letters to each button. It’s that type of keyboard that you can buy today for side phone.
The Sidephone, unlike the other phones listed, is not inherently a keypad phone. Rather, it is a small modular phone whose bottom half can be swapped out to transform the physical operation of the phone. The keyboard option makes the Sidephone a more enjoyable device to type on than it came out of the box.
The Sidephone does not run a full version of Android. Instead, you have to be content with the included apps – those that the developer has selected to download – and find your own way to install apps. Fortunately, Android has no shortage of alternatives to the Play Store. That said, without Google Play Services running in the background, there are many apps that don’t install or run without some of their features.
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side phone
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2.8 inches
The Sidephone is a miniature smartphone shaped like a modular phone. It can be combined with several interchangeable faceplates and is designed for use with a selection of select applications.
All of these phones have passionate communities around them. Personally, I think that’s part of its appeal. At a time when people are increasingly fed up with another slab with a slightly better camera, phones with a physical keyboard offer an experience that your fingers will remember long after your time with them is over.
