Clicks Keyboard Case Review: Physical Keys for iPhone

I was overjoyed when I first saw the Clicks keyboard case. It is the first of its kind iPhone case with a built-in physical keyboard – yes, in 2024! I remember typing furiously and texting on my clackety Blackberry curve and LG Rumor from back in the day and have been chasing that feeling ever since. You can imagine my shock when I found myself hating Click initially.

When I gave it to my iPhone 15 Pro this summer I thought it would be like cycling after a long time: simple, easy, effortless and above all nostalgic. But it was the opposite. Between the small keys, finding the right way to hold the case in my hands, and remembering the keyboard shortcuts, I often pulled out the virtual keyboard instead. This thing takes time learn.

The latest version made for the iPhone 16 lineup improves things overall. The keys are larger and profiled, support MagSafe and CarPlay, and a new special action button allows you to activate certain commands. (It is only available for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max at this time, but the company says it will have cases for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus by the end of the year.) The upgrades won’t change the fact that patience is still a necessity in the beginning. But it’s worth it: physical keys rule.

Key price

Naturally, the built-in keyboard caught my attention when I first heard about Clicks. Then my eyes quickly darted to the prize. The Clicks Case is expensive, starting at $139 and going up to $159 for the larger one iPhone Pro Max models. Yes, technically it’s two products in one (a case and a keyboard), but I typically don’t spend more than $50 on one iPhone case. Yet it is easier to understand Why it’s so expensive once you get your hands on it.

I already liked the feel of the iPhone 15 Clicks Case, but the iPhone 16 version goes one step further. The rubbery back is now a harder plastic that not only feels more durable, but also attracts less dust and lint. It’s also easier to get it in and out of your pocket (if you have a pocket it can fit in) because it doesn’t get snagged. There are brushed metal side keys, a nice touch, along with a cutout for the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16. On the bottom half you’ll find a piece of vegan leather that adds some nice padding while you hold the case.

The keyboard is much nicer in this version. On the iPhone 15 Pro, the keys are small, round, raised buttons and it felt annoying to type on them, especially when I wanted to avoid a typo. The latest version features keys with a contoured design, and crucially the surface area of ​​each button is 35 percent larger. Larger targets mean more accurate typing. They are backlit (on both versions), so typing in the dark is just as easy.

Photo: Brenda Stolyar