Clicks Communicator: A Second Phone to Fight Digital Distraction

LONDON, Jan. 02, 2026 – In a market saturated with ever-larger glass slabs designed for content consumption, Clicks Technology today introduced a device that deliberately swims against the current: the Clicks Communicator. Pitched not as a replacement for your iPhone or Galaxy but as a dedicated second phone, the Communicator is a purpose-built tool designed to tackle communication with focus and efficiency, challenging the industry's long-held belief that one device must do everything.

Building on the success of its popular keyboard cases, the company is making a bold leap into full device manufacturing. The Clicks Communicator features a prominent physical keyboard, a compact design, and a software experience tailored to minimize distractions. With reservations beginning today for $499, Clicks is betting that a growing number of people are ready to embrace a two-phone lifestyle to reclaim their attention from the endless scroll.

The Anti-Distraction Device

The Communicator arrives at a pivotal moment. A growing body of research highlights a widespread struggle with digital overload and smartphone addiction. With studies indicating the average American spends over four and a half hours on their phone daily, checking it as many as 144 times, the concept of a “digital detox” has moved from a niche wellness trend to a mainstream concern. This sentiment is particularly strong among Millennials and Gen Z, who are increasingly seeking ways to disconnect and reduce screen-related anxiety.

This is the cultural tide Clicks hopes to ride. The Communicator is designed as an antidote to “doomscrolling.” Its core philosophy is centered on context, input, and control. “Communicator is to a smartphone what a Kindle is to an iPad,” said Jeff Gadway, Chief Marketing Officer at Clicks, in the official announcement. “It’s a complementary product that stands on its own, optimized for a specific purpose.”

To achieve this, the device introduces a new 'Signal light,' a customizable LED integrated into a side-mounted 'Prompt Key.' It can be programmed with different colors and patterns for specific contacts or apps, allowing users to triage notifications at a glance without even turning on the screen. This hardware feature is paired with a streamlined software experience, co-developed with the team behind Niagara Launcher, an Android interface with over 12 million downloads known for its minimalist, list-based design. The partnership aims to curate messages from apps like Gmail, WhatsApp, and Slack directly on the home screen, facilitating quick review and response without getting pulled into distracting app ecosystems.

A Return to Purpose-Built Hardware

For many, the most striking feature of the Communicator will be its physical keyboard. Harkening back to an era dominated by BlackBerry, the device offers a full QWERTY layout with ergonomically contoured keys. Clicks, having shipped over 100,000 keyboard cases for various flagship phones, is leveraging its expertise to deliver a tactile typing experience it believes is superior for messaging and email. The keyboard is also touch-sensitive, enabling users to scroll through lists and web pages without reaching for the screen.

This focus on physical input is part of a broader trend toward specialized hardware. While the all-in-one smartphone remains dominant, a loyal user base and a growing number of new consumers are showing interest in devices that excel at specific tasks. “The two-phone lifestyle is becoming more common,” noted Michael Fisher, Clicks co-founder and tech reviewer known as MrMobile. “At a time when everything is fighting for our attention, your phone should excel at helping you take action, not feeding distraction.”

The Communicator’s design leans into this philosophy of user control, reintroducing features that have all but vanished from modern flagships. It includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot for storage expansion up to 2TB, and a physical SIM tray alongside eSIM support. Perhaps most notably, it features a tactile kill switch that can be configured to control airplane mode, the Signal light, or keyboard touch input, giving users a tangible way to manage their device's connectivity and features.

A Calculated Leap for Clicks

The launch of the Communicator is more than just a new product; it's a significant strategic evolution for Clicks Technology. The company is wagering that the demand validated by its keyboard accessory sales translates to a market for a complete, integrated device. “Since launching Clicks Keyboard, we’ve shipped more than 100,000 units to customers in over 100 countries,” said CEO and co-founder Adrian Li. “That response validated something we strongly believed: there’s growing demand for purpose-built products that help people communicate with confidence and take action.”

By positioning the Communicator as a secondary device, Clicks cleverly sidesteps a direct confrontation with tech giants like Apple, Samsung, and Google. Instead, it aims to create a new category of companion device that enhances the existing smartphone ecosystem. This strategy lowers the barrier to entry for consumers, who don't have to abandon their primary phone but can augment it with a tool for focused work and communication.

While purpose-built, the device is far from a “dumb phone.” It runs a full version of Android 16 and is equipped with modern specifications, including global 5G support, a 4,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery, 256GB of onboard storage, Wi-Fi 6, and NFC for Google Pay. It even includes a capable camera system with a 50MP main sensor and a 24MP front-facing camera. To build confidence in its new hardware, Clicks is promising an impressive five years of security updates and has implemented the Android Strongbox API, which provides hardware-backed encryption for enhanced data security—a critical feature for a device centered on private and professional communication.

The Clicks Communicator will be available in Smoke, Clover, and Onyx finishes, with interchangeable back covers for personalization. Early reservations secure a discounted price of $399 from the standard $499 launch price. The true test will come later this year when the devices begin shipping, and the industry gets to see if this bold experiment in focused computing can find its footing in a world accustomed to all-encompassing digital hubs.