DT’s English-language journalist Andy Boxall tried out a bizarre iPhone case that mimics a Blackberry, and here’s what he thinks of it.
The last thing I expected to do this year was turn my iPhone into a BlackBerry, but here I am writing these words on the case. Keyboard clicks for him iphone 15 pro max.
This is definitely one of the funniest iPhone accessories I’ve ever seen, but my pinky definitely hates it after using it for a short time. Because? Let’s get to it.
First of all, what are clicks?
What is Clicks? It’s basically a case for your Apple iPhone with a physical keyboard glued to the bottom, ready to put you in a good mood. Blackberry and improve the touch and feel of typing. Dig a little deeper and you’ll see that it’s a clever accessory that lets you maximize the visibility of your touchscreen and potentially boost your productivity on your phone.
I say potentially because in my experience it will depend on several different but very important factors I have found.
The learning curve required is not a problem, as the fact that you will have to spend some time learning how to type on the Clicks keyboard is a given. It is not the same as typing on a touchscreen or a full-size keyboard, and in fact it is still very different from typing on a BlackBerry or similar device. I assume you are willing to put in the effort if you plan on getting Clicks, because otherwise I suggest you don’t waste your money. It takes some effort and is mostly rewarding once you get used to it.
So if learning to type on the Clicks keyboard isn’t one of the biggest hurdles, what is? The first is what iPhone you have, the second is the size of your hands and fingers. There’s a third factor, but I’ll get to that later. Instead, whether you love or hate the Clicks will ultimately come down to ergonomics, as I quickly discovered while learning to type on it.
Sensitive to phone and fingers
I have an iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is a big, tall, heavy phone. When you add the Clicks keyboard to the Pro Max, the phone’s length increases from 160mm to 204mm. The extra length is at the bottom of the phone, where the keyboard is, so all the weight of this big, tall phone is above it, and it tends to hang at an angle. To type on the Clicks, you have to hold it the same way you normally would, with your pinky finger on the bottom of the device.
This position has never been the most comfortable, but most of us have gotten used to it, and manufacturers do their best to balance devices properly to minimize fatigue. That is, until you have a keyboard glued to the bottom of your phone. The combination of a very heavy smartphone and its long length puts a lot of extra pressure on your little finger. Fatigue set in before I’d even written the 76 words of the introduction to this article, and I’ve used the Clicks for a total of several hours over the past few days.
This is where the second ergonomic factor to consider comes into play, and that is the size of your hands and fingers. I have modestly sized hands and fairly thin fingers, and I can type on the Clicks case without curling my fingers. However, if your fingers or hands are considered large, you may find it much less comfortable, as the keys are quite small and close together. Likewise, if you have small hands and fingers, the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the Clicks case is a very large device to handle for long periods of time.
An iPhone accessory that has been around for a long time
I’ll leave the overall product rating for our review, but do I think the clicks are worth it? I wrote about 50% of this article using Clicks and Pages on my iPhone, and it took me much longer than it would have on a laptop. However, I’m more precise and accurate when typing, which is helped by the physical keyboard, and I still like the sound and feel of it.
It has a good name, as the keys make a very satisfying sound with each press, and you can always be sure that it has registered your action thanks to the perfect amount of feedback. As I write these words on the Clicks, I am experimenting with resting the housing on my pinky and ring fingers to achieve more stability and less fatigue. It is somewhat successful, but it slides more and slows down my typing, and it makes me want to go back to my faster touchscreen typing method. Clicks require workand you shouldn’t expect to master them right away.
I’m telling you all this based solely on my experience with the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the Clicks case, and I imagine if you have a shorter iPhone like the 15 Pro or iPhone 15, things might be very different. The iPhone 15 Pro weighs 187 grams compared to the Pro Max’s 221 grams. iPhone 15 It weighs 171 grams normally, plus both are about 13 mm shorter. That’s a lot less length and weight to counteract the finger pressure when the phone is inside the Clicks case. I expected to be able to type faster and for longer using one of these phones.
Clicking is fun, but for how long?
The Clicks keyboard case is a lot of fun. I love the look, the design, and the funky yellow color. It gets a lot of attention, and several people have asked what kind of case it is and where they can get one. Some were even surprised that a phone with a physical keyboard still exists. The biggest issue for me is that the case has to be removed before the iPhone will recognize Apple CarPlay, as the USB pass-through doesn’t seem to work without charging. Then I have to decide if I’ll carry it with another suitcase or just leave it.
But what about the other reason you should seriously think before buying Clicks? It’s about what you intend to do later this year, when Apple inevitably announces the series. iPhone 16If you’re planning on getting started right away and are always hoping to pre-order, remember that the Clicks Keyboard case is unlikely to fit the next iPhone. It’s designed with existing models in mind, and even a few millimeters of difference in the size or placement of the buttons and camera module will mean it won’t fit at all.
Ditching a $20 case when your new iPhone arrives is one thing (though I’ll miss mine desperately), but ditching a case that costs at least $139 is a whole other ballgame. If your current iPhone is sticking around after the next release, enjoy the Clicks. Just make sure your hands and fingers are up to the task.
Source: Digital Trends
