The Clicks team finally gave us a first look at the Communicator software, and as someone who misses physical keyboards, I am genuinely excited about what I saw. We have seen plenty of the Communicator’s design and hardware in previous teasers, but this is the first time we get to watch the software running on a real, working unit. And honestly, it does a good job of showing why a keyboard-first phone might still have a place in 2026.
What is the software experience like?
When you unlock the Communicator, the home screen greets you with your favorite apps. These are the apps you reach for all day to chat, check things off, and stay in the loop.
You can jump straight into email or texting apps, and everything sits neatly along a side ribbon that makes finding the right app effortless. It’s using a modified Niagara launcher, and I love how it looks on the Clicks Communicator.
Want to add an app to your favorites? Just touch and hold on it, mark it, and shuffle the order around so your most-used app sits right at the top.
I also love that you can simply start typing to search for any app. The team showed off pulling up Spotify, jumping to a favorite artist, and playing a song in seconds. There are also home screen widgets, so you can control your music or dismiss it without ever opening the app.
When a message lands, it shows you a preview directly on the home screen. You can fire off a quick reply, and clear it away knowing it is handled.
Is the hardware as thoughtful as the software?
I love that the Communicator brings back the hardware features missing from most modern smartphones. It packs three microphones, one up top, one at the bottom, and one on the back, all working together for crisp audio on calls and voice notes. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack, dual speakers above and below the display, and a barometric pressure sensor that helps with GPS and weather.
My favorite touch is the fingerprint sensor baked into a contoured space bar, so you can unlock with a thumb press while your hands stay in typing position. It also supports a physical SIM and a microSD card up to 2TB.
These are pre-production units, so things will tighten up before the Communicator ships in Q4. But this first look has me hopeful. I would certainly be in line to get the device in my hands.
