tech

How I Turned My iPhone Into a 2007 BlackBerry

Photo: Jordan McMahon

In my early days of toting a smartphone — I started out with a keyboard-equipped Windows Mobile phone, then transitioned to a BlackBerry Bold before getting the first Motorola Droid — phones with physical keyboards were the norm. My iPhone can and does of course perform all the basic functions those did, but unlike my beloved BlackBerry, the iPhone is loaded with distractions that enable my ADHD and make it hard for me to stay on top of my tasks. But since putting my iPhone in a Clicks keyboard case, I’m feeling as productive on my phone as I did in my BlackBerry days, and it’s reshaped how I interact with my phone.

The Clicks is just a case with a BlackBerry-style keyboard you can drop your iPhone 14 or 15 into. The keys are reminiscent of the best BlackBerry hardware, with a satisfying click and adjustable backlight for typing in the dark. It took a few days for me to get used to pressing actual keys with my thumbs when using my phone, but after two weeks with the Clicks, I’m as quick with the keys as I was on my old Droid. When I have an idea for a story I want to write, need to add a task to my to-do list, or do a quick Google search, I can grab my phone and start typing with a screen that’s totally unobstructed by a keyboard. This lets me see more of the note I’m typing in, more search results on a webpage, or keep track of a long chat thread while I’m replying. With more use, I’m sure I’ll be able to type without looking, just like I could on my BlackBerry.

Just having keys makes the Clicks worth it (it’s also sparked several conversations with friends and bartenders since I put it on), but it’s also reminded me of how well keyboard navigation can work on a device. Like Mac and iPad keyboards, the Clicks has a command key, which you can use to trigger shortcuts. Being able to quickly pull up Spotlight (command + space bar) without having to go through the home screen allows me to bypass the temptations (TikTok, Instagram) lurking there that pull me away from the tasks I’m trying to get done. There’s also a dedicated Siri button, which will come in handy once iOS gains support for typing to interact with Siri next year.

The keyboard has useful functions within specific apps, too. In Safari, besides command + C and command + V for copy and paste (which work in all apps), command + T opens a new tab, and hitting the space bar scrolls down the web page. That last one is particularly useful, as the Clicks makes the iPhone significantly longer and harder to scroll when you’re holding it from the bottom (but it can also give you some relief from “texting thumb”). Searching for a word or phrase (command + F) is a lot less annoying too. Some third-party apps support custom shortcuts as well, but so far I’ve only found that to be true of ones that have included shortcuts for iPadOS, like note-taking and email apps. When the shortcuts work, it feels pretty magical, since they’re all familiar to Mac users and make controlling iOS quicker than having to move your fingers around and reposition the screen to tap the right icons or buttons.

All that power and convenience does come with a cost, unfortunately. The Clicks case doesn’t support MagSafe accessories, the USB-C model for the iPhone 15 line doesn’t work with CarPlay, and it isn’t waterproof, as the company says this would require compromising on the quality of the keys. It also adds about a thumb’s length to the bottom of your phone, and although my phone in the case felt well balanced to me, a friend with smaller hands said she would be concerned with having to keep it steady while typing. The added length made the phone too long to fit in my smaller fanny packs, and I had to start keeping my phone in my back pocket instead of my front right one. If you have shallow pockets or worry about someone swiping it, it’s best to carry a bag while using the Clicks.

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How I Turned My iPhone into a 2007 BlackBerry