The familiar click of a physical smartphone keyboard, long associated with the BlackBerry era, may soon make a comeback. Despite a market dominated by all-glass touchscreens, two companies are preparing to revive QWERTY-equipped phones in 2026, betting that tactile feedback and nostalgia still have an audience.
The renewed interest comes after the definitive close of an era. In 2022, BlackBerry shut down core services for its legacy mobile operating systems, leaving many classic devices unable to place calls or send messages. While the decision effectively ended the use of authentic BlackBerry phones, demand for their signature keyboard design has persisted, sustained by a small but devoted enthusiast community.
Commercial players are now moving to capitalize on that lingering demand. At CES 2026, Clicks Technology, best known for its physical keyboard cases for iPhones, announced plans for a standalone device called the Clicks Communicator. Positioned as a secondary phone for messaging and direct communication, the product has drawn attention alongside skepticism, as the company has so far only shown a non-functional mockup and is accepting $500 pre-orders for a device yet to be proven.
A more familiar name in the QWERTY niche is Unihertz, a Chinese manufacturer that has steadily catered to fans of physical keyboards. After releasing the Titan 2 smartphone in 2025, the company is now teasing a refreshed model called the Titan 2 Elite. Marketed with the slogan “new year, new QWERTY,” the announcement comes amid user complaints about support for existing devices, while early images suggest a design closely resembling both the original Titan 2 and Clicks’s Communicator mockup.
The fact that these devices are emerging at the same time invites a closer look at the timing. Although physical phone keyboards have largely disappeared, a small segment of users continues to prefer the tactile feedback and precision they provide, qualities many believe touchscreens still fail to replicate.
For now, it’s impossible to know whether 2026 will be remembered as the start of a revival or the last stand of the QWERTY phone. What’s undeniable is that the BlackBerry-style keyboard still holds a quiet appeal, long after its mainstream moment has passed.
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