The return of phones with physical keyboards?

Clicks, a US startup about to launch its first phone, told Mobile Time [pt_BR] that it is working to expand its presence in Latin America. The message was delivered to the Brazilian publication by Clicks co-founder and CMO Jeff Gadway, who also said that “[we’ll have] more news to share in early 2027.” The Clicks Communicator, the brand’s upcoming phone, can be used as a “companion” to your main phone or as your only phone. It has an interface built around text messaging, created in partnership with the folks at Niagara Launcher, and the form factor associated with phones from the late RIM, maker of the BlackBerry: a square screen on top and, below it, a small physical QWERTY keyboard. Other fringe brands have also been betting on bringing the tiny keyboard back, such as Unihertz with the Titan 2 Elite and Minimal, which just released the Phone 2. To be honest with you, I’ve never used one of these phones, either from the new batch or back in RIM’s heyday. That leaves me wondering…