Clicks Keyboard Case Review: Physical Keys for the iPhone

I was overjoyed when I first saw the Clicks Keyboard Case. It’s the first-of-its-kind iPhone case with a built-in physical keyboard—yes, in 2024! I remember ferociously typing and sending texts on my clackety Blackberry Curve and LG Rumor back in the day and have been chasing that feeling since. You can imagine my shock when I found myself hating Clicks at first.

When I attached it to my iPhone 15 Pro this summer, I thought it would be like riding a bike after a long time—simple, easy, effortless, and most importantly, nostalgic. But it was the opposite. Between the small keys, finding the right way to cradle the case in my hands, and memorizing the shortcuts, I’d often pull up the virtual keyboard instead. This thing takes time to learn.

The latest version made for the iPhone 16 lineup improves things overall. The keys are larger and contoured, it supports MagSafe and CarPlay, and a new dedicated action button lets you trigger certain commands. (It’s only available for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max right now, but the company says it will have cases for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus by the end of the year.) The upgrades won’t take away from the fact that patience is still a necessity in the beginning. But it’s worth it—physical keys rule.

Key Price

Naturally, the built-in keyboard seized my attention when I first heard about Clicks. Then my eyes quickly darted to the price. The Clicks Case is expensive, starting at $139 and going up to $159 for the bigger iPhone Pro Max models. Yes, it’s technically two products in one (a case and a keyboard), but I don’t typically spend more than $50 on an iPhone case. Still, it’s easier to understand why it’s so expensive once it’s in your hands.

I already thought the iPhone 15 Clicks Case felt nice, but the iPhone 16 version goes a step further. The rubbery back is now a harder plastic that not only feels more durable but also attracts less dust and lint. It’s easier to take in and out of your pocket too (if you have a pocket that can fit it) because it won’t snag. There are brushed metal side keys, a nice touch, along with a cutout for the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16. On the bottom half, you’ll find a patch of vegan leather that adds some lovely padding while holding the case.

The keyboard is much nicer in this version. On the iPhone 15 Pro, the keys are small, round, raised buttons and it felt tedious typing on them, especially if I wanted to avoid a typo. The latest version features keys with a contoured design, and crucially, the surface area of each button is 35 percent bigger. Bigger targets mean more accurate typing. They’re backlit (on both versions), so it’s just as easy to type in the dark too.

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar