All the other discussions I found on Lemmy dismiss it because they find the idea of a second phone ridiculous. Or because they don’t buy into the “dumb phone” concept. But I think it makes a compelling phone on it’s own, and you wouldn’t need a second.
But really look into it. By every indication it appears designed to be a fully featured main phone. It has some compromises made to fit the keyboard first philosophy, but it has everything you’d need and more. Dual SIM (eSIM+physical), a headphone jack, micro SD Card support, a 50mp camera with OIS (I know megapixels don’t mean much but I think it shows it’s not gonna be the cheapest crap camera), NFC/Google Pay support, Android Auto, Qi2… That doesn’t read “second phone” to me. It’s just… phone.
They have now said that it will have an unlockable bootloader too. I’m not finding much to dislike here. 8GB of RAM is somewhat low but should be fine. The processor is still a question mark but honesty as long as it’s not bottom of the barrel it should be perfectly fine. I have always gone for flagship phones but honestly I’ve started analyzing what I actually do on my phone and I pretty much never push the hardware. I like knowing I have the top of the line but I basically just web browse, message, read email, scroll Lemmy, and listen to music/podcasts. Very occasionally watch some YouTube but that’s usually on my TV or PC. No gaming or anything. I should be able to do all of that on this device, some of it won’t be as good on that screen obviously but it should still be doable. I need the camera to at least be decent. Not great just not garbage. Like it’s fine if the low light performance is meh and the video isn’t the best. But I don’t want to look at my photos and regret taking it with that device, so we’ll see.
I don’t want a dumb phone, and I don’t think this is one. You should be able to do everything any other phone can. I don’t think it’s a second phone either. I think they’re just leaning into that for marketing reasons, so that when anyone points out the tradeoffs of this form factor they can just wave it away as a secondary device.
It appeals to me because it’s a small phone. Seriously nobody makes one worth using. Unihertz sure, if you want a bad software experience with no updates ever. But otherwise you just have the non-plus sized iPhone/Galaxy S. Those are considered small. Or maybe the flip-foldables. It also appeals to me because it has major character and (imo) style. I’m bored of glass and metal sandwiches. Give me this! A plastic device with a swappable back that has a (vegan?) leather option? Hell yeah.
8gig of RAM is a bit low
Manufacturers are going to ship laptops with 8gb ram in 2026!!
I don’t get the keyboard appeal… Not since swiping became a thing. Sure, back in 2005 it was awesome, but what year is it?
Physical keyboard > touch keyboard.
I hate touch keyboards. 9 times out of 10 they’re fine. But there’s that one time where I keep missing the exact same letter for maybe 5 attempts, even when I carefully try to click it exactly spot on 🤬
I’d have become a murderer if not for completion suggestions and spell checkers
Swiping has become increasingly shitty for me and predictive text is approaching unusable. I would love to have a physical keyboard again.
I’ve also noticed that swipe typing has become increasingly shitty, until I realized it’s me. I’ve become too proficient, and/or sloppy/clumsy. I’m too fast, basically, causing inaccuracy and imprecision. If I just slow down and swipe with more precision, it’s a lot better.
As someone who considers themselves a large proponent of swipe texting i have been increasingly running into issues where a word i want to type is almost unreachable with swipe texting because the letters are in too straight of a line on the keyboard and so it only interprets the beginning and ending letters or it takes another word that lies an a similar line
But see, you cant become too proficient at a physical keyboard, you either hit the correct button or you didn’t and there’s no computer deciding edge cases the wrong way because there aren’t edge cases.
My last keyboard phone was the Motorola Photon Q ( which was awesome, had that thing for years) I’ve had 3 total touch screen only phone since then, and only in the last year has it gotten truly terrible. I’m actually in the process of converting a Razr 40 Ultra outer screen into a slider phone with a blackberry q20 keyboard. But if it keeps being a pain in my ass I’ll probably just get the Clicks.
Actually the keyboard is touch sensitive. I’m wondering if they couldn’t make it so that you could swipe to type even on this…
Would be cool. Might even consider it as an option for my kids when it’s time for their first phone.
You always wonder how much support they will have?
I was considering one just the other day as my main phone for all of the reasons tou stated. You can treat it as a dumb phone if you want sure but it certainly isn’t.
I might be in the minority here but I will not use a phone that I can’t strip Google Play and other Google services out of, so it would need support from something like Lineage, Graphene, e, Linux, etc before I would consider it.
I mean they said the bootloader is unlockable so at least being able to disable Google services should be possible. We’ll see how community support goes.
If it’s flashable and the community support is good enough then this might be my next device. Will have to check on it once the community drops support for my ancient secondhand phone. XD
I recall someone here on Lemmy emailing their support and they replied confirming it’s bootloader unlockable.
Graphene is unlikely because of their ultra tight security requirements (I really believe the only time we ever get a supported phone outside of the Pixel is when Graphene makes their own or partners directly with a OEM) but hey, most likely Lineage!It definitely looks intriguing but I’m also holding out for either a capable Linux phone or the next Graphene OS device. If I can’t strangle Google on my phone or be completely separate of it, then no thanks.
Why the hell would I want a “second phone”? I don’t like my first phone. I want a phone that I don’t hate, not a second phone to add to my misery.
Not a clue. Wouldn’t want that either. That’s why I want it as my only phone…
I think the intent is to be a “work device”
A lot of companies will be lazy or have a BYOD policy. You will likely be asked to install extra security and monitoring software on your personal device to view work related info or check email.
The simple way to avoid this is to just get a second phone, and given how this device is has a smaller profile than a mid-range smart phone, its a good marketing bit.
You will likely be asked to install extra security and monitoring software on your personal device to view work related info or check email.
You can set up another user on Android which will practically completely isolate this software from your main user. Since it’s your phone and it gets installed by you it gets treated as any other user app and AFAIK cannot break the isolation between multiple users like system or organisation apps probably could do. You just saved yourself few hundred dollars.
The only disadvantage I could see is you not getting notifications from your work user applications when you are using the main user.
The only disadvantage I could see is you not getting notifications from your work user applications when you are using the main user.
I’d reverse that. Not getting notifications of the personal user is a problem. Not getting work notifications during your free time is a big plus.
All the other discussions I found on Lemmy dismiss it because they find the idea of a second phone ridiculous. Or because they don’t buy into the “dumb phone” concept.
Looks like OP made a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Yeah I thought I made it clear what I was trying to say. This looks like a good phone on it’s own. Like sell your old phone and buy this to replace it. Not a second phone.
If it has even decent custom ROM support I would 100% consider it. I hate it as a second device but as a main I love the design.
Someone in the last thread said that the Mediatek SOC makes ROM support unlikely.
I think the only compromise is that it doesn’t have a flagship camera and a smaller screen which is a given for the keyboard. Not sure how the IP rating will be, though. But it looks really promising as a phone that would suit the majority of people who aren’t trying to use their phone as a gaming console
Yeah. Praying for the camera to be good enough.
The camera and the IP rating are my hangups. IP might just be complacency, but I like not having to worry about rain or where to put the phone while paddleboarding or whatever.
Camera… I might be okay with a dedicated one of some kind. I have an old DSLR, but it’s too big to carry everywhere. Which means I have to purposefully go on a ‘photo trip’. Could of course get a decent pocket digital camera and the price of the Communicator + camera will probably be at on par with a new flagship phone.
Not looking to reserve but will probably have to think more about it once it’s out.
The best camera is the one you have on you the most
Double on that last paragraph. I want to get a unihertz, but the struggle with software drives me far from it
256GB on-board + expandable MicroSD card storage up to 2TB
$400. Reservation 200.
Clicks did an AMA over on Reddit yesterday. Was actually pretty good.
I’m not thrilled about the processor, but this guy is still on my radar because of the physical keyboard and expandable storage, not upset to see a headphone jack either.
It would really have to be bad for me to hate it I think. I don’t do anything that needs crazy performance, I’ve come to realize.
Do they even say what processor it has? All I see is “4-nanometer, 5G IoT SoC platform from MediaTek” which means nothing to me.
MediaTek processors are known for being not so great.
No, they are waiting to announce. People have speculated as there’s only a few that would be viable.
Why would you need a lot of RAM on a phone that I assume you would want to use less? Isn’t that really what this is for? People who want to stare at their phone less?
I don’t know. That’s not what I want it for. I just want to use it as a regular phone.
I never mentioned RAM, my only criticism was the Mediatek processor. This thing has 8GB of RAM, which should be plenty.
RIM should blow everyone’s mind and release a new QWERTY BlackBerry. The market would lose their shit.
I’d rather have a new Palm device, too bad their management shit the bed and destroyed the company.
I loved my palm. It was great.
Capitalize, folks.
RIM no longer own BlackBerry. The Clicks Communicator has some of the blackberry team on it’s team.
Looking forward to the review. I’m into it for nothing else other than the physical key board.
Too bad it will not work in Canada for some carrier like Rogers who VoLTE blacklist phones they don’t sell…
Also what is the target price of this phone?
Not the phone’s problem
$400 pre-order, $500 normally.
I’m pretty sure that’s not even legal in the US where corporations have the same rights are humans.
