This iPhone Keyboard Case Is Proof That Physical Keys Rule

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.

There are two new keys in place of the Tab and symbols keys on its predecessor. The button with the Clicks logo acts as an “Action” button (you can still map it to act as a Tab or Control key). Instead of using the dedicated Action button on the side of the iPhone, you can customize the button on the keyboard to trigger shortcuts, like turning on the flashlight. That said, all 36 buttons on this keyboard can be configured to trigger a shortcut, meaning you can program over 100 combinations—if you can remember them all. The second new key is specifically for pulling up the virtual keyboard on your iPhone (which I use when I need to type a lot faster than I already am).

On the inside, the case now has a microfiber lining to keep the back of your iPhone scratch-free. The iPhone slots into the case and connects via the USB Type-C connector. Unfortunately, even with the stretchy silicone sides, it’s still not easy to take the phone in and out—I’ve accidentally bent the connector more than once (oops), so I’m a little worried about overall longevity. More importantly, the case is finally MagSafe compatible. Unlike with the last version, I’ve been able to attach it to my MagSafe wallet, wireless car mount, and Belkin Wireless Charging stand.

The good news is you may not need to slide it out of the case as often anymore. I had to do this with the iPhone 15 case often because it did not support CarPlay, but the iPhone 16 Clicks Cases are now compatible. The catch? You need to enable data pass-through mode every single time you get in the car—press the “123” button and the spacebar—and CarPlay will work. It’s an annoying extra step, but at least it works. Hopefully, Clicks can come up with a fix.

I did experience an issue with charging my phone. Since it has pass-through charging, you can plug the cable into the USB-C port on the bottom of the case, and it’ll juice up your iPhone automatically. But there were instances where I’d hook it up to the charger and it wouldn’t work—the charging icon on my phone would appear and then disappear multiple times. It worked when I tried a different charger (specifically a first-party one from Apple), so I’ve been using that.

It’s important to note the case isn’t water-resistant either (even if the iPhone is), mainly because sealing the keys would impact the typing experience. This means you shouldn’t go swimming with the case on your phone or take it to environments that are wet or extremely humid. You should basically treat this case the same way you would your laptop keyboard—by avoiding accidental spills near it as much as possible.

Type of Way

The biggest piece of advice I can give you about using the Clicks Case is to be patient. Clicks says it takes “two hours to learn how to use it, two days to become proficient with it, and two weeks to build up muscle memory and become addicted to it.” I use my phone for a lot of tasks, whether it’s typing out texts, emails, Slack messages, or notes. I need to be able to type quickly. There were multiple times when I used the case on and off for a few days because I grew irritated by my slow typing speed. But I heeded Clicks’ advice and pushed through. Eventually, it became easier.

I attribute this to the new keyboard design, though. With flatter buttons and less key travel, typing felt more natural—I didn’t have to think about where my fingers fell, as I did on its predecessor. I was typing almost as quickly as I did on the touchscreen.

The redesigned keys make it a lot easier to cradle the phone too. You’re supposed to hold it the way you normally would without the case—pinkies at the bottom of the phone and ring fingers against the leather while your thumbs are striking the keys. I never felt like I had a comfortable grip on the older version because I had trouble typing, but the new keys have helped with this. It’s still a top-heavy case, mind you, but that’s the trade-off for getting back 50 percent of your screen without a virtual keyboard in the way.

I don’t use the case for all occasions. If I’m working out, going for a run, or going out on a weekend, I’ll switch to a standard iPhone case—partially because it’s easier to hold and also because I’m not typically on my phone that much during those times. But during the work week I am, and I swap back to the Clicks Case. Whether I’m typing out long emails, writing grocery lists and reminders, answering texts, or journaling (in my Notes app, of course), it now feels more instinctual to use the Clicks keyboard than it does the virtual keyboard.

The one thing I haven’t gotten the hang of (and likely never will) is the shortcuts. The Clicks Case offers several built-in shortcuts I struggle to recall from memory. For example, CMD + N can compose a new message or start a new tab in Safari and CMD + Space launches a search. You can also create actions using Apple’s Shortcuts app, like automating tasks for third-party apps or smart home devices.

Using the companion Clicks Keyboard app, you can customize things like the brightness of the backlight, enable battery saving mode, and toggle certain capabilities on and off (like Caps Lock, Alt Lock, and Soft Return). You don’t have to download the app to use the Clicks Case, and while I do have it on my phone, I rarely open it. Speaking of that battery-saver mode, I never found the Clicks Case to have a negligible drain on my iPhone’s battery, so I never used it.

For me, the new and improved tactile keyboard is more than enough. I never felt the need to take a break from typing with physical keys. Might I suggest an idea for the next version? A magnetic keyboard attachment you can pop on and off, reducing the need to take the whole case off all the time.

If physical keys intrigue you, I don’t think it’s worth buying the older models built for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 series. The keys are just too small. And no, you shouldn’t upgrade your iPhone to the latest iPhone 16 range just for the Clicks Case. When you do eventually upgrade, hopefully, it will bring you back to those simpler days, and if anything, it’ll make your iPhone look a heck of a lot more interesting.