Physical keyboards are having a moment again. After years of every phone looking like the same glass slab, a small group of companies decided to bring back the clicky, tactile typing experience that BlackBerry once made famous. 

There are also more choices than before. Unihertz has continued developing its Titan series, while new companies such as Clicks and Minimal are bringing their own ideas to the keyboard-phone market. 

If you are looking for a phone that puts typing and productivity ahead of gaming, photography, or social media, here are some of the best QWERTY and productivity-focused options to consider in 2026.

Clicks Communicator

The Clicks Communicator is the device that got everyone talking at CES 2026. It comes from Clicks Technology, a UK-based startup which also offers clip-on keyboard cases for the iPhone, if you do not want to replace your existing handheld. 

Anyhoo, the Communicator is their first full standalone Android phone instead of an accessory. Here, you get a compact 4.03-inch AMOLED screen with a 1080 x 1200 resolution, above a backlit physical keyboard with sculpted keys and a fingerprint sensor tucked into the spacebar. 

The phone runs on a 4nm MediaTek chip, packs a 50MP main camera with OIS and a 24MP selfie camera, and charges through USB-C or Qi2 wireless charging. You still get a 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and microSD storage that expands up to 2TB, which is a lot for a phone this size.

What makes the Communicator different from a typical Android phone is the software. Instead of a normal home screen full of apps, it pulls WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and Gmail into one combined feed, so you can check every message thread without opening five different apps. There’s also a “Signal Light” around one of the side buttons that changes color depending on who’s messaging you, and a programmable key you can set up for voice dictation.

Clicks pitches the Communicator as a second phone for people who want to separate work messaging from the rest of their digital life, though the company itself has admitted plenty of people could use it as a primary phone too. It retails at $399 for early reservations before it jumps to $499. Shipping has slipped a few times this year, with Clicks now targeting production and delivery to reservation holders in the fourth quarter of 2026, so treat this one as a phone worth reserving rather than one you can walk into a store and buy today.

Unihertz Titan 2 Elite

If you want something you can actually order and hold this year, the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite could be the pick for you. Unihertz has been making keyboard phones since 2019, and the Titan 2 Elite is its most refined effort so far. The company calls it the world’s smallest 5G phone with a physical keyboard, and at 117.8 x 75 x 10.4mm, it genuinely fits in one hand in a way the earlier, chunkier Titan phones didn’t.

You get a 4.03-inch AMOLED display running at 120Hz, a real physical QWERTY keyboard with a trackpad built in, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Unihertz sells it in two configurations: a standard version with a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chip, and a Pro version with the more powerful Dimensity 8400 for people who run heavier multitasking workloads. Both pack a 4,050mAh battery with 33W fast charging, dual 50MP rear cameras, and Android 16 out of the box.

Unihertz redesigned the keyboard itself for this model too. Independent testing measured the actuation force at roughly 58 grams, down from about 67 grams on the original Titan 2, which should mean less finger fatigue if you’re typing long emails or documents throughout the day. 

You can pre-order the device starting at $489.90 for the Titan 2 Elite and $579.99 for the Pro model. 

Unihertz Titan 2

Before the Elite arrived, Unihertz launched the Titan 2, and it’s still worth considering if you want a bigger screen and don’t mind a heavier phone. It has a 4.5-inch square display running at 1440 x 1440 with a 120Hz refresh rate, plus a second 2-inch screen on the back that shows notifications or works as a selfie preview. The physical keyboard sits below the main display and supports swipe gestures. 

Inside, you get a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip, 12GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage, along with a 5,000mAh battery. The Titan 2 also throws in an infrared port for controlling home electronics and IP65 water and dust resistance, both useful if you’re using this as your everyday driver rather than a niche second device. You can find it now for around $499.

Minimal Phone 2

The Minimal Phone 2 is the newest entrant in the QWERTY keyboard phone segment. The original Minimal Phone used an E Ink display to reduce distractions. The second-generation model, however, replaces E Ink with a 3.92-inch 90Hz AMOLED display while keeping the physical QWERTY keyboard.

The change is important because the original E Ink screen came with obvious limitations. The new AMOLED display should make everyday smartphone tasks much easier while still keeping the physical keyboard at the center of the experience.

The keyboard itself has been improved with backlighting, remappable shortcuts, and metal dome switches. The phone also uses a MediaTek Dimensity 8300 processor and offers up to 512GB of storage. It has NFC, a mute switch, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Most importantly, the Minimal Phone 2 is still designed around the idea of using technology more intentionally. The phone is currently being offered through a crowdfunding campaign, so buyers should keep the risks of crowdfunded hardware in mind.

Which one should you actually buy?

If you want a phone you can order today and use as your daily driver, the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite makes the most sense. If a bigger screen and longer battery life matter more to you than pocketability, the original Titan 2 is the safer, already-shipping choice.

The Clicks Communicator is the more interesting long-term bet, especially if you like the idea of a dedicated messaging device that keeps your notifications organized instead of overwhelming you. Just know you’re pre-ordering a phone that’s still finishing carrier certification, not one you can pick up this week.

The Minimal Phone 2 is the more interesting choice for people who want productivity and digital minimalism together. Its AMOLED display also makes it more practical than the original Minimal Phone.

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CES 2026 didn’t centre entirely on smartphones, yet several new phones showcased at the event captured attention for their bold ideas and varied approaches to mobile design. From ambitious foldables and productivity-oriented flagships to fresh takes on connectivity and communication, the show offered glimpses of what to expect in the smartphone landscape through 2026.

Foldables and flagship innovations

One of the most eye-catching phones at CES 2026 was the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, a tri-folding device that opens up into a large 10-inch internal display while still folding into a compact form. This much-talked-about phone runs on a powerful Snapdragon chipset and features a 200-megapixel main camera, aiming to blend productivity and entertainment in a single device. Samsung announced pricing at 3.59 million won (around $3,700) in Korea, with wider global availability planned in the coming months.

Motorola joined the foldable conversation with the Motorola Razr Fold, a new book-style foldable that brings an 8.1-inch internal display and a 6.6-inch external screen into a design that pays homage to its classic Razr lineage. It also integrates a triple 50-megapixel camera array and stylus support that aims to appeal to productivity-oriented users.

Flagship phones also featured strongly. Motorola’s Signature phone, equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 performance, a 6.8-inch Extreme AMOLED display and a 50-megapixel triple camera setup, was priced at about €999 (approximately $1,170) in its initial European markets.

Fresh ideas and practical picks

Beyond foldables and traditional flagship models, several devices stood out for their unique propositions. TCL’s Nxtpaper 70 Pro grabbed interest with its eye-friendly matte display and Gemini AI support, bringing a fresh idea for mid-range phones. The 256 GB configuration was announced at €339 (around $400), positioning it as a compelling alternative in its segment.

Infinix also made a notable appearance with its Infinix Note 60 series, highlighted for global satellite calling and messaging support, a feature that allows basic communication even where conventional networks are unavailable. While official pricing hasn’t been fully confirmed, the innovative connectivity and the introduction of HydroFlow liquid cooling and ModuVerse modular accessory support suggest that Infinix is aiming for a mix of utility and differentiated features at an attractive price point.

A particularly intriguing announcement at CES 2026 was the Clicks Communicator, a smartphone designed with a physical QWERTY keyboard that evokes the nostalgia of classic BlackBerry-style devices. It features a 4.03-inch AMOLED screen, Android 16 with support for major messaging apps, a 50-megapixel rear camera, and 256 GB of storage expandable up to 2 TB via microSD. The device was priced at $499 for full retail, with early reservation pricing starting at $399.

The Communicator’s focus on messaging and productivity offers a different take on smartphone use, where tactile input and streamlined communication replace hours of endless scrolling. It also includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a 4,000 mAh battery, and is pitched both as a secondary device and a possible primary phone for enthusiasts of physical keyboards.

Overall, the best phones at CES 2026 highlighted varied approaches to smartphone innovation, with foldables pushing new form factors, flagships reinforcing performance standards, and mid-range devices like TCL’s matte display phone and Infinix’s satellite-enabled models proving that innovation is not limited to premium segments. Unconventional devices such as the Clicks Communicator also showed there is still room for ideas focused on communication and productivity, as brands continue to experiment beyond conventional slab-style smartphones.

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