Clicks Technology, the startup behind the viral keyboard iPhone case, has revealed exclusive plans to launch its mobile accessory in the UAE market later this year, CEO Adrian Li told Arabian Business in an interview at MWC Barcelona.
Since launching in January 2024, the Clicks keyboard case has taken the tech world by storm. Designed to evoke memories of the classic BlackBerry keyboard, it attaches directly to iPhones, freeing up the entire screen for typing while restoring the tactile feedback of physical keys.
Clicks keyboard for iPhone
The company’s CEO, Adrian Li, exclusively revealed to Arabian Business that Clicks aims to launch the keyboard case in the UAE by the time iPhone 16 arrives later this year. “We are planning to bring Clicks to Dubai in the summer, closer to when the iPhone 16 comes out,” said Li.
Clicks will establish local distribution partnerships and maintain inventory stocks to ensure the product is swiftly available throughout the UAE market. Li revealed customisations for local consumers are also being considered, with potential exclusive colour options such as black and gold to cater to regional tastes.
Clicks co-founders Michael Fisher, Adrian Li, and Kevin Michaluk drew on decades of experience in mobile keyboard and content creation to assemble a “dream team” and develop the product. Despite keeping plans secret, strong marketing drove viral buzz at launch. While Clicks expected interest from tech circles, Li said mainstream popularity has exceeded expectations.
“With Clicks, we wanted to bring a really good people experience to the iPhone and develop a great product,” he said. “The choice of things like colour of the products and images put out online is all quite intentional.”
Comprising iOS experts, tech influencers, and ex-BlackBerry staff, Clicks’ “dream team” brought together intuition for mobile keyboards and a seamless integrated design, he said, adding that the product has majorly enhanced the iPhone user experience.
“What we didn’t expect when we did launch was that we would have a lot of interest in the mainstream,” Li added.
“So many people really enjoy the experience of using keyboards. But now since everyone has moved to iOS and Android devices, there’s nothing that still exists out there today that gives you this kind of experience. So we thought to ourselves: how do we bring that experience to a device that’s really relevant to us today?”
According to Li, the product’s design and full-screen typing experience have enhanced iPhone users’ content creation abilities. With 70 percent of the initial 70,000 units sold in vibrant yellow, the Clicks keyboard case has struck a nostalgic chord with both long-time iPhone users and former BlackBerry diehards.
With the keyboard case, users are freed from the constraints of the on-screen keyboard as it collapses, unveiling the full expanse of the iPhone’s display for maximised viewing and interaction. They can also use MacBook iOS shortcuts on the keyboard and browse web pages using the space bar instead of traditional scrolling. But most importantly perhaps is the “sensation of typing the buttons,” he said.
“It’s more than just having a keyboard. It enhances the value for iOS users.”
Priced at $139 for the standard model and $159 for a larger version exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro, the product is currently only compatible with Apple’s latest flagship. However, Clicks plans to expand availability to the iPhone 15 Pro line by the end of next month, with further iOS device support slated over the coming months to accommodate newer iPhone releases.
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