Clix Keyboard Case review: Physical keys for iPhone

I was very happy When I first saw the Clix Keyboard Case. This is the first case of its kind iPhone case With a built-in physical keyboard—yes, in 2024! I remember frantically typing and sending texts on my Clackety blackberry curve And the LG rumor harked back to the old days and has been chasing that feeling ever since. You can imagine my shock when I discovered I was hating myself. clicks First of all.

when i added 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 the opposite happened. Between tiny keys, finding the right way to hold the case in my hands, and remembering shortcuts, I often pull out a virtual keyboard instead. this thing takes time To know.

Latest version designed for iPhone 16 Lineup Improves things overall. The keys are large and contoured, it supports MagSafe and CarPlay, and a new dedicated action button lets you trigger certain commands. (This is only available for iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max right now, but the company says it will have cases for it iPhone 16 and 16 Plus By the end of the year.) The upgrade won't take away the fact that patience is still a necessity in the beginning. But it's worth it – physical keys rule.

main price

Naturally, the built-in keyboard attracted my attention when I first heard about the Clix. Then I quickly looked at the price. The Clix Case is expensive, starting at $139 and going up to $159 for the larger iPhone Pro Max modelsYes, technically it's two products in one (a case and a keyboard), but I don't usually spend more than $50 on one. iPhone caseStill, it's easy to understand Why Once you get your hands on it, it's very expensive.

I already thought the iPhone 15 Clix case was cool, but the iPhone 16 version goes a step further. The rubberized back has now become a hard plastic that not only feels more durable but also attracts less dust and lint. It's also easy to get in and out of your pocket (if you have a pocket that can fit it) because it won't get stuck. The brushed metal side keys, along with the cutout for the new camera control button on the iPhone 16, are a nice touch. On the bottom, you'll find a patch of vegan leather that adds some lovely padding when gripping the case.

The keyboard is great in this version. On the iPhone 15 Pro, the keys are small, round, raised buttons and they feel hard to type on, especially if I want to avoid typos. The latest version has contoured design keys, and importantly, the surface area of ​​each button is 35 percent larger. Larger targets mean more accurate typing. They're backlit (on both versions), so it's just as easy to type even in the dark.

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar