This Physical Clicks Keyboard Is The Pixel 9 Upgrade I Didn't Know I Needed

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Clicks Keyboard for Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro is disposable for $139.
• The keyboard supports autochthonal Android shortcuts, has a dedicated Gemini button, and supports information pass-through
• However,it only comes successful black, shortcuts can't beryllium customized, and location is nary Clicks for nan larger Pixel 9 Pro XL.

In early 2024, a mates of my longtime buddies successful nan mobile tech world launched Clicks, a institution that makes beingness QWERTY keyboard accessories for nan iPhone. We went hands-on pinch nan device past year, but it remained an iPhone-only merchandise until recently. Just past week, a Clicks Keyboard for my Google Pixel 9 arrived, and I couldn't hold to trial it out.

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This type of nan Clicks keyboard incorporates nan creation improvements seen successful nan latest models, including improved ergonomic cardinal design, information pass-through support, metallic buttons connected nan side, and a caller Clicks smartphone utility.

This is Clicks' first task into nan Android market, pinch models besides coming soon for nan Motorola Razr and Samsung Galaxy S25. Unfortunately, however, neither nan Pixel nor nan Galaxy models are disposable for nan larger Pixel XL aliases Samsung Ultra phones that I person successful my collection.

The beingness QWERTY keyboard and lawsuit acquisition from nan iPhone models is nan aforesaid for nan Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, truthful each of nan greatness of Clicks is fresh to stone connected a Pixel. A fewer options successful nan Clicks smartphone inferior are different, however, including rate and Gemini settings. The astir important quality successful nan Clicks Keyboard acquisition is nan precocious support successful iOS for Shortcuts.

Android provides a immense magnitude of autochthonal shortcuts that nan Clicks Keyboard tin return advantage of, but these cannot beryllium customized and location is nary autochthonal macro shortcut functionality for illustration we spot pinch nan Apple Shortcuts inferior pinch precocious automations and capability.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Some of nan Android shortcuts I person been utilizing connected nan Google Pixel 9 include:

• Single pressing nan cardinal near of nan abstraction barroom for nan app launcher
  
• Press nan app launcher and E to unfastened Gmail
  
• Press nan app launcher and M to unfastened Google Maps
• Press nan app launcher and B to unfastened nan Chrome web browser
  

While not exhaustive, to entree a database of shortcuts successful Android, spell to Settings > System > Keyboard > Physical keyboard > Keyboard shortcuts. 

I besides propose that you hunt for much of these online, since galore of nan Android shortcuts disposable pinch Clicks are recovered wrong circumstantial Google apps. I would emotion to alteration nan E cardinal to G for Gmail and immoderate of nan different options, but that does not look to beryllium imaginable successful Android.

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One of nan awesome benefits of a Clicks Keyboard is nan expertise to hide nan on-screen keyboard and position information connected nan afloat surface of your smartphone. With Clicks connected nan Pixel 9, I person a show acquisition moreover amended than a Pixel 9 Pro XL without a Clicks keyboard, while besides benefiting from a nosy beingness keyboard that brings backmost a spot of nan past.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Using nan spacebar to jump down websites a page astatine a time, and Shift > spacebar to move up, has made browsing Chrome a pleasant acquisition wherever I don't person to swipe crossed nan display. I'm getting faster astatine typing pinch nan Clicks Keyboard, and thankfully, nan keyboard introduction layout and feedback are nan aforesaid connected iOS and Android, truthful I tin now amended crossed platforms.

The Clicks Keyboard for nan Pixel 9 does make your smartphone agelong and a spot unwieldy. As I participate shorts season, this will intelligibly punctual maine to time off nan keyboard behind. I dream to soon trial retired nan Clicks exemplary for nan Motorola Razr since my 2024 Razr Pro is my summertime play smartphone, and having a RazrBerry successful my pouch could beryllium perfect.

ZDNET's buying advice

I thin to jump astir betwixt various Android smartphones and iPhones, but 1 logic I kept utilizing an iPhone arsenic my regular driver successful 2024 was nan Clicks Keyboard. Now that Clicks is rolling retired models for prime Android smartphones, I tin bask nan beingness QWERTY keyboard acquisition without having to springiness up connected 1 of my favourite smartphone accessories.