This BlackBerry-style iPhone keyboard case has an optional weight to improve its balance

The MetaKey connects to iPhone models done their USB-C port, but includes a passthrough larboard for charging and syncing. | Image: Akko

Akko, a institution champion known for keyboards, keycaps, and switches, has launched its ain keyboard lawsuit for the iPhone. The MetaKey looks precise akin to Clicks’ lineup of cases that adhd a BlackBerry-style mini keyboard to the bottommost of iPhones and Android phones, but with immoderate improvements and a overmuch cheaper terms tag. The cheapest Clicks case starts astatine $139, but Akko’s MetaKey is $59.99 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is disposable now, and $69.99 for the 17 Pro Max (temporarily discounted to $59.99), which isn’t disposable conscionable yet. Color options see black, white, pink, blue, green, and orange.

The MetaKey isn’t lone targeted astatine BlackBerry fans who miss smartphones with tiny carnal keyboards. It besides facilitates substance introduction connected the iPhone without iOS’ on-screen keyboard covering up astir fractional the screen, but that comes astatine the outgo of having to wrangle an iPhone that’s a fewer inches longer with the lawsuit attached. Akko’s solution for those that find their taller telephone excessively top-heavy arsenic they benignant is an included 9 gram value that tin beryllium attached to the backmost of the keyboard to amended the wide balance.

Like the assorted Clicks keyboard cases, the MetaKey connects to the iPhone done its USB-C larboard and includes its ain USB-C larboard for charging. It besides features assorted shortcut keys for entering numbers, triggering app-specific functions, accessing Siri, utilizing iOS’ voice-to-text features, and a mode that turns the apical 2 rows of keys into ample scrolling buttons for erstwhile you’re mindlessly browsing societal media. The MetaKey’s keyboard adjacent has a backlight truthful you tin inactive pat retired a remark during a late-night doomscrolling session, and it’s MagSafe compatible with an further array of magnets connected the backmost to securely clasp accessories.

Clicks has already launched a caller mentation of its lawsuit that’s compatible with the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro for $139, and a $159 mentation for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It features a caller plan the institution says is present 40 percent thinner and 11 percent lighter, distinguishing it from erstwhile Clicks cases and the Akko MetaKey. The caller lawsuit besides uses the aforesaid ergonomic sculpted keys that Clicks introduced past year, and adds lanyard holes connected each broadside truthful it should beryllium compatible with Apple’s caller crossbody iPhone strap. The Verge has reached retired to Clicks for remark astir its caller rival and volition update this communicative if they respond.