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 nan iPhone. The MetaKey looks very akin to Clicks’ lineup of cases that adhd a BlackBerry-style mini keyboard to nan bottommost of iPhones and Android phones, but pinch immoderate improvements and a overmuch cheaper value tag. The cheapest Clicks case starts astatine $139, but Akko’s MetaKey is $59.99 for nan iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is disposable now, and $69.99 for nan 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 only targeted astatine BlackBerry fans who miss smartphones pinch mini beingness keyboards. It besides facilitates matter introduction connected nan iPhone without iOS’ on-screen keyboard covering up astir half nan screen, but that comes astatine nan costs of having to wrangle an iPhone that’s a fewer inches longer pinch nan lawsuit attached. Akko’s solution for those that find their taller telephone excessively top-heavy arsenic they type is an included 9 gram weight that tin beryllium attached to nan backmost of nan keyboard to amended nan wide balance.

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

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