Mobile UX
fromZDNET
4 days agoI tested a BlackBerry-style Android phone with a keyboard, and it's weirdly practical in 2026
Unihertz Titan 2 Elite is the best phone the company has made, featuring a physical keyboard and a sleek design.
The 2000s were Apple's golden era of tactile design. Physical keyboards meant something. The iPod's click wheel became cultural shorthand for cool. Even charging docks were desktop sculptures worth displaying. Then touchscreens erased it all, and we've been swiping through a world of smooth glass ever since. These seven accessories prove that the best design decisions don't need updating. Each one resurrects an iconic piece of Apple history while solving modern problems we didn't realize we still had.
Akko, best known for its mechanical keyboards and custom keycaps, has ventured into smartphone territory with the MetaKey, a cleverly designed case that reintroduces a physical keyboard to the iPhone. The accessory attaches to the phone via USB-C and features a passthrough port, allowing users to charge or transfer data without needing to remove it. Designed for the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the upcoming 17 Pro Max, MetaKey combines functionality with nostalgia,