You’re not imagining it. The BlackBerry is back… kinda.
Not because the company is making new phones again (they’re not), or because the ghosts of Bold and Curve have crawled out of some old Verizon warehouse. But because Gen Z – yes, the TikTok generation – has decided that BlackBerry phones are cool. Again.
What started as a few creators showing off their eBay finds has snowballed into a full-blown media moment. We’re talking New York Times coverage, national TV hitsand a wave of nostalgia content celebrating the clicky keys, the physicality, the intentionality of a BlackBerry.
Why?
Because we’re all drowning in screen time.
Because doomscrolling has become a sport.
Because we’re addicted to our phones… and Gen Z, of all people, is saying “enough.”
They’re discovering what us OGs have always known: that buttons have power. That a phone designed for communication, not consumptionis actually good for your brain. That tech can be purposeful – and maybe even cool – when it doesn’t hijack your dopamine.
@bulletproofbailey BlackBerry was and is that girl 💅 #blackberry #y2k #y2kaesthetic #detox #cellphone #texting #millennial #Genz ♬ original sound – Bailey
Now if you’re new around here, allow me to reintroduce myself. I’m Kevin Michaluk aka CrackBerry Kevin – founder of CrackBerry.comlifelong BlackBerry evangelist, and, most recently, cofounder & President of a startup called Clicks Technology.
Back in early 2024, Clicks unveiled its smart keyboard case for iPhone in the most unBlackBerry way possible. Breaking the internet with its bright yellow design and round buttons, it offered a modern and dare I say Apple-like twist on BlackBerry’s classic QWERTY experience. And guess what? It hit. Over 100,000 units sold. A community of passionate users formed almost overnight.
But here’s the kicker: 45% of our iPhone Clicks customers had never used a BlackBerry before. They weren’t just reliving nostalgia — they were discovering the magic of buttons for the first time.
Which brings me back to Gen Z. This movement we’re seeing? The one where teens and twenty-somethings are ditching their dopamine doom-machines for a BlackBerry Curve circa 2009? It’s not just a trend. It’s a signal.
There’s a desire for simpler tech. For tools that help you live your life, not lose yourself in it. For a phone that feels more like a companion than a casino.
And maybe, just maybe…
It’s time.
Source: BringBackBlackBerry.com
I’m not just watching this wave. I’m riding it.
A few weeks ago, I quietly launched BringBackBlackBerry.com. No fanfare. No press release. Just a simple petition asking the question:
If BlackBerry phones came back, would you want one?
Even without my name attached, thousands started signing. The idea has legs. So now I’m making it official: Yes, it’s me. CrackBerry Kevin.
And I’m asking for your help.
See, I don’t think BlackBerry (the company) is going to get back into the phone business on their own. They’ve exited hardware. Sold their patents. Let go of the people who used to build this stuff.
But you know what they do still have?
The brand.
And while others since TCL and Onward Mobility have tried in recent years (and failed) to license it, I believe if there’s anyone on the planet who could – and should – lead the charge for a final attempt at a BlackBerry Handset revival, it’s yours truly.
I’ve got the track record.
I’ve got the team.
I’ve got the keys.
Literally.
Clicks isn’t just an accessory company — it’s a launchpad. We have a product portfolio mapped out that stretches well beyond what you’ve seen to date. We’ve got BlackBerry DNA on staff, including key members of the Product and Industrial Design teams that brought your favorite BlackBerrys of all time to life. We understand hardware, software, and have the right manufacturing and supply chain partners sorted. We even were acknowledged recently as the Growth Startup of the Year at San Francisco’s Annual Startup Grind Tech Conference.
But imagine if we could go one step further:
A Clicks × BlackBerry collab.
The real deal.
A modern BlackBerry, reborn for a new generation.
If you want to see that happen, sign the petition. Add your name. Add your voice. Tell your friends. Give me the ammo to go to BlackBerry and properly get their attention and do a deal for phone licensing rights.
If we get enough people, maybe… just maybe… the comeback becomes official.
Other QWERTY Comeback Kids
Now look, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the other players out there trying to bring back keyboard phones in one form or another.
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Touches is refurbishing old BlackBerry Classics and Passports with updated Android internals. It’s more of a niche project lead by a developer team out of China than a production-scale company, but if you’ve been dying to resurrect your BB10-era device, it’s worth checking out.
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Unihertz dropped the Titan 2 on Kickstarter — a sort of BB Passport remix that’s chunky, quirky, and undeniably interesting.
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New crowdfunded projects like SidePhone, KeyPhoneand Ikko are also playing in this growing intentional tech space, following up on the recent launch of the Minimal Phone which pairs an e-ink display with a qwerty keyboard. These new players build on the work done by companies like Point and Lightphone who have been selling their digital minimalism phones for years now.
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All of these projects prove one thing: the demand is real. But none of them are BlackBerry.
They might scratch the itch. But they don’t fill the void.
So here’s where we’re at.
Gen Z is falling in love with the phone that defined a generation – and for good reason.
Clicks has already brought the keyboard back to life, with serious traction.
The desire for intentional tech is louder than ever.
All that’s missing now… is the name.
The legacy.
The brand.
Let’s bring it back. Together.
And if you’re an investor, industry player, potential partner or someone serious about helping make this happen? Shoot me an email to: [email protected] or [email protected].
This might be our last shot. Let’s make it count.
CrackBerry Kevin
Still typing. Still clicking. Still BBelieving.