Samsung successfully avoided the pitfalls of the "modular phone" trend that ensnared Motorola, Google, and LG. Instead, the company explored enhancing functionality through accessories, such as the Lens Cover we previously discussed.
Now, let's delve into another accessory from that era – the Keyboard Cover for the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5, released in 2015.
This cover featured a detachable QWERTY keyboard with various layouts, which attached to the front of the phone. It covered the lower third of the screen, corresponding roughly to the area occupied by the on-screen keyboard, providing physical keys for touch typing and incorporating the three-button navigation still used by Samsung today.
Sold as a two-piece package with a protective case for the back and to secure the keyboard, this accessory relied solely on the capacitive touchscreen beneath it to register key presses, without requiring any plugs or batteries.
While not cutting-edge technology, it effectively leveraged the device's multi-touch capabilities. For instance, holding down the Alt key allowed users to input digits without a dedicated number row, offering faster typing compared to on-screen keyboards, which require long-presses for alternative symbols like punctuation.
When not in use, the keyboard could be unclipped from the front and attached to the back, and its compact size allowed for easy pocketing.
Although physical keyboards were becoming less common by 2015, with BlackBerry being one of the few manufacturers still producing them, Samsung's Keyboard Cover provided a convenient alternative for users who preferred tactile feedback.
The success of the Keyboard Cover prompted Samsung to continue offering similar accessories with subsequent flagship models, such as the Galaxy S7 and S8 series.
However, this venture came to an end when Samsung opted not to release a Keyboard Cover for the Galaxy S9 series. Despite this, there remains occasional interest in reviving physical keyboards for smartphones, as evidenced by recent projects like the Clicks keyboard for iPhones showcased at CES in January.
The Clicks keyboard Cover for iPhones is a one-piece case that poses a challenge in terms of removal and attachment. While it doesn't obstruct any part of the screen, it does make the phone taller. Unlike Samsung, Apple's iOS presents limitations for integrating such accessories due to its closed ecosystem.
In conclusion, the question remains whether on-screen keyboards have surpassed physical ones, or if there's still a place for accessories like the Keyboard Cover.
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