TCL Mobile has taken the wraps off the BlackBerry KEY² in New York. The keyboard-toting flagship brings a number of new features.
We have talked about the design in previous leaks, so there is no need to bore you with that again. The bottom line is that the BlackBerry KEY² is a much better-looking phone than its predecessor.
BlackBerry KEY² Specs
The KEY² keeps the screen of the KEYone – a 4.5-inch LCD display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. It is powered by a Snapdragon 660 processor, with 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage
The BlackBerry KEY² is the first Blackberry phone to come with dual cameras but hopefully won’t be the last. There are two 12MP sensors – a standard lens and a telephoto lens. Owners will be able to take portrait photos and zoom in without losing details with the new cameras. An 8MP camera sits above the display. Google lens has also been added to the gallery app.
The keyboard has been redesigned. BlackBerry says the keys are now 20% larger than those of the KEYone. There is also a new key called the Speed Key.
The Speed Key works sort of like the function key on a keyboard but helps to make app switching faster. Hold it down and press an already customized key and it switches straight to the app.
For example, you can hold the Speed KEY + W which opens Whatsapp or Speed + M which can open maps or messages depending on your preset choice or Speed Key + I which opens Instagram.
The Convenience Key is now on the right of the phone and comes with new features. It will open up apps depending on the mode the phone is such as Maps when in driving mode. Just like the KEYone, the BlackBerry KEY² has its fingerprint scanner buried in the space bar. The whole keyboard still works like a trackpad too.
Other features of the BlackBerry KEY² include a 3500mAh battery which BlackBerry claims should last for two days, a USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and NFC. It comes with Android 8.1 Oreo and BlackBerry’s DTEK security features. BlackBerry promises monthly security updates as well as at least one major OS update.
READ MORE: BlackBerry BBG100-1 Powered By MSM8953 Seen On Geekbench
BlackBerry KEY² Pricing and Availability
The BlackBerry KEY² will be available in Black and Silver. It will be available for pre-order in the US, UK, UAE, Canada, Germany, China and France this month while global availability will be in July. Starting price for the phone is $649.
