None of the licensees for the BlackBerry Mobile brand announced a new smartphone this year. Not TCL, not Optiemus Infracom, and definitely not BB Merah Putih. One can say the brand is dead once again. However, while no new phones were announced, the older ones got software updates albeit security patches. For example,  the 2017 BlackBerry Motion got September 2019’s security patch back in October. Now there are reports that the KEY2 is getting November’s security patch.

The news comes from China and it says the changelog doesn’t bring any new features other than the security patch. So the BlackBerry KEY2 is still stuck on Android 8.1 Oreo which is quite sad.

While there is no confirmation of a new BlackBerry phone in development, one thing we are sure of is that there won’t be a 5G BlackBerry phone anytime soon according to a TCL executive. Stefan Streit who is the general manager of marketing said back in October that they have no plans to launch a 5G BlackBerry phone. Apparently, he doesn’t see the need for the technology on a device that isn’t considered as an entertainment phone. This is not completely ruling out a 5G BlackBerry phone but it just isn’t currently in their plans.

The BlackBerry KEY2 was announced in June 2018. It has a 4.5-inch screen with a 1080 x 1620 resolution that sits above a physical QWERTY keyboard. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 660 and has 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of expandable storage. There are dual 12MP cameras on the rear while an 8MP camera sits in front for selfies and video calls. The phone also has a 3500mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0, a front-mounted fingerprint scanner, NFC, and an audio jack.

TCL is currently focusing on its own brand. It launched the TCL Plex in September and there is a possibility it will announce another TCL-banded phone next year. So for now, one can say the BlackBerry Mobile brand has taken a backseat.

UP NEXT: TCL WQ Gaming Tablet Display with 240Hz refresh rate and punch-hole leaks

(Via)

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The BlackBerry KEY2 launched in June 2018. It was announced in two color variants – Black and Silver but it has been reported that it will get a red variant soon just like that of the KEY2 LE‘s Atomic Red.

The info comes from Mysmartprice and they say the new color variant is set to launch in Europe. It may launch in other countries too but there is no confirmation yet. Just like the BlackBerry KEY2 LE, the red KEY2 will have a red frame and red accents for the keyboard.

The KEY2 may be nearly due for a successor but if you are looking for an Android phone with a physical QWERTY keyboard, this is probably the best option even though it is pricey.

READ MORE: BlackBerry ‘Adula’ smartphone running Android 9 Pie may be in the works

The BlackBerry KEY2 has a 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 display, a Snapdragon 660 processor, 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. There are dual 12MP sensors on its back and an 8MP camera in front for selfies. The space key doubles as a fingerprint scanner and there is a 3,500mAh battery under the hood with support for Quick Charge 3.0. It runs Android Oreo out of the box and there is still no news of an update to Android Pie yet.

(Source)

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TCL is set to launch a new version of its BlackBerry KEY2 smartphone. The new version will cost less and launch as the BlackBerry KEY2 LE according to Roland Quandt. Now specs of the upcoming device have leaked online.

According to AndroidPolice, the BlackBerry KEY 2 LE will come with a Snapdragon 636 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. It will also come in 32GB ROM and 64GB ROM storage variants.

The processor is quite different from the Geekbench listing of the device which says it has a Snapdragon 660 processor. We’ll advise you keep your fingers crossed on this one.

As seen from leaked photos, the KEY 2 LE will have dual rear cameras but they will be less powerful. Instead of two 12MP sensors, they will be 13MP and 5MP sensors.

Even though the design of both the KEY 2 and KEY 2 LE appears the same, the latter is slightly smaller measuring 150.25 x 71.8 x 8.35 mm. It also weighs less at 156g. TCL has also cut the battery from 3500mAh to 3000mAh which is a pretty significant decrease. The phone will retain the display size and resolution of its more powerful sibling which is a 4.5-inch 1080 x 1620 screen.

AndroidPolice have also gotten their hands on a picture that shows both sides of the device. The QWERTY keyboard looks similar and it is said to house a fingerprint scanner under the spacebar key. However, it won’t have the trackpad functionality of the KEYone and KEY2 which is a bummer.

READ MORE: BlackBerry releases video teaser for its first wireless charger

The BlackBerry KEY2 sells for $650 which is super pricey when compared to other flagship phones which have significantly better specs including cameras. But with the KEY2 LE, physical keyboard-lovers will obviously pay less.

(Source)

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BlackBerry KEY², the latest smartphone from the company, which was launched last month, has now finally launched in India. The smartphone is priced at Rs. 42,990, which roughly converts to $626 and will be available in Black color only.

It will be available for purchase in India through Amazon.in from 31st July. The company is also offering some offers, including Reliance Jio cashback of Rs. 4,450 (approximately $65) and ICICI bank cash back offer of 5 percent along with a few other benefits.

The smartphone comes with a 4.5-inch display with 1620 x 1080 pixels screen resolution, 433PPI and 3:2 aspect ratio and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top. It also has a 4-row QWERTY physical backlit keyboard with keys that respond to touch gestures.

It has support for flick typing and up to 52 customizable shortcuts. Compared to its predecessor, the keys are about 20 percent bigger with the same footprint. There’s also a new dedicated key called “Speed Key” that enables users to launch apps. Just like its predecessor, the fingerprint sensor is embedded into the spacebar key.

Under the hood, the phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor along with Adreno 512 GPU and 6GB RAM. There are two options for internal storage — 64GB and 128GB with microSD card that supports expandable storage up to 2TB.

As for the photography, there’s a dual camera setup on the back with a 12-megapixel primary sensor, f/1.8 aperture, 79.3-degree wide-angle lens, dual phase detection autofocus, and a 12-megapixel secondary sensor with f/2.6 aperture and 50-degree lens. On the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

Read More: BlackBerry Ghost and Ghost Pro will launch as BlackBerry Evolve and BlackBerry Evolve X respectively

The BlackBerry KEY² runs on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box. Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5 LE, GPS / GLONASS, NFC, and USB 3.0 Type-C. The phone is powered by a 3,360mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging support.

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So far, the BlackBerry KEY² is the only BlackBerry phone that has been released this year. India’s Optiemus is expected to announce two new BlackBerry phones with 18:9 displays called the Evolve and Evolve X but there is no launch date yet. However, we may be getting yet another phone soon codenamed “Luna” but which may launch as the BlackBerry KEY² Lite.

The info comes from Evan Blass (@evleaks). In a tweet posted yesterday, he revealed the rear of a device with a similar form factor as the BlackBerry KEY². It has dual cameras and a LED flash beside the setup. However, the pattern of the plastic back is different and it also has a red frame. Its buttons are on the same side and also arranged the same way as the KEY².

According to Evan Blass, the device is allegedly known as the “BlackBerry Luna a.k.a. the KEY2 Lite”. He didn’t mention any specs but added in a follow-up tweet that the phone is expected to launch in late August/early September or maybe even at IFA.

Alleged BlackBerry Luna, a.k.a. the "KEY2 Lite" (Lite and not Mini 'cuz they supposedly have the same form factor). Said/shown to come in red, blue, and copper. pic.twitter.com/fMza9pAAZC

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 18, 2018

This isn’t the first time we have seen the name “Luna” associated with BlackBerry. Earlier this year, it surfaced alongside the codenames “Athena” and “Uni”. However, not much about the device was revealed then except that it would have a physical keyboard like the Athena. The Athena later launched as the BlackBerry KEY².

The KEY² comes with a Snapdragon 660 processor with 6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage. It also has a starting price of $649. The KEY² Lite is expected to come with a less powerful processor which may be a Snapdragon 625 processor like the original KEYone. This info is based on a Geekbench listing that surfaced back in May.

READ MORE: BlackBerry KEY² gets updated in China, brings July’s security patch

While the processor may be disappointing, new features such as dual cameras and a more recent software and a low-price tag may help it succeed.

(Source)

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The BlackBerry KEY² was launched in China a little over a month ago. It has now received its first update which brings some optimizations as well as the latest security patch.

According to a translation of the changelog, the update brings July’s security patch and optimizes the voice assistant, camera, and information displayed in the status bar. It also fixes a compatibility issue experienced by Beijing bus card users. There are other bug fixes mentioned in the complete changelog.

The update is 513MB in size and should be hitting devices over the next few days. There is no info yet as to when the update will be arriving outside China.

The BlackBerry KEY² comes with a 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 display, a Snapdragon 660 processor and 6GB of RAM. It also has 64GB or 128Gb of storage depending on the variant you buy.

The KEY² is also the first BlackBerry to have dual rear cameras – two 12MP sensors with the secondary camera being a telephoto lens with 2X optical zoom. The selfie camera is an 8MP f/2.0 sensor.

READ MORE: BlackBerry Ghost to be a Flagship with 4000mAh Battery

Other features include a 3500mAh battery, a USB-C port, Bluetooth 5.0, a fingerprint scanner, FM radio, NFC and dual-band WiFi.

(Via)

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The BlackBerry KEY² was announced in China on June 8. However, only the 6GB RAM + 64GB model has been available for purchase. If you have been waiting for the 128GB model, you can now pre-order it on Jingdong (JD.com) before it goes on sale on Monday, 18th of June.

The 128GB BlackBerry KEY² will sell for ¥4499 (~$699), about $78 more than the 64GB model which is priced at ¥3999 (~$621). Nevertheless, these prices are lesser than those of other markets.

The BlackBerry KEY² has a 4.5” screen, a Snapdragon 660 processor, and dual 12MP rear cameras. It also has an 8MP front-facing camera, a 3500mAh battery, and runs Android 8.1 Oreo.

BlackBerry has redesigned the keyboard by making the keys bigger and also including a new key called the Speed Key. The Speed Key is sort of like a function key which launches preset apps when you press it along with another key. BlackBerry says it should make multi-tasking faster.

READ MORE: BlackBerry BBG100-1 Powered By MSM8953 Seen On Geekbench

The phone also has NFC, a USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and BlackBerry’s DTEK security features. It is available in black and silver.

(Via)

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TCL-owned  Blackberry continued from where it left off on the Keyone with the launch of the Blackberry Key2 yesterday in New York. The Key2 is noticeably wearing a new, improved look when compared to its predecessor. Check out the photo gallery of the Blackberry Key2 that we got courtesy of tech blog Geekspin.

The Blackberry Key2 is one smartphone to be excited about for all reasons except its pricing. It packs the same 4.5-inch LCD utilized on the KEYone in a 3:2 aspect ratio. The small display is as a result of the physical QWERTY keyboard that is underneath the display. They keyboard took some improvement in the size of the keys and the feel. There is also new Speed key just beside the symbol key. The keyboard’s surface is touch-sensitive meaning you can swipe up and down through lists, as well as left and right. With the Key2’s QWERTY keyboard, it is possible to assign shortcuts to all of the letters.

In terms of the dimension, the Blackberry Key2 measures 151.4mm x 71.8mm x 8.5mm, meaning it is taller but the width is almost the same with the Keyone but just 8.5mm thick as against 9.4mm on the Keyone. The device is also lighter and sturdier. The body is made from the 7 series aluminium. 

Turning our attention to the back, the device use a dimpled plastic finished in a grippy diamond pattern that stretches all the way from top to bottom. The Key2 is a dual camera-packing smartphone which is the first in the series as the Keyone had only one rear sensor. The dual camera are arranged horizontally and placed at the top left edge of the back panel. There is no fingerprint sensor at the back, instead it is embedded under the space bar.

The placement of the capacitive keys on the side edges are also different on the Key2. On the KeyOne, the power button was placed in the top left corner edge and wasn’t particularly easy to reach. The Key2’s power button has now moved to the right edge, located underneath the volume rocker and is in effect within easy thumb reach (or left hand index finger). It’s also textured to differentiate it from the Convenience Key which sits underneath that.

Read More: BlackBerry KEY² Launches With More Powerful Specs, Dual Cameras & An Improved Design

The hardware onboard the Blackberry Key2 is also improved. It is powered by a Snapdragon 660 processor, paired with 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. 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. The device comes in Silver and Black colours but I think I prefer the Silver variant. Glance through more hands-on photos of the Blackberry Key2 on our gallery.

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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.

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Just a few days ago, we posted official renders of the upcoming BlackBerry KEY². Today, they have been followed by a complete leak of the specification sheet as well as pricing for various markets from yet the same source – Evan Blass (@evleaks).

BlackBerry KEY² Specs

The BlackBerry KEY² will have a 4.5-inch screen with a 1620 x 1080 resolution. It appears the screen just looks bigger, it is actually the same size as the first-gen model. The display is LCD and it is covered with Gorilla Glass 3.

Under the textured back of the KEY² is a Snapdragon 660 processor. It is paired with 6GB of RAM and  64GB or 128GB of built-in storage. The phone will also come with support for storage expansion (256GB max).

One of the big changes in the BlackBerry KEY² is the addition of an extra sensor on the rear of the phone. Now you have a 12MP f/1.8 1.28um sensor paired with another 12MP f/2.6 1.0um sensor. Up in front is an 8MP fixed focus camera for selfies.

The phone has a 3500mAh battery. There is a USB-C 3.0 port, NFC, a 3.5mm audio jack, and Bluetooth 5.0. It will come pre-loaded with tons of Blackberry Apps as well as default Android apps. It will run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.

The BlackBerry KEY² will have four variants – BBF100-1 for EU, Africa, AU, and Japan; BBF100-2 for NA and LATM; BBF100-4 model for China; and BBF100-6 model which has dual SIM slots for ME, APAC, India, and Indonesia.

READ MORE: BlackBerry KeyONE To Get Oreo Soon, May Update Just Rolled Out

BlackBerry KEY² Price

The BlackBerry KEY² will sell for $649 in the US, €649 in Europe, £579 in the UK, and $829 in Canada. Evleaks didn’s specify if these prices are for the 64GB or 128GB model.

The BlackBerry KEY² launches tomorrow in New York and on Friday in China.

(Sources: 1, 2)

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The BlackBerry KEY² launches in a few days. Ahead of the release, popular leaker @evleaks has released some high resolution renders of the device.

The changes in the BlackBerry KEY² are easy to spot right away. It now comes with dual rear cameras that are arranged horizontally. The sensors are slightly raised and have a metal frame around them. It also has a single LED flash now and not two like its predecessor.

BlackBerry has gone with a textured rear which has a diamond-like design. The famous Blackberry logo sits at the center of the device.

For the front, the device appears to have a larger screen. The glass covering the display reaches to the top with a slit for the earpiece. I think this is a better design than the thick metal bezel on the KEYone.

The keyboard has been redesigned too. It even has a new key (beside the symbol key) that wasn’t present on the KEYone. Other changes include a redesigned speaker grille which is still on opposite sides of the USB-C port and the repositioning of the buttons and SIM tray.

READ MORE: BlackBerry BBG100-1 Powered By MSM8953 Seen On Geekbench

The BlackBerry KEY² launches in New York on Thursday and in Beijing on Friday. It is expected to come with a Snapdragon 660 processor and up to 6GB of RAM.

(Source)

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TCL will unveil the BlackBerry KEY² on June 7. The event will hold in New York, which means the phone will go on sale in North America first. If you live in China, you won’t have to wait for long as the phone will head to Asia the next day.

BlackBerry has already sent out invites that reveal the BlackBerry KEY² will launch in Beijing on June 8. The event will begin at 9:30 AM (Beijing time) at the Damai Center (Hall 1).

BlackBerry has also signed a deal with Jingdong to sell the device. We can’t confirm if this is exclusive to the e-commerce giant or if other platforms will sell the phone too. Jingdong has already put up a page for the device. If you are interested you can go on and register.

READ MORE: BlackBerry BBG100-1 Powered By MSM8953 Seen On Geekbench

The BlackBerry KEY² is reported to come in two variants – a Snapdragon 450 version with 4GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 660 version with 6GB of RAM. Other specs such as cameras, battery, screen resolution should be the same across models. The BlackBerry KEY² will also come with dual rear cameras and a redesigned keyboard.

(Source, Via)

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Blackberry has already revealed that the Key2 will be launched on June 7 in New York City. The smartphone maker has now released a new video teaser that shows off some of the features the Blackberry Key2 will pack.

The video teaser is a short one but it gives us an idea of what to expect. Talking about what to expect, we are quite surprised to find the device will have a third button alongside the power button and volume rocker at the side. We can’t say what the button’s function will be. The new button appears to be an app drawer shortcut of some sort. In addition, the video also shows the Key2 will have dual cameras at the rear starked horizontally in the top left corner. It will also feature dual-tone LED flash sitting by the side of the camera. The KeyOne was spectacular because of its physical QWERTY keyboard. the Key2 will equally have a keyboard but there seems to have been some minor tweaks added to the buttons which may bring some short cut functions.

Read Also: BlackBerry KEY2 (Athena) Gets WiFi & Bluetooth Certification

The Blackberry KEY2 is a mid-range model and is expected to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, coupled with 6GB RAM and 64GB internal memory. The full specifications of the phone are yet to be revealed but we expect an impressive lineup since the Snapdragon 660 is in the drivers’ seat.

(via)

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Two new Blackberry devices have been seen on Geekbench. One is listed as the BlackBerry BBE100-2 while the other is just “BlackBerry”. Some sources say they are two variants of the BlackBerry KEY² but the model number of the former doesn’t match those of the KEY² we have seen.

The KEY² on TENAA has model number BBF100-4, the ones seen on the Bluetooth certification site are BBF100-1, BBF100-2, and BBF100-6, and the one that got WiFi certified has model number BBF100-6.

The BlackBerry BBE100-2 runs Android 8.1 Oreo. it is powered by the Snapdragon 660 mobile platform and has 4GB of RAM. Its benchmark scores are 1335 and 4948 respectively.

The second device is also powered by the Snapdragon 660, runs Android 8.1 too, but has 6GB of RAM. Surprisingly, its scores are slightly lower at 1291 and 4838 for the single-core and multi-core test respectively.

The BlackBerry KEY² has been reported to come with the Snapdragon 660 processor, so it is understandable why some think both these devices are different RAM variants of the KEY².

READ MORE: BlackBerry BBG100-1 Powered By MSM8953 Seen On Geekbench

However, the fact that the model number of one of them doesn’t match other listings is of concern, hence our refusal to refer to them as the KEY².

(Sources: 1, 2 Via)

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BlackBerry Mobile has announced via its Twitter account that the BlackBerry KEY² will launch next month.

The tweet not only confirms the launch date as 7th of June but also confirms the name of the phone is KEY² and not KEYone (2018) or KEYtwo or any other name you may have conjured up. The launch event will take place in New York at 10 AM local time.

A few weeks ago, photos of the phone which is codenamed Athena were seen on TENAA. They revealed the phone has a slightly redesigned keyboard, a somewhat taller display, and dual rear cameras. It also has its power and volume buttons along with the convenience key on the right.

The BlackBerry KEY² also got Wi-Fi and Bluetooth certified recently. It will have support for dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. It is also said to pack a Snapdragon 660 processor, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.

READ MORE: The 2.5 Year Old BlackBerry Priv Gets A New Update

The rest of the specs may show up later before the launch but we might not get to know the price and market availability until after the event.

(Source)

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Blackberry isn’t a major player in the smartphone market anymore but the company still has some strong followership and of course, every now and then one or two models get released. The company released the KEYone last year and the smartphone enjoyed some bit of success in the market. That successful run may have prompted the company to commence work on a successor. Blackberry KEY2 is adjudged to be its successor going by the spate at which we see new leaks regarding a new BlackBerry-branded smartphone. Although the name of the device is yet to be officially disclosed, it is rumoured that it would be called KEY2.

Recently a live picture of the KEY2 surfaced online showing it would have the same physical QWERTY keyboard as well as square-shaped design as the KEYone. The phone was recently spotted on GeekBench bearing the model number  BBF100-1. The KEY2 also got certified by China’s TENAA recently bearing the model number BBF100-4. And now, the Blackberry KEY2 has been listed at Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG. The model listed at Wi-Fi Alliance clutches the model number BBF100-6 while the Bluetooth SIG listing comes with model numbers BBF100-1, BBF100-2 and BBF100-6.

Read More: Accessories For Unreleased BlackBerry KEYOne 2 Seen Online

In case you don’t know, Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG are two regulatory agencies that provide new devices with the required certifications -Wi-Fi and Bluetooth certificates. Since the device is listed on their website, it is safe to say that it received both of them. This, no doubt, puts the KEY2 one step closer to launch. The KEY2 is a mid-range model and is expected to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, coupled with 6GB RAM and 64GB internal memory.

(source 1, 2)

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Yesterday, the BlackBerry Athena was seen on the website of China’s communications agency TENAA. Ever since the first renders leaked, we already knew it was a successor to the BlackBerry KEYone but not until today did proof of its official name surface online.

An image shared on Weibo by a user named @TimEason have revealed that the BlackBerry Athena will launch as the BlackBerry KEY².

One half of the photo shows the phone and the other shows a picture taken with the phone’s camera. The watermark on the photo reads BlackBerry KEY².

The phone has an improved design and we can see from the image that the spacebar still doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

The BlackBerry Athena on TENAA has model number BBF100-4. This is near identical to another device we saw on Geekbench about five months ago whose model number is BBF100-1.

READ MORE: Render of BlackBerry Ghost Full-Screen Phone For India Leaks

The latter is likely a variant of the KEY², so it is safe to say the BlackBerry KEY² will come with a Snapdragon 660 processor, 6GB of RAM, and run Android 8.0 Oreo when it launches.

(Source)

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