BlackBerry Key2 BBF100-1 Single SIM 64GB

BlackBerry Key2 Review

The Key2 will thrill BlackBerry devotees with a great little keyboard and more privacy control than you'll get on other Android smartphones. The BlackBerry Key2 ($649.99 unlocked) is like no other smartphone, and not just because it's the only mainstream model with a keyboard on the market. Its focus on privacy and security, as well as voice calling, puts it in a league of its own. Even though these smartphones aren't made by BlackBerry any more—they're made by TCL, which also makes Alcatel phones—they do share the brand's legacy of strengths and weaknesses. If you want messaging, security, and reliability, they're the ultimate choice. On the other hand, if you're looking for a great camera and a terrific multimedia experience, well…those have never been BlackBerry's strengths. For that, you'll want to turn to comparable (but keyboardless) models like the OnePlus 6. All About the Keyboard The Key2 is absolutely a BlackBerry, all the way up to the softly glowing notification LED at the top. Its solid, rectangular metal frame has no flex and feels sturdy, and the patterned matte back has good grip. It's well-balanced if...

BlackBerry Key2 review

The Key2 has excellent build quality, thoughtful software additions and a keyboard that purists will adore. But in the smartphone market, that doesn’t make it a viable choice for most people. Typing on a physical keyboard this small is difficult no matter what any enthusiast says, and the form factor is harder to hold than the smaller BlackBerry Bolds of a decade ago. Battery life is above average and it runs much faster than the KeyOne, but the BlackBerry Key2 is very much a phone for a select few people who still must have a keyboard – and no one else.

BlackBerry Key2 review: Strictly for keyboard die-hards

If you rely on an older BlackBerry phone, the BlackBerry Key2 is a worthy upgrade, but it will frustrate people switching from all-touch phones, despite some winning extras. I didn't write this review on a BlackBerry Key2 ($1,399 at Amazon). But I wanted to. My thumbs were too sore to let me.

BlackBerry Key2 review

Do you miss BlackBerry keyboards? You’ll probably like the BlackBerry Key2. Think they belong in 2008 like The Ting Tings and financial crashes? This one is probably not for you. BlackBerry has tried to squeeze every bit of use out of the keyboard, though, meaning it can be a control centre for the whole phone if you like. Just be prepared to give it at least a week to bed in - on day one it’ll feel strange even if you used a BlackBerry back in the day. Is this the phone we’d buy for £579? Probably not. We'd punt for something more multimedia friendly. But it does add more to the mobile scene than just another Android phone with a gimmick or two to set it apart. Even if you don’t love the keyboard, it’s not a gimmick. It will clearly divide opinion though, and if your phone experience is usually reserved for gaming, movies and social media, it's probably not going to impress. Need a workhorse to that puts productivity and security high on its priority list? Then the BlackBerry Key2 is one of the best you can get.

BlackBerry Key2 review review