BlackBerry KeyOne Is A Blast From The Past, A Productivity Device Like No Other

Aside from disposable smartphones from low-end brands, almost every major smartphone is now exclusively touchscreen. BlackBerry is set to challenge the norm with its new KeyOne smartphone, which brings back the QWERTY keypad. Based on the impressions so far, it’s a device that successfully harkens to the good old days and is actually quite the productive tool for some people.

What really sets that the KeyOne apart from most high-end smart devices is the fact that it tries to look as different as possible without completely putting users into shock. Aside from the sleek, rectangular design of the body, the muted keypad presence at the bottom certainly makes it quite the standout item. What’s more is that it really captures the BlackBerry feel, Business Insider reports.

Looking at how busy the device looks, from the contrasting black and aluminum materials to the prominent sensors and camera at the top, it’s clear that this is not a stylish device. However, it does look incredibly professional and works like one too. It’s got a 4.5 inch IPS screen with a whopping 1620x1080 resolution, which is a lot for its display size. With that said, this is a device that was definitely meant for productivity than entertainment, which can be a good or bad thing depending on one’s priorities.

As for the most prominent feature, the KeyOne’s keypad is actually quite the decent offering. For starters, it’s got the classic appeal of making users feel more productive compared to using just touchscreens, as The Verge notes. There’s just something about tapping on actual buttons that engage that part of the brain which elicits satisfaction in doing a task.

There are 35 buttons, which are laid out in the traditional QWERTY format. An exciting addition to this classic design is the integration of a fingerprint scanner on the spacebar, which is certainly novel. The KeyOne costs $549 in its unlocked form, has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage plus MicroSD support, Android 7.1 Nougat, and a 3,505mAh battery equipped with QuickCharge 3.0 from Qualcomm.

All in all, there are quite a few standout issues with the device, but it is a good smartphone for anyone who wants a mid-range unit that helps with work or business. Best of all, it comes with improved security compared to old BlackBerry phones.