BlackBerry KEYone

[Aneres11]

So it's officially announced.
The BlackBerry KeyOne.

As expected, it does have the mid range 625 SnapDragon processor and it is priced too high at £499.

They are marketing it as their 'flagship' device, but I think a lot of tech savvy people will just see that processor and price and then laugh at the statement.
I do think it's overpriced and am a little disappointed, but I kind of expected it.

I love the look of it, and I know i will love the phone itself.
But at that price I am really not sure.

Available early April.

 

[Septembersrain]

I'm a little interested but surprised at the low PPI, 3GB of RAM, and the processor they chose. To me that seems a bit outdated for an Android. The price is a bit too high for those specs in my opinion.

That's just how I feel anyways.

 

[MRU]

I'm a little interested but surprised at the low PPI, 3GB of RAM, and the processor they chose. To me that seems a bit outdated for an Android. The price is a bit too high for those specs in my opinion.

That's just how I feel anyways.

They are essentially specs we have come to expect in $200 handsets these days albeit wrapped in a beautiful shell. Not sure that shell is worth an additional $350 extra ...

In Europe it's going to be €650 or more thereabouts with vat/tax, which just seems way too pricy for the phone with those internals regardless of prettiness ...

 

[Sam_S]

I'm interested to see what Nokia will bring to the table this MWC. If they dont step up, I will look at the Blackberry regardless of the specs.

 

[cube]

It is really sad to see BlackBerry and Nokia depend on Android.

 

[Septembersrain]

It is really sad to see BlackBerry and Nokia depend on Android.

Isn't that the truth. Android and iOS are the only real players left. It's sad.

 

[nviz22]

$549 USD = complete joke. Within 3 months, this device will be like $300 on clearance because nobody wants to pay a premium price for a specs available at the $200 mark. If the Moto G5 Plus costs $200, that will be a better buy because that will have pretty similar specs.

 

[Sam_S]

Isn't that the truth. Android and iOS are the only real players left. It's sad.

Its a shame, its the same in every industry, the merger endgame.

 

[5105973]

Well I just noticed this phone today. It's gorgeous in a retro way. It reminds me of old cameras I've had. Specs are okay but what really is the appeal is security updates. I just found out my unlocked Samsung S7 is about three months behind on security updates. Yikes.

I like pkb on a phone. It's been a long time since I had one.

 

[Newtons Apple]

My Blackberry days ended long ago, once it was KING if you were in the construction industry. No way I would go back now. Blackberry is just hoping for a buy out that may never come.

 

[5105973]

My Blackberry days ended long ago, once it was KING if you were in the construction industry. No way I would go back now. Blackberry is just hoping for a buy out that may never come.

This phone does not have any kind of rating for water and dust resistance so I would imagine there are so many more appealing choices for the construction industry now.

I hope this phone does really well among its intended customers. I'd be tempted but I do want water resistance now if I can get it.

 

[Newtons Apple]

This phone does not have any kind of rating for water and dust resistance so I would imagine there are so many more appealing choices for the construction industry now.

I hope this phone does really well among its intended customers. I'd be tempted but I do want water resistance now if I can get it.

The main reason everyone used them long ago was the "chirp" or "Direct Connect" feature. They were not really that water proof back then either, I had one die in it's holster when caught in one of our Florida down pours.

 

[5105973]

The main reason everyone used them long ago was the "chirp" or "Direct Connect" feature. They were not really that water proof back then either, I had one die in it's holster when caught in one of our Florida down pours.

Direct Connect was a big draw in a lot of companies. Whatever happened to it? Did Sprint do something to kill it? I vaguely recall talk to that effect. I honestly wasn't paying close attention when it became clear my own family was going to Palm and Windows Mobile for awhile. And then iOS.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Direct Connect was a big draw in a lot of companies. Whatever happened to it? Did Sprint do something to kill it? I vaguely recall talk to that effect. I honestly wasn't paying close attention when it became clear my own family was going to Palm and Windows Mobile for awhile. And then iOS.

Long ago Sprint was actively pushing people off the Blackberry network as they were going to sell the frequency to the government. I understand when it was almost time for the government to take Sprint up on their offer, they decided to go with a different system that cost like 5 times more. It left Sprint high and dry the what was left of Nextel's users was very little. I did the Palm thing also, still got them all.

DO not show this to many people but here is my drawer of shame!

 

[Hastings101]

DO not show this to many people but here is my drawer of shame!

That is so cool!

Anyway, I think the Keyone has the same problem as the Priv: way overpriced. And this isn't even a Blackberry-designed phone I think, it's just a third-party vendor using the label. Also the Snapdragon 625 is disappointing with that price, they should have gone with the awesome 650 at the very least (assuming the numbering hasn't confused me though, the 625 could be the next 650).

That said, there are some cool/unique features (like the fingerprint scanner in the keyboard), and this does seem like an upper midrange device design-wise (excluding the 625). I'll probably be buying it during a half price fire sale in six months haha.

 

[Aneres11]

Anyway, I think the Keyone has the same problem as the Priv: way overpriced. And this isn't even a Blackberry-designed phone I think, it's just a third-party vendor using the label.

KeyOne is a BlackBerry design. The last of its kind too, sadly.
The last one they have made in house.

TCL has taken over the BlackBerry mobile division now, so they will be responsible for the devices marketing and what not, but in terms of actual BB DNA, this one has it coursing through.

I will 100% be picking it up. Purely because of this very fact, last 'proper' BB designed in house. Plus my love for PKB.

Also, I have an iPhone at the minute and whilst I like it a lot and will be keeping hold of it, it really aggravates me.
Siri activating itself constantly despite me not even saying 'Hey Siri'. Moving out of wi-fi areas only for mobile data to not work unless I reboot the device. Emails NEVER coming through using the mail app.
Poor notifications. The usual iPhone moans for me haha.

This is way overpriced, I know. But I just love PKB and I love BB devices so I just really want it. Plus it looks gorgeous IMO.

 

[Hastings101]

This is way overpriced, I know. But I just love PKB and I love BB devices so I just really want it. Plus it looks gorgeous IMO.

I thought it looked very Blackberry, but I wasn't sure who really designed it. It is definitely a beautiful phone too, and if it were just specced a little differently I would like it a lot more. I still prefer physical keyboards, but I've gotten to the point where I care more about what that keyboard is attached to.

I really wish BB10 would have been a success honestly, specs didn't matter so much and it had a brilliant UI in my opinion.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

The only benefit of the 625 according to them will be 2 day battery life.

 

[5105973]

Long ago Sprint was actively pushing people off the Blackberry network as they were going to sell the frequency to the government. I understand when it was almost time for the government to take Sprint up on their offer, they decided to go with a different system that cost like 5 times more. It left Sprint high and dry the what was left of Nextel's users was very little. I did the Palm thing also, still got them all.

DO not show this to many people but here is my drawer of shame!

View attachment 692373

That collection is a thing of beauty! Sorry, it took me awhile to make it back to this thread. My husband has a drawer full of old phones like that. I have some of my old phones with pkb's. The one that sadly is missing is my Hitachi G1000. I had to trade that in to get my Treo.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Phone has been delayed, in typical BB style.

 

[JMacHack]

Blackba-what now?

 

[akuma13]

Blackberry always seem to shoot themselves in the foot. I don't understand this company. Why announce a phone and not deliver it until 3/4 months later?

 

[Aneres11]

Rumours circulating that the KEYone will be released in the UK first, exclusively through Selfridges. London's Selfridges, to be precise. A tech site did an article on it and someone over at the CrackBerry forums seemingly had it confirmed with a TCL contact.
It kind of makes sense, as BlackBerry have always had a good relationship with Selfridges. I bought my BB Passport from the Trafford centre Selfridges a few years ago when it was released, and was the first to get it in the country - according to the BB rep!

Sadly, they won't be stocking it in the other Selfridges stores, presumably down to low sales of the handsets. The same thing happened to the Priv, as I was all ready to go to Trafford Centre (my nearest one about 30 mins drive) to get one of those before CPW and the likes started selling them, only to be told it was London exclusive due to not selling enough of previous devices from BB.

Rumoured date is Thursday 27th April.

Now if it is true I'm in a right old predicament as I have my S8 coming in on Thursday and then the week after this BB should be available?

And me being me, I will want it. And I will book the day off to get the train to London to pick one up. I am a BB weakling.

 

[MRU]

Rumours circulating that the KEYone will be released in the UK first, exclusively through Selfridges. London's Selfridges, to be precise. A tech site did an article on it and someone over at the CrackBerry forums seemingly had it confirmed with a TCL contact.
It kind of makes sense, as BlackBerry have always had a good relationship with Selfridges. I bought my BB Passport from the Trafford centre Selfridges a few years ago when it was released, and was the first to get it in the country - according to the BB rep!

Sadly, they won't be stocking it in the other Selfridges stores, presumably down to low sales of the handsets. The same thing happened to the Priv, as I was all ready to go to Trafford Centre (my nearest one about 30 mins drive) to get one of those before CPW and the likes started selling them, only to be told it was London exclusive due to not selling enough of previous devices from BB.

Rumoured date is Thursday 27th April.

Now if it is true I'm in a right old predicament as I have my S8 coming in on Thursday and then the week after this BB should be available?

And me being me, I will want it. And I will book the day off to get the train to London to pick one up. I am a BB weakling.

It's looking really interesting. Clove have it priced at £499 for when it ships.

 

[Aneres11]

It's looking really interesting. Clove have it priced at £499 for when it ships.

Yeah that's the standard price of it, by the looks of things.
I also have a £100 Selfridges voucher sat around (funnily enough haha) which is also not helping my desire.

I've been watching a load of YouTube videos of it and I really really want it.

I haven't even bothered with anything S8 related for a few weeks haha and I should be really excited about getting that, but it's just not doing it for me currently.

Part of me wishes I had been sensible and waited for the KEYone rather than hastily trading my iPhone in and preordering the S8.
Sure, most people would think I am mad for getting an S8 and then a week later probably swapping it out for a KEYone, but most people know I am a sucker for a PKB, and this is the device I have been waiting for from BB for years.

It also seems to be a BB with little to no compromises, unlike most of their other handsets. The processor could be better, but for my uses I think it should be more than adequate. There's finally a finger print scanner and I really love the placement of it, couldn't be a better fit.
It's also got a great screen size - virtually the same as an iPhone 7 but with a PKB too!! Aspect ratio different of course, but it's only media and games that will be affected and I only really do media on my phone every so often.

And the best thing is it's obviously going to be a decent camera. Exact same sensor as the Pixel! Which is great news. No OIS which is annoying, but unless BB have royally messed the camera software up, it should take some great snaps. From the tech sites hands on's I have read, everyone has been very positive about its camera capabilities which has excited me further.

I literally cannot wait for this device. I know I will love it, I now just have major remorse over the S8...