BlackBerry - KEYone 4G LTE with 32GB Memory Cell Phone (Unlocked) - Silver

This is a phone where if you simply read the specs would put it along side mid-range phones like the Motorola G5 Plus, which actually has almost identical specs. But really, it's so much more than just the sum of its parts. The smart physical keyboard is an amazing tool. It is capacitive so actually can sense your touch, this allows for a lot of useful gestures like using it to scroll through pages, to move your cursor more precisely while typing, to select text, etc. And typing with the keyboard is so much more accurate than with a virtual keyboard. It might take you a little while to get used to it, but once you do, you'd be typing without even looking at the phone and it'll still be with fewer mistakes than with a virtual keyboard even with the help of autocorrect. You can also assign shortcuts to every key, one for a press another for a hold, so 52 keyboard shortcuts in total. Launch an app, speed dial a friend, text your coworker, perform an action, all possible with the keyboard shortcuts. Then there's the convenience key on the side just to give you yet another shortcut. That one is available even within apps though, so it's very useful, or should I say, it's very convenient, lol. The camera is excellent, it's the same camera module used in the Google Pixel, although I think the Pixel, because of the software processing they use, still is a little bit better than the KEYone, but it's still great quality none-the-less, can shoot up to 4K movies as well. The front-facing camera is actually an impressive 8MP, so good news for you selfie-addicts, lol. It also has a RGB notification LED, and the body is constructed of premium materials. The silver you see is actually aluminum and not colored plastic. The whole phone just feels really good, it feels very industrial and refined at the same time. Doesn't feel like a toy or something cheap at all. Overall if you think you want to try something different from the ocean of rectangle slabs of glass out there or you feel the physical keyboard will give you something you'd want in your mobile phone usage, this is definitely the phone to get right now.

I have owned a Blackberry phone since acquiring the Pearl many years ago. Even after Iphone was introduced, I continued to acquire and use Blackberry phones because of their security and the keyboard. My prior phone was a BBQ10, which had more available apps then previous Blackberry phones but still no where the number available for Iphone or phones using Android. The Blackberry Keyone is by far the best Blackberry i have ever owned. It has all of the apps available for an Android phone but has the security and, most importantly, the keyboard which has always been the critical feature for me. I absolutely love this phone. My wireless carrier, ATT, does not offer this phone but i think this will change when the word gets out how great this phone is. I was lucky when i strolled into my local Bestbuy store and on a whim, asked when can I get the new Blackberry. The sales person said they just got one in and it is the only they have. I was lucky because on Amazon there was a 1-2 month delivery date and the Bestbuy website said the phone was unavailable, at the time. Now the site shows sold out. I think the the manufacturer, TCL, did not anticipate the demand nor did its potential re-sellers and distributors. When I took my phone in for activation, the ATT rep was very impressed and showed my phone to his associates. Many thought Blackberry was "dead." I think the Keyone will dispel this myth. The security with many apps is outstanding. After all, our previous President was allowed to use a Blackberry for secure communications because of its security features. I purchased an IPAD for its apps. now with this phone, I do not need the IPAD for this purpose. The only issue I have is the limited accessories available for the Keyone, like holster case choices. I think this temporary as more of the phones become available and creates a market for more accessories. I think this is the best phone on the market for those who want access to many apps, a keyboard and the best security. Matter of fact, I am not aware of any other smart phone with all three of these features. Blackberry is not dead and very much alive!

I am a long time BlackBerry user who historically really enjoyed the company's hardware as well as their software. Over the past seven years I have owned at least 6 BlackBerry devices including the Z10, Q10, Z30, Passport, Classic, Priv, and most recently the KeyOne. I think it's unfair to compare this device to any of BlackBerry' s BB10 devices as it's an apples to oranges comparison especially when comparing a BB10 device to an Android device. That being said, this is not your dad's BlackBerry device. While it looks like a BlackBerry through and through, the defining feature (the keyboard) is below BlackBerry standards. Subjectively I prefer the KeyOne's keyboard to the Priv (too cramped and little travel) and to any of the Passport models (too awkward), but it's glossy finish, non sculpted keys, and "hallow" typing experience makes it a far departure from the best in class performance of the Bold series, Q10, or Classic. I should say that this phone's physical keyboard is technically "best in class" as there is not much competition to be had. Keyboard aside, what most disappointed me with the KeyOne was the phone's performance. Out of the box, I noticed this phone was at least a half step behind the competition. I thought I could overlook the fact the KeyOne has an older processor given the trade off for battery life, but found the phone would lag severely even with moderate use. The lag and app crashing was considerable enough that I tested different launchers and non native BlackBerry apps in an attempt to optimize the phone's performance. Ultimately I realized the hardware on this phone was no where competent enough to support current user demands. I should mention that the KeyOne's battery is as advertised (sort of). I did not experience the legendary 2 day battery performance as many KeyOne users have reported, but admittedly, battery life can vary very much from person to person. I can attest to getting about 16 hours of moderate use with most days having enough battery to get through a 6 AM to 10 PM day. The last area I would like to address about this phone is it's camera. As many know, the KeyOne has the same camera sensor as the one on the award winning Google Pixel. Despite having the same sensor, the photos produced by each phone are quite different. The KeyOne can produce good photos, and at times even great photos, but as a whole it lacks any real consistency especially in low light.This definitely is the best BlackBerry camera ever, but like the keyboard, that's not saying much. In a market where there are three to five Android phones with cameras as good or better than the IPhone's camera, being OK just doesn't cut it. All in all, this phone is a miss. I cannot recommend it as it does not provide any standout feature, even for BlackBerry legacy users.

The Blackberry keyone. I know, I know, it's 2017, and yes BlackBerry is still around. Let's start off with the things I don't like. although the ability to use the keyboard to scroll up and down pages is nice, it lags sometimes, and if your navigating an app, it can get a little annoying. The speaker quality is not the best I've had on a smartphone, but gets the job done. Finally, at times, the phone will not always have the best signal, but I think it's more to do with carrier than the phone itself, but if you're seriously debating on buying this phone don't let those things deter you, overall it's a great phone. The physical keyboard is awesome. Having a nice tactical feedback feels good. The phone itself is beautiful, and gets a lot of attention. The phone feels good in the hand, and it's a nod into what premium phones were. While the boring glass and metal slabs are dominating the market, the Keyone is a great throwback to a productivity monster. I don't play games, as a management professional I need a phone with the ability to get the job done, and this phone delivers. It has enough processing power to meet my needs, it's secure, easy to use, and a ton of customization options, double tapping on the screen to wake up or place the device into sleep mode is convenient, and cool. The camera takes really good pictures. The keyboard shortcuts make my life easier, and of course, back to the physical keyboard, you need to pound out 100 emails a day, the Keyone feels like a champ. Overall, I can say this is the best BlackBerry phone I've ever had, and I'm glad I waited. I'm happy, and I hope this is the phone that makes BlackBerry a big player again, let the kids have their iPhones, Galaxies so they can play their games, when the guys like me, need a phone to get stuff done.

It came! It came! I managed to get one thru Best Buy about 8:30 a.m. central time. I don't know how I did it because initial attempts proved to be futile on Amazon. Anyway - unboxed today - 46% battery on wake up. Set-up, downloaded, studied, customized, played with WiFi, Bluetooth, Securities all on and screen full throttle. Played some videos, etc. 3 hours later - 39% battery. That's insane. I have read all the issues - so far, none with mine. I did the table test as discussed, looks good. No lines in the screen. All buttons functioning. I have yet to insert a sim as mine was too large. I will get that tomorrow and see if there are any connectivity issues there. The speaker - it sounds good to me and I am a professional musician. My Samsung Active did not have this good of speaker. Looking at photos on my Active was more pleasing, but I don't think the image quality is much different. I will try the earbuds tonight, but I don't use that much. I have music all around and it's not coming out of my phone usually. I have been searching for a secure phone for over a year. I landed the rumors about this phone about 4 months ago and have been patiently waiting with a very sickly phone. If all goes well with the Sim tomorrow, I will have made it. Thank you Best Buy for coming through for me!

With the KEYone, BlackBerry has most definitely hit the mark they must have been aiming for. BlackBerry has been able to incorporate their topnotch keyboard (which they have made even better), put their own touch and security into the Android OS, and then fit the two into a very high quality handset. The keyboard does everything previous BlackBerry keyboards have done while also integrating well with the touch screen in both portrait and landscape positions. The fingerprint sensor on the space bar is well positioned and very quickly unlocks the phone. The rest of the buttons feel sturdy and within a couple days of use typing and using the keyboard touch capabilities became very easy and straightforward to use. The screen (just slightly smaller than the Samsung S8 and iPhone 7/8) does not feel too small and works well for reading websites or watching video. I would also add that the screen size works great in landscape mode for reading and using the keyboard to scroll. BlackBerry has kept with providing monthly security updates to Android OS. The look and feel of the OS is very customizable and doesn't get in the way like some other versions seem to (in my opinion). The software comes across as refined and crisp. Last but not least, the hardware. The handset itself is stylish, practical, and durable. I have not felt the need to use a case at all (a sleeve case while not in use does the trick). The back has grip to it, the thick rounded edges are easy to hold, and the keyboard and screen are always in position for easy use. One final comment....I am not a camera pro user so for pictures I take, when out and about, look great to me. The phone is definitely different. However, not to long ago another company use to ask people to "Think Different". This phone is different and different in so many ways that just make sense! It's the best phone I've owned. Thank you BlackBerry and thank you Best Buy for carrying this phone! This whole review was written on my KEYone... piece of cake!

The BlackBerry KEYone is the first device with a keyboard that I have used in a few years. Even with some downsides it allows for the return to what matters most, communication. The device is a good size, built well and has excellent battery life. The device brings back memories without feeling out of date. The keyboard is a good size and has a satisfying click and good key travel. The camera is excellent when there is appropriate lighting, if the light is minimal the photos can become grainy. The device is thin enough to allow typing with one hand. The device is thicker than most however has a nice weight without feeling top heavy or bulky. Overall the build quality is impeccable, it feels like a BlackBerry from years ago, a device that was designed to out last everything else on the market. Previously using an iPhone a fingerprint sensor is second nature but this device has one of the fastest and most reliable that I have used. With some software updates this device will only get better with time. If you are in the market for a smartphone that allows you to complete real work with minimal distraction this device is the one that you need.

Switching from Passport, and this being my first Android, the learning curve was pretty steep, but I believe I got things set up. The apps operate much more smoothly and faster than BB10 apps and Amazon/Android apps. The build of the phone is great, although not as solid as Passport. Overall, I rated 5 stars, but the following are what I'm not quite happy with, compared with Passport on BB10 1) I wish numerical keys appear virtually on screen like Passport does, instead of having to hold down Alt key. Passport keyboard was overall much better. 2) It doesn't automatically integrate accounts to Hub but you have to set up email accounts on the Hub. 3) Since it's Android, Google/gmail is dominant whatever you do. You can use a Microsoft mail account as default on Passport and can synch calendar/contacts seamlessly with the one on Microsoft account. But, if you have been an Android user, this should not be a problem. 4) The fingerprint unlock is very effective. But anyone can easily unlock it when you double tap the email/news/text notification on the lock screen. Still it's an excellent phone with the right feel in my hand (I bought a case but I'm not sure if I'll keep it on, because I prefer the naked feel much better). The call quality is better than Passport, although I wish HD voice were enabled.