BlackBerry Keyone
- F
- Friday Niiiiiggght
- YQ4
- 23 Jun 2024
I'm typing this on my third, and probably last BB Key1.
As someone who uses my cell phone to WRITE and do business, I'd have to say the Key1 has been the most useful cell phone I've ever owned.
Unlike most people out there, I learned to type on a 1930s-era MANUAL TYPEWRITER, so I find touch-screen typing to be utterly blasphemous. Like I said--I'm a WRITER-- not a photographer, gamer or social media junkie. I'm a guy who needs a keyboard.
As such--the Key1 excels as a QWERTY phone. It functions as an Android ought to, and there are (as of 2024) no issues with most programs that a professional would use... as long as you don't have a Region-4 (BBB100-4) phone.
My first Key1 ran like a champ---until i sat on it and killed the camera lens, which in turn scratched the actual camera light sensor benieth it. I still use it 5 years later as an mp3 player, but the battery can't hold a charge like it used to. Even though it's not connected to a phone network, it needs a charge every other day.
My second Key1 got used and abused constantly. I live in an Asian country whose cell providers offer unlimited hotspot-ing, so it endured daily heavy use. Finally, the battery gave way just before I was able to salvage all of my info. But it was a solid phone and I miss it.
My third Key1--the one I'm currently typing on--was bought new from shopee. The vendor didn't say it was a Region-4 (BBB100-4) phone and I didn't figure that out until it was too late--2 months after I'd bought it to replace my second Key1.
Apparently, if you're in the market these days for a NEW Key1, the only ones out there are BBB100-4 phones, which were made to be sold in China.
What this ultimately means is that they have NOTHING Google on them!
This would be great if I were paranoid about "the Man" tracking my movements and such... but since my career does not involve anything illicit--this doesn't matter to me. What matters is that apps work...
Most apps need to think they are running on a phone with Google installed. Otherwise they malfunction or simply refuse to work when they ask you to sign in. So with a BBB100-4 phone, you need to install GSpace.
Fine. No problem there. Now apps work... kind of...
Every time you open an app that needs Google to work, GSpace opens it and mediates its functioning--like a liason. This means programs like Google Maps, Translate and LINE take 2-4 times as long to function. 😒
OK--fine. I'm a patient guy. I can wait. 😑
But then the app crashes and you have to start the process over again. 😠
It seems like every time GSpace wants to serve me up an ad about forklifts--yes, forklifts--the program I'm using closes spontaneously. This only happens for apps that need GSpace. Apps I've installed using their apk work fine.
After 6 months of this--and the selfie cam dying after I dropped the phone from thigh-height onto concrete-- I'm ready to give up and make my current Key1 into a mp3 player. I live abroad so... having a selfie cam is nice when I'm making a video call to my family members.
Anyway, "I've burried the lead"...
If you're still reading this:
Get a UNIHERTZ TITAN-series phone!!!
...if you're like me and need a physical keyboard.
Blackberry, unfortunately, is dead in the water.
- F
- Friday Niiiiiggght
- YQ4
- 23 Jun 2024
Bblover, 15 Jun 2022As of today I am typing this comment using my bbkey1. I am ... moreCheck out the Unihertz Titan series!
- Q
- Quetzalcoatlus
- nDZ
- 22 Oct 2022
Voke, 17 Sep 2022He said I thinkDude, learn how to read.
He said he thought the screen freezing is due to old age, not that he thought he got it in mid 2016. He didn't express any doubt when it comes to when he got the device.
- V
- Voke
- CF}
- 17 Sep 2022
Quetzalcoatlus, 05 Sep 2022So you got in mid 2016 a phone released in mid 2017?He said I think
- Q
- Quetzalcoatlus
- nDZ
- 05 Sep 2022
Bblover, 15 Jun 2022As of today I am typing this comment using my bbkey1. I am ... moreSo you got in mid 2016 a phone released in mid 2017?
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- Bblover
- mqc
- 15 Jun 2022
John C EC1, 21 Jan 2022I've used a Black Edition for just over 3 years now. I... moreAs of today I am typing this comment using my bbkey1. I am really so attached to this phone and sadly I have to replace the battery and also sometimes the screen freezes I think it is due to being old I got this phone in mid 2016 and also I noticed that there are visible horizontal lines on my screen would it be a sign that it could shut down anytime ? . I really love this phone and I am upgrading to Samsung just because I have no other option closest to phone with keyboard. It may take a lot of getting used to with my new phone . Really hoping that there will be new blackberry phone out in the mobile market soon .
- m
- mawlki
- dZY
- 03 Apr 2022
BB USER, 31 Mar 2022Sadly, Key3 was a rumour. So after KeyOne, and not able to ... moreTbh the unihertz software and support probably kill me.
iOS and One UI are unbeatable.
Sadly no PKB phones with those :(
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- BB USER
- MGF
- 31 Mar 2022
mawlki, 05 Aug 2021Titan Pocket? Or else, from Onward Mobility, the new li... moreSadly, Key3 was a rumour. So after KeyOne, and not able to find a KeyTwo, I'm also looking at Unihertz Titan....
- J
- John C EC1
- n56
- 21 Jan 2022
I've used a Black Edition for just over 3 years now. I am a long term Blackberry user and love it. Although an Android phone it has all the BB software users know and love (Productivity tab; Hub; Calendar syncing; document management) and access to Play Store apps. I am waiting for Onward Mobility and hope I am still able to use a smartphone when their offering finally comes out but that's another story.
For those who's company's require a recent security patch this phone won't qualify but if you want a smartphone for organising your life it's hard to beet a KeyOne. I have seen recently that new and boxed models are hideously expensive but if OM ever release a handset that will change overnight
- ?
- Anonymous
- nS%
- 08 Oct 2021
Not a good phone. As a BB Keyone owner for few years Im disappointed. First of this is too large from its physical dimensions, second the touchscreen touch sensivity is guite poor, third is the issue of phone sometimes hangs and wont unlock the screen forcing me to the reboot the phone. Also when doing text or email the message screen is too small and when I try to read my written message before sending and verifying theres not too much typo's the phone occasionally thinks my swipes to be commmand and prompts me whether I would like copy, cut, sometimes it even switches the letters from my message and competely ruining my message. The Keyone too often attempts to do things I dont want to do, it feels this phone wants to fight against me rather than doing this I want it to do. Sofware updates dont solve any of these issues.
This my first BB phone. Im not going to buy another BB phone unless they produce more compact size phone with a hardware keyboard. After this Keyone breaks down, I probably will switch to cheaper feature phones.
- m
- mawlki
- iEn
- 05 Aug 2021
Steviebaby, 21 Feb 2021Bought the KeyOne in Nov 2017. And this, after perhaps 8 ye... moreTitan Pocket?
Or else, from Onward Mobility, the new licenser of blackberry, the Key3.
They have stated it is in development. What that means i dont know. (what stage etc).
No hardware evidence shown yet.
- B
- BBK
- nsE
- 02 Apr 2021
So was having battery drainage, microphone and signal problems with my phone, not to mention the intermitent call problems when charging the device.
It came a surprise to me that all these problems ran away as soon as I enabled hardware acceleration from developer options. I'm still testing but seems promising.
- B
- BBK
- nsE
- 02 Apr 2021
So was having battery drainage, microphone and signal problems with my phone, not to mention the intermitent call problems when charging the device.
It came a surprise to me that all these problems ran away as soon as I enabled hardware acceleration from developer options. I'm still testing but seems promising.
- L
- Londoner
- m5P
- 31 Mar 2021
fizeeharvey, 26 Mar 2021i bought keyone on january 2021, recently my phone can'... moreI bought BB K1 in 2018, and it always updates to the latest os. It's currently 8.1.0.
- ?
- Anonymous
- tA$
- 28 Mar 2021
fizeeharvey, 26 Mar 2021i bought keyone on january 2021, recently my phone can'... moreIt is NORMAL, first they already gone from selling the phone anymore, second this is 2021 while the other phone already run 11, you are still struggle with nougat so the server is outdated and not operating anymore
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- fizeeharvey
- IV8
- 26 Mar 2021
i bought keyone on january 2021, recently my phone can't upgrade to android 8.0 is it normal for keyone?
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- chuck
- 8Cq
- 12 Mar 2021
SHAKER NAVEED, 22 Feb 2021I am using this phone but honest its very hard to go with i... moreyou must have somekind of hardware issue, must check! usually is a fast and reliable smartphone.
- z
- ziutek
- Meg
- 04 Mar 2021
Excellent phone - comfortable, efficient and fast. Physical keyboard with programmable keyboard shortcuts and other features does the job. I'm very satisfied.