BlackBerry Key2 hands-on review

07 June 2018
In a sea of smartphone sameness, there are very few outliers, that can still boast a unique angle of their own. Most of TCL's lineup still proudly fits into that category. Understandably, all the turbulence and leadership change in recent years did result in some plain devices, like the DTEK models. On the flip side, devices like the Keyone embody the classic BlackBerry spirit in full.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • pLk
  • 07 Sep 2020

herreralu1985, 04 Jul 2018Is it just me, or the dual cameras in the back look like tw... moreJust you

    Is it just me, or the dual cameras in the back look like two very tired eyes?

      What about rumors key2 lite.
      I hope blackberry gonna release a blackberry classic or blackberry torch 9800 with oreo go or something!

        Sparkxster, 19 Jun 2018BB should get rid of the on screen buttons and add ip67 wat... moreI impossible to have ip67 in pkb phone.

          • U
          • Unknown
          • UD$
          • 25 Jun 2018

          I love it. Where can I buy this?

            • A
            • Amir
            • a3Q
            • 21 Jun 2018

            I think BlackBerry should get out "PRIV 2" by new design and hardware system.
            It will be really good and popular.

              BB should get rid of the on screen buttons and add ip67 water resistance plus wireless charging and stereo speakers to the key series plus a priv 2 would be nice.

                I was expecting SD845 with 8 Gb Ram

                No IP certification

                Infrared port would have been an added advantage.

                  • L
                  • Luxor
                  • wHU
                  • 13 Jun 2018

                  AnonD-152638, 12 Jun 2018You have absolutely no right, demand updates of the OS of a... moreYou are still wrong.

                    • D
                    • AnonD-152638
                    • mhB
                    • 12 Jun 2018

                    Luxor, 11 Jun 2018Android update did not add a lot of new feature? You seriou... moreYou have absolutely no right, demand updates of the OS of a product you purchased. That idea is ridiculous.
                    You have the right to send the device back, if they provided false information, in that the product could not do what they said it was supposed to do.

                    I did not see a single essential addition on your lists.
                    Some of the things you mention, requires new hardware. Some of the things will depend on the maker implementation of the OS.
                    Some of it is already covered in older maker implementations and some of it can be downloaded as third party add ons or is included in third party launchers.
                    Some of the features are actually not new and where included in a earlier version in previous Andorid versions, even though they have been improved upon.


                    Android might be getting better with every update (though there has been some cases where functionality in certain areas actually have taken a step back), but they are no longer adding things that can be seen as essential.

                    If you really want to stay up to date, you actually have to have up to date hardware as well.
                    And sure, BlackBerry has not released a Priv2, and that is an issue for fans of the device, as they have no option, if they loved the keyboard functionality of it, and don't like the KeyOne and Key2 implementation.
                    But that is a completely different matter.
                    No matter how many android updates they would push, the Priv would never become a Priv2 by software.
                    And really at the end of the day, the weakspots of the priv is hardware related and not software related. it could only become ever so slightly improved with new versions of android.
                    I would agree if you said that the issue was just that, that BlacBerry never made a priv device that was fully up to it's potential. The market never got the chance to see what could evolve from the concept. But if you believe that software would make the Priv to ultimate offering in that concept, I don't agree. They needed to make at least a couple of more hardware revisions before they got it just right, and no amount of software updates would solve that.

                    There are many other hardware concepts, that were abandoned before the technology had matured enough.
                    Seeing how little differentiation there is in the smartphone market today, it is a bit of a downer that some of those concepts never got a fair chance. Perhaps the market would have rather seen more options than we have today... or perhaps we would have been left with the lack of option anyhow, but at least if they had gotten a fair chance, it would have been deiced by the market and not a board of directors, thinking that there is no future in the concept.


                    The only potential issue I see with devices not receiving updates is that some app developers abandons old versions of the OS. I've heard of apps dropping support for Jelly Bean, but that is an OS version that was released in 2012. The oldest iPhone to get latest version of iOS is from 2013, so in terms of apps, the situation is similar with iOS and android.

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                      • AnonD-152638
                      • mhB
                      • 12 Jun 2018

                      Mr Truth, 11 Jun 2018The days a product remains the same as on the day you bough... moreSecurity updates?
                      Yes, there are security holes in the OSes.
                      If one sticks to the offical App stores, you either already downloaded the app that exploits the security holes, or you won't be affected, because the app gets removed.
                      It is a false security really.
                      It is a completely different matter on desktop OSes, where software rarely is only downloaded from the official store of the OS maker.

                      Most of the time security holes are found, because they are exploited. And then Google and Apple are one step behind. Those affected are already.

                      And if the monthly security updates actually contained fixes for major issues, can you imagine how full of security holes android then would actually be?
                      I would say android would best be avoided.

                        • O
                        • Olusegzy
                        • Yc0
                        • 12 Jun 2018

                        Looks good, but too expensive for a phone with midrange specs. Also, the on-screen capacitive buttons should have been removed.

                          • L
                          • Luxor
                          • ibe
                          • 11 Jun 2018

                          AnonD-152638, 11 Jun 2018If those features were all that important to you when you b... moreAndroid update did not add a lot of new feature? You seriously trying to justify how phones dont need update? That just nonsense. I dont expect it to be new just because it receive updates. I just want the feel of new phone software wise, not cosmetic wise. I think you are mistaken if you think it didnt bring a lot of new features. There is a big differences from Marshmallow era to Oreo. Its not just split screen.

                          In Nougat there are new emoji with skin tone modifier support, ability to display color calibration, native screen zoom, switch app by double tapping, Daydream VR support, doze function, data saver mode, picture-in-picture support, new notif shade, fingerprint swipe scrolling, send gifs from keyboard.

                          In Oreo unicode 10 emoji is introduced, redesigned quick setting with white background, adaptive icons, notification dots, notif snoozing, muticolor notif shade for music, downloadable fonts, neural networks, bluetooth battery level for connected devices, navigation button dim when not in use, automatic light and dark theme, and many more not mention here. Should I mention Android Go edition too.

                          Old phone cant do that with mere launcher or custom skin. Dont try to denfend your ridiculous stand of it not being essential. We as customers have rights for updates. Denying your own rights is stupid. I myself need to know what has changed and what to expect in new version of android even if my phone is super old before I plan to buy a new phone. Android P is an exception. Most of it features are more to accomodate the new physical design of smartphone. Native support for notch, rounded corner, new aspect ratio, and others. For that I say, yes, we MUST buy the latest phone to use android P.

                            • M
                            • Mr Truth
                            • mAm
                            • 11 Jun 2018

                            AnonD-152638, 11 Jun 2018If those features were all that important to you when you b... moreThe days a product remains the same as on the day you bought it are gone when a lot of the functionality relies on software.

                            And anyone who still believes that updates are not important needs to get his head examined, big time. For a device where most of us keep a lot of personal information, running old software with known security holes would be silly.

                            What's really said is that many people share your way of thinking, ready to pay a lot of money for a device that holds all your personal information, all while not even expecting 2 years of security updates.

                            Meanwhile, Apple's upcoming iOS will also support older phones right back to the iPhone 5S which came out in 2013. Go figure.

                              • M
                              • Mr Truth
                              • mAm
                              • 11 Jun 2018

                              AnonD-152638, 09 Jun 2018I don't understand why everyone need their phone to get upd... moreIf you think updates are just a nice gesture and nothing more then you clearly didn't pay attention. Like with other software, regular updates are critical to keep your phone secure. Which is especially a problem with Android and its many problems.

                              Of course, if you don't care about losing personal data or money, then you're fine without updates.

                              Unfortunately, updates is an area where BlackBerry has promised more than delivered. Even the promised monthly security updates are often late, very late.

                                • D
                                • AnonD-152638
                                • mhB
                                • 11 Jun 2018

                                Luxor, 10 Jun 2018So many features missing from it. Launcher not going to hel... moreIf those features were all that important to you when you bought it, why did you buy it?
                                A product is what it is when you buy it. Updates may or may not come. And the features such updates add, may vary.

                                It is nice when a device gets an updates with new additional features as long as it doesn't break any old functionality.
                                However, I think it is unwise to expect that to happen.

                                If you are looking for a fresh feel. a launcher can do that.
                                If you wan't some cosmetic changes to the device, it may still be possible to get covers for it.

                                If you are expecting the phone to become a new phone, just because it will get a couple of new features, I think you are mistaken on how much a new version of android actually brings.
                                The device will still in hand feel as old as it did before.

                                Except for the split screen functionality, android did not add a lot of features via updates.
                                The major thing was Project-treble and that was for devices that launched with Oreo.
                                While split screen might change the way you can interact with the device, on how many occasions would you actually use it?
                                I would say, if it gets/had gotten Oreo, that would not have been a major change.

                                Updates are nice, but no longer essential.

                                  • M
                                  • M
                                  • PDT
                                  • 11 Jun 2018

                                  Currently using a Keyone as a backup phone so excited to upgrade to this, the IP rating is still missing which i was personally looking forward to getting with it..

                                    • d
                                    • donz
                                    • u7V
                                    • 11 Jun 2018

                                    What I really worried is about the double typing problem on blackberry physical keyboard. As happened on Silver Edition, Classic, etc. Will it be happen to this model too?

                                      Luxor, 09 Jun 2018You might regret it. Do you ever remember Blackberry updati... more I do remember my Priv getting an os update. I don't know how often BB provides security and/or os updates. I don't really think os updates on Android are super important, because I get new flagships or top of the mid range models annually which tend to have up to date Android versions. Security updates are quite viable however, and should be pushed by carriers and/or oems at least every 4 months for phones 72 months old or less.

                                        • L
                                        • Luxor
                                        • IVN
                                        • 10 Jun 2018

                                        AnonD-152638, 10 Jun 2018Download an alternative launcher, has the same effect. Get... moreSo many features missing from it. Launcher not going to help much. That only helps in term of looks. It cant do split screen. It cant do PIP. It dont have smart feature introduced in Oreo. Seriously, if it was this simple just using launcher and changing casing people wont be buying new phone every year.

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