With Apple's iPhone and Samsung mobiles relentlessly pulling one innovation after another and basically dominating the mobile phone market, many thought that BlackBerry has been reduced to nothing but a memory. However, in a recent announcement, BlackBerry, in partnership with TCL, is planning to release as many as three phones this year. One of those phones is named the BlackBerry KEYone.
The KEYone is not the only phone to expect this year from the partnership of BlackBerry and TCL. A successor for the DTEK 50 and DTEK 60 is also in the works and it's going to be an all-touchscreen version which TCL developed for BlackBerry, as reported by CNET.
The specs of the BlackBerry KEYone is impressive: fully Android, can access Google Play, scratch-resistant screen, 8-megapixel front camera, 12-megapixel rear camera, fingerprint sensor, and, of course, equipped with the BlackBerry security software. The phone will launch with an operating system of Android 7.1 Nougat. The battery is not so bad too with 3,505 mAh of power and a fast-charge rate of 50 percent in 36 minutes.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the BlackBerry KEYone is the actual and physical keyboard that is considered a rarity in the recent smartphones. This feature has gotten mixed reviews since the mobile phone was announced during the Mobile World Congress. Canalys research analyst Ben Stanton had a few words to share about the specific feature of the BlackBerry KEYone.
"Some of the features are impressive, but I feel BlackBerry didn't highlight [them] enough when they revealed it," he said, as reported by Mobile News. "It feels like a step backwards because customers are so used to touchscreen keyboards nowadays."
Other critics and analysts also say that BlackBerry should widen its view of the competition. Many note that Apple and Samsung are not the only giants in the market anymore. Huawei has been stepping it up enough to be counted as a valid competitor. BlackBerry KEYone could be an innovative move but it can also be risky, especially with the current market.
