The BlackBerry KEY2 in review.

With a throwback to physical keyboards in a world dominated by the all-screen handsets, the BlackBerry KEY2 Sim free is definitely a stand out device.

Hailed an icon reborn, with look clearly modelled on 2015’s BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition, the KEY2 offers the classic combination of aluminium frame, touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard that made BlackBerry as household name. But Don’t be fooled by the classic exterior. Look closely and you’ll noticed sleek refinements made to the KEY2 to offer a modern update.

Keyboard:

The most obvious upgrade lies within the keyboard. The keys on the iconic QWERTY keyboard are 20% larger than last year’s KEYone, providing optimised speed & accuracy with ample spacing. There’s an all-new Speed Key to trigger 52 customizable actions from any menu.
Program each key to instantly bring up your choice of contacts and apps. Flick typing is also supported for faster messaging using predictive text that learns as you type.

The fingerprint scanner is located in the space key on the QWERTY layout and there’s a change of location for the convenience key.

Camera:

The most exciting addition to the design is the dual camera sensors displayed on the rear of the handset. Last year’s selfie camera with 84 degree field of view.

The KEY2 steps up from last year’s KEYone offered a 12MP rear camera and 8MP front camera offering, with a dual 12MP snapper on the rear. One sensor offers an f/1.8 aperture, the second offering an f/2.6 aperture with optical zoom.BlackBerry is using the secondary rear shooter as a telephoto zoom, similar to the iPhone X, and enabling portrait mode shots too.
The Selfie game hasn’t changed much, with the same 8MP camera that can capture 1080p video at 30 frames per second.

Battery:

Go for longer incredible thanks to the smart battery experience that learns from your daily charging habits to provide power that lasts for 2 days +. You’ll also be able to charge up to 50% in just 36 minutes with Qualcomm Quick charge 3.0.

Security:

Preloaded with DTEK™ by BlackBerry, the BlackBerry KEY2 continues the tradition of offering the most secure smartphone experience on the market. Offering constant security monitoring and protection of your operating system whilst featuring a private Locker that can only be accessed with the user’s fingerprint or password, your sensitive data is secure. A Private Browser that auto-deletes browsing history upon exit continues to enhance your privacy.
The BlackBerry KEY2 also receives regularly monthly Android security updates, helping ensure that the device is always safe and secure.

Display;

Stunning 4.5″ display made of impact resistant Gorilla Glass® It’s the same LCD we saw on the KeyOne, complete with the shorter, fatter 3:2 aspect ratio. The 3:2 display is the perfect size for a physical keyboard.The display offers 1620 x 1080 IPS LCD, 24-bit colour depth 433 PPI.
There’s no always on mode that we see from Samsung, but BlackBerry do continue to use an ambient display mode which only shows up if you receive a notification.

BlackBerry HUb:

Thanks to BlackBerry® Hub® all your messages are consolidated into one convenient place. Browse your emails, texts and messages from almost any social media account; including WhatsApp all at once. The additional enhanced Convenience Key, making it easier to access the most-used apps by a user via custom profiles for at home, in the office, in meetings or on the go.

Under the hood:

BlackBerry has updated most areas of the KEY2’s power, performance and battery life. The OS steps up from Nougat to Android 8.1 Oreo, with Android P on its way. The chipset is upgrade to a Snapdragon 660 with 6GB RAM and 64GB internal memory. Slightly confusingly, the KEY2’s battery is technically smaller than the KEY1, but offers a more efficient use with a speedier Quick Charge 3.0.

ORDER THE BLACKBERRY KEY2 IN STOCK NOW.  Any UK orders placed before 9pm BST, or international orders placed before 5pm BST will be dispatched same day.

Check out our finance option to buy the BlackBerry KEY2 for £26.51 a month with NO UPFRONT FEE!

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