The BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition has been around since last August in various markets, and now it is finally available in the US. While the original came in February 2017 with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage, this version comes with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. Fortunately, the price tag of this handset reads US$549, which is just US$50 higher than the price of the regular BlackBerry KEYone. Show Back in February 2017, BlackBerry released the KEYone smartphone, a handset that features the brand's traditional QWERTY keyboard. In August, the Black Edition arrived with more storage and memory: 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage, up from the 3 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage featured by the original. In addition to these improvements, the BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition also dropped the silver accents of its sibling and arrived in a full black finish. The BlackBerry KEYOne Black Edition has managed to reach many markets until now, including Europe, Asia, Latin America, and now the time has finally arrived for the US market to get it as well. Those interested can acquire it from Amazon and Best Buy, starting at US$549.99. In addition to the 4 GB of memory and 64 GB internal storage mentioned earlier, this unlocked handset also features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, a 12 MP rear camera with autofocus and dual tone LED flash that features 1.55 micron pixels, a 3,505 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support, as well as Android 7.1 Nougat. As anyone can see above, there is nothing impressive at first sight, since these specs can now be found in many handsets priced below US$250. However, the BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition is less about the raw power and more about the user experience it can provide. To get a better idea about the advantages that this handset has to offer, feel free to check the videos below. At last, it would be nice to drop a comment about your feelings regarding the BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition. Do you think this phone is still worth its price right now, or the QWERTY keyboard is just a thing of the past that should disappear? Source(s)Related Articles Codrut Nistor - Senior Tech Writer - 6242 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2013 In my early school days, I hated writing and having to make up stories. A decade later, I started to enjoy it. Since then, I published a few offline articles and then I moved to the online space, where I contributed to major websites that are still present online as of 2021 such as Softpedia, Brothersoft, Download3000, but I also wrote for multiple blogs that have disappeared over the years. I've been riding with the Notebookcheck crew since 2013 and I am not planning to leave it anytime soon. In love with good mechanical keyboards, vinyl and tape sound, but also smartphones, streaming services, and digital art. When the BlackBerry KEYone was officially unveiled at Mobile World Congress this year, we were excited for its marriage of modern Android software with an old-school keyboard. It appears lots of other people were eager for the phone, too. TCL, the company that bought the BlackBerry brand, says the KEYone "exceeded our expectations," and that it is "very happy now to expand" the line. The black edition of the phone, which has already launched in India, is coming to the rest of the world, starting with the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Japan and the Middle East. It's called the Black Edition and will cost €649 (£549 or about $700) when it arrives in mid-September. Yep, that's more expensive than the original KEYone ($549). You're paying extra mostly for that fresh coat of paint, which looked surprisingly classy when we saw it at a demo here at IFA in Berlin. The buttons, frame and ring around the camera lens on the Black Edition are you guessed it black instead of the silver on the original. The new look is understated yet still attractive, like a little black dress to the original's eye-catching silver outfit. The money also buys you a slight spec bump -- you'll get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage on the Black Edition, up from 3GB and 32GB respectively on the original. Despite the slightly more powerful internals, BlackBerry says there will be no noticeable difference in the KEYone's estimated 26-plus-hours battery life. In fact, everything else about the two phones will be the same, down to the keyboard shortcuts and Android 7.1.2 software. To be clear, TCL wasn't really planning to make the Black Edition a successor or replacement for the original. The new color option was meant to be just that -- another option. It's for the people who the company said have clamored for a black version. "We wouldn't have done a black edition worldwide if the demand from consumers wasn't that strong," said Francois Mahieu, TCL's global head of sales. We don't know how much the Black Edition KEYone will cost in the US, or even if it will arrive stateside. In the meantime, those in the US who want an alternate version of the KEYone can get the recently announced space-black color option, which is exclusive to AT&T. That variant will sport the exact RAM and storage as the existing KEYone -- all that's different is the shade. Because we don't know how much the Black Edition KEYone will cost for America, it's hard to say if the minimal spec bump is worth the investment. But if it costs as much as it does elsewhere, you should probably save your money for a newer, better phone. Is BlackBerry worth buying in 2023?Considering the various aspects discussed, it is difficult to recommend the BlackBerry Classic as a worthwhile purchase in 2023. While it offers a unique design, premium feel, and some practical features, the device comes with its fair share of limitations and potential issues. Is BlackBerry coming out with a new phone in 2023?Do BlackBerry phones still exist in 2023? BlackBerry has not released a new phone since 2018, with the company discontinuing its software services for any non-Android models in 2022. Is BlackBerry KeyOne black edition dual SIM?In India, however, Blackberry has launched an upgraded variant, called Blackberry KeyOne Limited Edition. Unlike the regular KeyOne model, the Limited Edition has 4GB RAM and 64GB internal memory and it comes with dual sim card support. What is the latest Android version for BlackBerry KeyOne?GLIMMERMAN76. You buy a new phone.. Blackberry is no longer a mobile phone company. 8.1 is the last update ever for your device. |
