The once-hallowed name of BlackBerry in the smartphone world, which it actually helped pioneer, has been dragged through the dirt for years, as it feebly struggled to survive while Android and Apple took over the world with devices that simply outclassed whatever BlackBerry had to offer. BlackBerry had been slow to accept the changes in the needs and wants of consumers and to respond to the challenges faced by it, and their sluggish response has taken its toll. One bad decision after another brought the company down to its knees, upon which it finally opted for the adoption of Android for its next device, the BlackBerry Priv. Although the Priv sported BlackBerry’s trademark beloved hardware keyboard, it was an overpriced and somewhat cumbersome device with specs that didn’t quite qualify as flagship material, and it therefore failed to make a proper dent in the market despite its immense potential.
However, in a surprising turn of events, BlackBerry has quietly rolled out a new phone called the KeyOne, with very little fanfare, and it is this new phone that seems to have finally hit the sweet spot. Rather than aiming for a lofty flagship position, the KeyOne positions itself comfortably as a mid-range device, with an octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor, 3 GB or RAM, 32 GB of storage (expandable up to 2 TB, thanks to the microSD slot) and a healthy 3,505 mAh battery that should keep even a hardcore power user going happily for more than a day on a single charge. The latest version of Android (Nougat) running on the KeyOne ensures greater battery efficiency than ever before.
The KeyOne is no slouch in the camera department either, with a 12-megapixel rear camera which can capture videos at 4K and also features digital image stabilization. The 8-megapixel front camera is also quite decent. These specs are quite admirable on paper, and perform adequately in real life. The display is a tad small, at only 4.5” (with a non-widescreen resolution of 1620×1080), but that particular concession had to be made to accommodate for the KeyOne’s physical keyboard, which renders it worthy of an old-style BlackBerry pedigree, existing in stark contrast with the touchscreen keyboards which virtually every smartphone utilizes nowadays. Not only is the keyboard a joy to use, but it features a number of additional handy features, such as a fingerprint scanner inconspicuously merged into the spacebar. One can even map shortcuts to apps, contacts etc. to long-presses of hardware keys.
The KeyOne also boasts excellent sound output, with loud, clear speakers and great call quality. However, where it shines truly is in the productivity department. The unusual screen resolution and the hardware keyboard make it quite clear from the beginning that this is not exactly an entertainment device. However, one would be hard pressed to find a device that can make thumping out emails at ridiculous speeds while on the move nearly as enjoyable. The device is a tad overpriced at $550, but its uniqueness in the market more than makes up for that. If you are looking for a professional phone, look no further.
