14 DAY TRIAL // BlackBerry’s new KEYone saw an official unveil during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but the smartphone has yet to arrive in stores. A few days ago, BlackBerry stated that the KEYone would arrive this May, specifically on May 5 in the US and Canada.
BlackBerry KEYone is already available for pre-order in the UK at Clove for £499 (including VAT). Clove is offering the new BlackBerry unlocked and in the black color option, while shipment is expected to start on May 5. The smartphone will most likely be available in other European countries on the same day.
Customers from the United States and Canada should prepare to place their orders on the fifth day of May, as the KEYone will be made available then. The reason TCL Communication decided to delay the launch of the BlackBerry-branded smartphone is related to stock.
President and GM of TCL Steve Cistulli stated that the official release date was moved to May in order to meet “demand” for the phone. He added that although the smartphones were still in production, they already exceeded their initial supply.
KEYone impresses with its physical QWERTY keyboard
BlackBerry KEYone stands out with its physical QWERTY keyboard that reminds fans of old-school BlackBerry smartphones. Inside, the smartphone packs powerful specs, with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, as well as a 4.5-inch display with 1080p resolution.
It runs a 2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 platform and makes use of a 12MP Sony IMX378 sensor with 4k recording capabilities, as well as an 8MP selfie snapper with f/2.2 aperture. The KEYone draws power from a 3,505mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0. The phone runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box and comes with BlackBerry’s HUB and DTEK security monitoring app, making it one of the most secure smartphones on the market.