BlackBerry KEY2

Technical specifications

Hello. I am a fan of BlackBerry devices. I purchased the BlackBerry KEY2 6gb/64gb because my BlackBerry Passport is inadequate due to the lack of applications. The greatest disadvantage of this phone is the Android system. Everything seems functional, but several applications running in the background severely slow it down. The volume quality is unacceptable; the BlackBerry Passport featured stereo speakers that both functioned, whereas here only one functions and it is very quiet. The phone is prone to freezing despite its specifications. BlackBerry DTEK provides many benefits and ensures security. The duplicating contacts in the telephone directory indicate that Google has neglected this issue. The keyboard is slightly smaller than that of the BlackBerry Passport, but it is acceptable. The best feature is the battery; with intensive use, it can last two days. The camera is decent. I recommend it, but the BlackBerry Passport was significantly superior.

Hello. My second review. After using the KEY2 for almost a year, I state as a BlackBerry fan: starting with the build quality, it is good, but it falls far short of the Passport – very far indeed. Let's start with the very quiet speaker; in the Passport, both stereo speakers played very loudly, while in the KEY2 there is no stereo anymore. Another issue is the automatically duplicating contacts, and I do not know what causes it, but they duplicate – one contact can even be copied 7 times as in my case. The camera is just a camera, it is acceptable. The biggest and worst issue in my opinion is the system on which the KEY2 runs – Android [supposedly with BlackBerry security]. The phone can sometimes stutter despite having 6GB of RAM; comparing it to the Passport with 3GB of RAM which still works very efficiently today, Android is not pleasant to use. The keyboard is great, almost as perfect as in the Passport; it is possible to work on it very well, and the fingerprint reader is a great feature. The battery is very strong, just like in the Passport. Generally, I have modified my KEY2, all Google apps and the Google Play store have been removed. I installed Aurora Store and F-Droid which do not spy on anything, and the applications are a hundred times better than those from the Google Play store. If it were not for this great keyboard and both alternative stores that cannot be installed on the Passport, the KEY2 would have found a new owner a long time ago. Regards to all BlackBerry fans.

I am a BlackBerry fan, so no one can convince me that regular smartphones are better or more attractive. It started in 2013 with the BlackBerry Bold 9790, which I could not part with until 2019, and I only did so because the old device could no longer function, despite attempts to revive it - I had two batteries for it, replaced the speaker, but when it turned out that I was also losing my hearing (as a result of an illness), I decided to retire it. I also lacked access to the internet and applications - although I had a second phone for that - a typical smartphone. BlackBerry served me as a phone for calls, text messages, and taking quick photos, although the camera was not exceptional. In 2019, the BlackBerry KEY2 appeared - I finally had a phone with access to applications and the internet! And I have it to this day. I have always admired BlackBerry for the build quality - holding it in your hand, you feel that you are dealing with something solid. The BlackBerry Bold survived many falls, had no protective film, and did not acquire many scratches. On the BlackBerry KEY2, I have an additional cover, already the second one - just in case (In my two Sony Xperia phones, I replaced the screen three times - despite keeping them in cases and using protective glass - regular smartphones do not endure). A disadvantage is the camera, which produces photos that are undersaturated and not impressive in quality. I cannot complain much about the speakers, as I can hear something even with my hearing condition. Yes, the speakerphone mode could be a bit louder because, for example, when using it in a car, I have to have the phone quite close to hear well (fortunately, in most cases, I use a Bluetooth headset). The battery was not impressive from the start; however, I am currently considering replacing it because recently it depletes too quickly and can turn off at 20%. I love BlackBerry both for the keyboard and the ability to lock the phone using a case - perhaps today this is no longer a prominent feature, but in the time of the BlackBerry Bold, it was magical and one of the most useful functions. To use it on the BlackBerry KEY2, I had to modify the case slightly because the dedicated ones do not have magnets. Regarding charging - a magnetic cable bought on AliExpress works great - the port is permanently covered, and nothing happens to it. I have worn out one or two cables - but their cost is incomparably low compared to replacing the port. The magnetic cable also works great in a car, and those with glowing tips are easy to locate even in the dark - I truly recommend it. I am waiting with great impatience for a successor to the BlackBerry KEY2; technology has advanced and we are falling behind again, but I hope that in some time a new model will appear on the market for fans of physical BlackBerry keyboards. Best regards to all fans of the "black berries"!

I am writing this review after almost 5 years of use.
Programmer by profession. Lots of writing/reading emails/Slack/Teams etc.

Associated with BlackBerry since the era of the BBos system. On Android, I also rate it positively.

Durable - it has survived many drops.
While traveling through Europe, Google Maps worked without problems.
I never had any reception problems.
The battery still lasts 1-2 days.
I used the camera very little. So I am not evaluating it, but it performs adequately with accounting documents.

I rate the phone 10/10 at this moment.

If it were not for the fact that they deactivated 3g and I do not have internet access during a call, I have to replace it with a device that supports VoLTE. If not for that, I would still be using it.

My third and final review; I was forced to post it from a Passport because my Key2 lost its sound, it freezes so much that it is impossible to answer calls, recently I was charging it three times a day until the USB-C port failed, the speakerphone played very quietly from the very beginning, the only positive aspect of this model is the keyboard + fingerprint reader, the rest is a failure. The Passport still causes surprise on the streets today and that BBOS10 system is excellent. I do not recommend the Key2; after four months, I lost interest in this model. The silver Passport is superior. Greetings to the fans.