KEYone is going to be the best BlackBerry
phone on the market when it comes out in
April. It just should have existed about three
years ago instead of the Passport.
Or, the Passport should have run Android. But
after we took the KEYone for a spin at MWC in
Barcelona, maybe we can forgive BlackBerry
for its tardiness. The KEYone was just about
worth the wait, and is a strong Android device
regardless of the brand.
Price
The KEYone will be available in the UK ‘during April’
according to BlackBerry and we will report the
MWC: BlackBerry KEYone Drastic ds emulator apk
AA36 PAGES.indd 46 09/03/2017 10:45
ISSUE 36 • ANDROID ADVISOR 47
o cial sale date as soon as possible. It will retail
for £499 in the UK.
Design
It’s no secret anymore that BlackBerry phones are
now designed and manufactured by its hardware
partner TCL. Thankfully, as soon as you hold the
KEYone, it doesn’t matter. Quality has not been
lost; this is pure BlackBerry.
The device has a pleasing weight to it, unlike
the light, slippy DTEK60, which was BlackBerry
in spirit but not in practice.
The KEYone brings the physical keyboard
back and is the fi rst BlackBerry handset to do
since 2015’s Priv. This one is called a Smart
Keyboard and, to be fair, it can also claim to be
just that. The keys are small and square like
the Priv’s, with an attractive see-through tone
and the familiar metal rim between the keys
like the classic Bold handsets circa 2010. They
click pleasingly unlike the comparatively soft
response found on 2014’s Passport.
The KEYone may have a clunky name, but the
build quality on show is far from shoddy. It is truly
premium, something we couldn’t say of either the
DTEK50 or even DTEK60. The silver metal frame
recalls the Passport while framing the unusual
4.5in display and black keyboard.
The back of the phone has a rubbery grip
material that hardcore BlackBerry keyboard
fans will approve of – the handset never feels
like it’s going to slide out of your hands, plus
the slim form means you can use it one-handed
with relative ease.
AA36 PAGES.indd 47 09/03/2017 10:45
48 ANDROID ADVISOR • ISSUE 36
This rubber grip is interrupted only by the
familiar BlackBerry logo and the camera with
fl ash. The right edge houses the volume rocker
and familiar convenience key for opening an app
of your choice, while the left is clean metal save
for the power/lock switch. The bottom has two
speakers and USB-C port. The look is rounded
o with the nice touches of permanent capacitive
navigation buttons and a fi ngerprint sensor in the
spacebar key.
Hardware
The KEYone measures 149.1x72.4x9.4mm, an
odd shape at fi rst at 3:2, but the 4.5in screen is
actually perfect for a device of this size. Having
the physical keyboard means the touchscreen
isn’t ever obstructed by a software keyboard
(though you can interestingly turn on an on-screen
keyboard if you want).
That touchscreen is an IPS LCD with a resolution
of 1620x1080 and 434ppi and uses Gorilla Glass 4.
Just above it is the 8Mp front-facing camera, while
the lens on the rear is a 12Mp with the same sensor
as the Google Pixel. We’ll have to wait and see if it
produces similar quality images in our full review. It
can at least record in full 4K at 30fps.
TCL has made some interesting spec decisions,
but they make sense to us. The octa-core 2GHz
Snapdragon 625 may not be cutting-edge highend,
but it needn’t be for a phone whose intended
target market are more concerned with battery life
and power e ciency than processing speeds.
The 3505mAh battery is the largest ever for
a BlackBerry, so hopefully paired with the 625
AA36 PAGES.indd 48 09/03/2017 10:45
ISSUE 36 • ANDROID ADVISOR 49
processor we should see a phone that can last
well into a second day o a single charge. It
will certainly charge quickly with the Qualcomm
Quick Charge 3 support.
All regions will get the KEYone with 32GB
storage and 3GB RAM, with a microSD slot for
expansion up to 2TB.
So far, so ordinary for an Android device in
2017. But that’s the thing – Android has turned
this BlackBerry into a genuinely viable choice for
consumers again, pairing good quality hardware
(and a touch of nostalgia) with Nougat 7.1.
Software
It’s great that the KEYone will ship with Android
Nougat 7.1, but it’s the tweaks that the company
makes to the software that work excellently with
the hardware on o er. BlackBerry Hub remains an
excellent centre for all your worldly notifi cations,
AA36 PAGES.indd 49 09/03/2017 10:45
50 ANDROID ADVISOR • ISSUE 36
with the excellent ‘pinch to see unread’ feature one
our favourite ever, not just on a BlackBerry.
The DTEK software is here, as it was since the
Priv, and for the average consumer there might
be a touch too many BlackBerry apps preloaded.
No matter; it relies on preloaded Google apps too
such as Gmail and Messenger for SMS to avoid
doubling up on apps.
Another great feature is the widgets available
right from an app icon. If there’s three dots
underneath an app, you simply swipe up and
a mini widget window to view info quickly
(particularly with the calendar app). There’s also
the ability to assign things specifi c as composing
a new email to a particular person using a one
button keyboard shortcut from the home screen.
Once you’ve used the KEYone for a time, you’ll
defi nitely benefi t from these little perks.
The software remains oddly unremarkable on
the DTEK60 – but with the physical keyboard of
the KEYone it makes so much more sense. You can
swipe up on the capacitive keyboard to autofi ll a
suggested word. This just doesn’t work intuitively
on a touchscreen and we’re excited to see
BlackBerry refi ne hardware to work with software
better on the KEYone.
Verdict
The KEYone isn’t perfect, and it may well struggle
to sell. However we are excited by the time we’ve
had with it. It marries BlackBerry’s (and TCL’s)
undoubtedly stellar design tastes with software
that helps you get stu done. Maybe it’ll even be
enough for people who want to use Instagram as
AA36 PAGES.indd 50 09/03/2017 10:45
ISSUE 36 • ANDROID ADVISOR 51
well as Gmail to pick one up. The company still
has a way to go but the KEYone is a confi dent
step in the right direction. Henry Burrell
Specifi cations
• 4.5in 1620 x 1080 IPS touchscreen, 434ppi
• Android Nougat 7.1
• 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 CPU
• Adreno 506 GPU
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 12Mp main camera with LED fl ash, support for 4K
video at 30fps
• 8Mp front camera
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 4.2
• 4G LTE
• Nano-SIM
• GPS
• NFC
• 3505mAh non-removable battery
• 149.1x72.4x9.4mm
• 180g
phone on the market when it comes out in
April. It just should have existed about three
years ago instead of the Passport.
Or, the Passport should have run Android. But
after we took the KEYone for a spin at MWC in
Barcelona, maybe we can forgive BlackBerry
for its tardiness. The KEYone was just about
worth the wait, and is a strong Android device
regardless of the brand.
Price
The KEYone will be available in the UK ‘during April’
according to BlackBerry and we will report the
MWC: BlackBerry KEYone Drastic ds emulator apk
AA36 PAGES.indd 46 09/03/2017 10:45
ISSUE 36 • ANDROID ADVISOR 47
o cial sale date as soon as possible. It will retail
for £499 in the UK.
Design
It’s no secret anymore that BlackBerry phones are
now designed and manufactured by its hardware
partner TCL. Thankfully, as soon as you hold the
KEYone, it doesn’t matter. Quality has not been
lost; this is pure BlackBerry.
The device has a pleasing weight to it, unlike
the light, slippy DTEK60, which was BlackBerry
in spirit but not in practice.
The KEYone brings the physical keyboard
back and is the fi rst BlackBerry handset to do
since 2015’s Priv. This one is called a Smart
Keyboard and, to be fair, it can also claim to be
just that. The keys are small and square like
the Priv’s, with an attractive see-through tone
and the familiar metal rim between the keys
like the classic Bold handsets circa 2010. They
click pleasingly unlike the comparatively soft
response found on 2014’s Passport.
The KEYone may have a clunky name, but the
build quality on show is far from shoddy. It is truly
premium, something we couldn’t say of either the
DTEK50 or even DTEK60. The silver metal frame
recalls the Passport while framing the unusual
4.5in display and black keyboard.
The back of the phone has a rubbery grip
material that hardcore BlackBerry keyboard
fans will approve of – the handset never feels
like it’s going to slide out of your hands, plus
the slim form means you can use it one-handed
with relative ease.
AA36 PAGES.indd 47 09/03/2017 10:45
48 ANDROID ADVISOR • ISSUE 36
This rubber grip is interrupted only by the
familiar BlackBerry logo and the camera with
fl ash. The right edge houses the volume rocker
and familiar convenience key for opening an app
of your choice, while the left is clean metal save
for the power/lock switch. The bottom has two
speakers and USB-C port. The look is rounded
o with the nice touches of permanent capacitive
navigation buttons and a fi ngerprint sensor in the
spacebar key.
Hardware
The KEYone measures 149.1x72.4x9.4mm, an
odd shape at fi rst at 3:2, but the 4.5in screen is
actually perfect for a device of this size. Having
the physical keyboard means the touchscreen
isn’t ever obstructed by a software keyboard
(though you can interestingly turn on an on-screen
keyboard if you want).
That touchscreen is an IPS LCD with a resolution
of 1620x1080 and 434ppi and uses Gorilla Glass 4.
Just above it is the 8Mp front-facing camera, while
the lens on the rear is a 12Mp with the same sensor
as the Google Pixel. We’ll have to wait and see if it
produces similar quality images in our full review. It
can at least record in full 4K at 30fps.
TCL has made some interesting spec decisions,
but they make sense to us. The octa-core 2GHz
Snapdragon 625 may not be cutting-edge highend,
but it needn’t be for a phone whose intended
target market are more concerned with battery life
and power e ciency than processing speeds.
The 3505mAh battery is the largest ever for
a BlackBerry, so hopefully paired with the 625
AA36 PAGES.indd 48 09/03/2017 10:45
ISSUE 36 • ANDROID ADVISOR 49
processor we should see a phone that can last
well into a second day o a single charge. It
will certainly charge quickly with the Qualcomm
Quick Charge 3 support.
All regions will get the KEYone with 32GB
storage and 3GB RAM, with a microSD slot for
expansion up to 2TB.
So far, so ordinary for an Android device in
2017. But that’s the thing – Android has turned
this BlackBerry into a genuinely viable choice for
consumers again, pairing good quality hardware
(and a touch of nostalgia) with Nougat 7.1.
Software
It’s great that the KEYone will ship with Android
Nougat 7.1, but it’s the tweaks that the company
makes to the software that work excellently with
the hardware on o er. BlackBerry Hub remains an
excellent centre for all your worldly notifi cations,
AA36 PAGES.indd 49 09/03/2017 10:45
50 ANDROID ADVISOR • ISSUE 36
with the excellent ‘pinch to see unread’ feature one
our favourite ever, not just on a BlackBerry.
The DTEK software is here, as it was since the
Priv, and for the average consumer there might
be a touch too many BlackBerry apps preloaded.
No matter; it relies on preloaded Google apps too
such as Gmail and Messenger for SMS to avoid
doubling up on apps.
Another great feature is the widgets available
right from an app icon. If there’s three dots
underneath an app, you simply swipe up and
a mini widget window to view info quickly
(particularly with the calendar app). There’s also
the ability to assign things specifi c as composing
a new email to a particular person using a one
button keyboard shortcut from the home screen.
Once you’ve used the KEYone for a time, you’ll
defi nitely benefi t from these little perks.
The software remains oddly unremarkable on
the DTEK60 – but with the physical keyboard of
the KEYone it makes so much more sense. You can
swipe up on the capacitive keyboard to autofi ll a
suggested word. This just doesn’t work intuitively
on a touchscreen and we’re excited to see
BlackBerry refi ne hardware to work with software
better on the KEYone.
Verdict
The KEYone isn’t perfect, and it may well struggle
to sell. However we are excited by the time we’ve
had with it. It marries BlackBerry’s (and TCL’s)
undoubtedly stellar design tastes with software
that helps you get stu done. Maybe it’ll even be
enough for people who want to use Instagram as
AA36 PAGES.indd 50 09/03/2017 10:45
ISSUE 36 • ANDROID ADVISOR 51
well as Gmail to pick one up. The company still
has a way to go but the KEYone is a confi dent
step in the right direction. Henry Burrell
Specifi cations
• 4.5in 1620 x 1080 IPS touchscreen, 434ppi
• Android Nougat 7.1
• 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 CPU
• Adreno 506 GPU
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 12Mp main camera with LED fl ash, support for 4K
video at 30fps
• 8Mp front camera
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 4.2
• 4G LTE
• Nano-SIM
• GPS
• NFC
• 3505mAh non-removable battery
• 149.1x72.4x9.4mm
• 180g
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