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TCL will stop selling BlackBerry-branded phones in August
Just when it seemed like BlackBerry was fading from consumer consciousness, the company partnered with electronics and appliance manufacturer TCL. The two collaborated to create BlackBerry-branded Android phones like the KEYone and KEY2. It's been four years since the partnership began, and in an unsurprising turn of events, TCL has announced that the two companies will part ways in August 2020.
BlackBerry's marginally upgraded, red-accented KEY2 is out today
The BlackBerry KEY2 Red Edition lands in the US today with double the storage out of the box (128GB). More of a stop-gap than a sequel, the handset also packs Hub+ software improvements and refreshed versions of the BlackBerry Hub and BlackBerry Calendar. Plus you get red earbuds to match the scarlet hues on the phone's front and sides (and in-between the keys on that touch-sensitive keyboard).
BlackBerry KEY2 will be available in a souped-up red model
You're unlikely to see a full-on sequel to the BlackBerry KEY2 for a few months or more, but the BlackBerry Mobile team does have something to keep QWERTY phone fans enthused in the meantime. It's launching a KEY2 Red Edition that covers the front and sides (not to mention the bundled earbuds) with deep red -- think of it as a more refined take on the KEY2 LE. It's not just a cosmetic upgrade, thankfully, as the red-hued model also comes with double the storage at 128GB.
Blackberry’s KEY2 LE is available for pre-order in the US
Blackberry unveiled its KEY2 LE at IFA in August and now it's available for pre-order in the US. Pricing starts at $450, but if you were looking to snag the champagne or red versions of the phone, we've got bad news. The champagne color will cost you $50 more and the red version won't be available in the US, at least for now.
BlackBerry’s KEY2 LE is cheaper, brighter but watered down
It's barely been three months since BlackBerry (rather, TCL Communications) launched the KEY2, and the company is already ready to unveil a new variant here at IFA 2018. "It was always our intention to bring two variants of the KEY2 line," a spokesperson told Engadget. The KEY2 LE is a "more accessible" version of the original, with a thinner, less-boxy design and bolder color options. It's also $200 cheaper than the KEY2, but that obviously comes with some trade-offs.
BlackBerry KEY2 review: The undisputed keyboard king
Last year's BlackBerry KEYone was a something of a surprise: It brought Android to the classic BlackBerry form factor in a way that felt valuable. Sure, it was mostly a love letter to the brand's die-hards -- it also proved that physical keyboards weren't out of mileage just yet. This year's KEY2 is even better. If you were never a BlackBerry person, you won't find much here to change your mind. But if on some level, you still long for the days when great physical keyboards reigned supreme, your smartphone search ends here.
BlackBerry KEY2 hands-on: A stylish approach to privacy and multitasking
Last year's BlackBerry KEYone was a love letter to fans as much as it was a capable smartphone, but I think we can all agree it wasn't perfect. It was chunky. Performance was purely adequate. The keyboard some getting used to, even for long-time BlackBerry fans. It's little surprise that TCL — the Chinese company in charge of building BlackBerrys now — would try to address all those issues. What is surprising is just how elegant the end result wound up being. We recently spent a little time with the just-announced BlackBerry KEY2, and while it's still clearly not for everyone, this is the most capable, polished attempted at an Android-powered BlackBerry yet.
