BlackBerry, the brand that used to be a trendsetter in the past. With unique hardware and exclusive software features like BBM, and the level of security it provided, the brand, to simply put it into words, was a great success.
It’s been a while since the brand has been out of the limelight and this is the time when we actually heard of it due to all good reasons. You heard me right, this time around the BlackBerry franchise has made its way to the Nepali market with Saakha Group handling the proprietary of distribution. The first ever BlackBerry devices to officially strike the Nepali market is their BlackBerry Key2 which has been launched in Nepal, coming in at a price of NRs. 75,000.
Should you be eyeing for this one?
Well, to be honest, the experience is a mixed bag of modern trend and nostalgia. BlackBerry has always been a device focused on structural integrity between hardware and software. And the BlackBerry Key2 is no exception. The device packs in a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 1620 and a weird aspect ratio of 3:2, accompanied by the physical QWERTY keypad that reminds us of the golden days when every single brand followed the QWERTY keypad bandwagon set by BlackBerry.
This is not the best device to own especially when you have a wide variety of options available in the market, but it’s worth noting that this is a smartphone which looks unique and is nothing like what others have to offer. Plus, the device holds up quite well with the Key2 being powered by Snapdragon 660 chipset.
The Key2 comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. With Android 8.1 Oreo to handle software duties, the software platform is definitely evolved unlike what we have seen with Nokia and Windows.
That nostalgic looking physical keypad on the front, right below the display is the most debated topic. While companies have been shifting to minimize the bezels to increase the screen real state, is it really practical to put a smaller screen on a device in 2018? Well, this depends on your preferences, and it is always good to have something you can count on, and the physical keyboard is actually convenient. The physical keypad offered on the Key2 are touch capacitive and can be assigned to do various tasks. Just count the numbers of keys on the keyboard and imagine the possibilities of assigning tasks to the keys and you’ll be overwhelmed.
The device has been catching up with the modern standards and offers a dual 12MP + 12 MP camera set up at the back, capable of recording 4K videos.
With all of us being grown up to like bezel-less displays, especially we youngsters, the screen size actually matters for many of us. But there are still plenty of us who actually feel that a physical keyboard is trustworthy than just a piece of glass, which can easily break down and disrupt your daily tasks. Think, rethink and let us know what you actually think of this one.
BlackBerry Key2 Specs Highlight
- Display: 4.5-inch IPS LCD display
- Resolution: 1080 x 1620 pixels, 3:2 ratio, 434ppi pixel density
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
- CPU: Octa-core (4×2.2 GHz Kryo 260 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260)
- GPU: Adreno 512
- OS: Android 8.1 Oreo
- Memory: 6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage; expandable via microSD card up to 256GB
- Primary Camera: 12MP, f/1.8, 1/2.3″, 1.28µm, dual-pixel PDAF + 12MP, f/2.6, 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, PDAF
- Secondary Camera: 8MP, AF, f/2.0
- Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 3,500mAh battery
- Price in Nepal: Rs. 75,000
