Hands on with the BlackBerry KEY2

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The BlackBerry KEYOne brought about a renaissance for the BlackBerry brand with a powerful, practical and capable Android powered smartphone that also featured BlackBerrys' marquee QWERTY keyboard technology. The impact of the KEYOne, which spawned various variants and colours, has continued on to its successor, the newly launched BlackBerry KEY2.

The BlackBerry KEY2 manages to straddle the delicate line between innovation and evolution. All the KEY elements are there. A large 4.5-inch display, an updated QWERTY keyboard with larger and more responsive keys. A more modern unibody look and feel that looks and feels seamless as well as BlackBerry's first dual 12 megapixel camera array.

Design is front and centre with the KEY2, nips and tucks have made the KEY2 easier to handle with one hand. It is thinner and lighter than the KEYOne. The QWERTY Keyboard keys are 20 per cent larger. They are also more responsive and similar to the clickiness of the BB Bold 9900.

During my short hands on time with the KEY2, I found it to be lighter and better balanced than the KEYOne. The fit and finish is impressive and reflects a refinement of traditional BlackBerry design. I like the look and feel of the silver model, which is striking and gives prominence to the keyboard. BlackBerry Mobile says they will have variants featuring 64 GB and 128 GB of storage. There will also be dual-SIM variants depending on the country.

BlackBerry KEY2 ships later this month. Price in Canada is $829.