It takes a special combination of keyboard clacker, nostalgia buff and privacy seeker to carry a BlackBerry in 2018. In one respect that makes the reviewer's job simple, boiling it down to the simple calculus of "do you want a keyboard? If yes, buy this phone." Last year's BlackBerry KEYone earned my recommendation based largely on that distinction – and in spite of some software sluggishness that ultimately ousted the device from my daily rotation.
The BlackBerry KEY2 corrects for that shortfall while upgrading the specs and introducing a much more refined fit and finish. Also, the keyboard has been totally re-worked, with larger keys bearing a new matte finish and a button dedicated exclusively to the kind of multitasking that power users demand. Those improvements are welcome, as is the retention of the previous model's outstanding battery life. But the display is the same dim panel from last year, and the camera, for all its dual-lens trickery, ultimately fails to impress. That wouldn't be as big a problem if BlackBerry weren't asking $649 for this device, but it is. That's the same price as a Google Pixel 2, over a hundred dollars more than the OnePlus 6. The question then becomes: is It worth it anyway?
This being CrackBerry, I'm fairly certain you already answered that question in the affirmative back at the BlackBerry KEY2's launch event a couple weeks back. But if you're still weighing the pros and cons of snapping up the best BlackBerry in years, lend a click to the BlackBerry KEY2 Review above. Then, let me know which way you're leaning (or how much you're enjoying your new KEY2) in the comments below!
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BlackBerry KEY2 November Android security update now available!
If you were surprised in October to see an update for the BlackBerry KEY2, you'll want to go ahead and check for updates once again.
BlackBerry KEY2 and KEY2 LE receive September Android security update
The update rolling out comes in at around 85MB and seems to be spread across all KEY2 and KEY2 LE variants.
BlackBerry KEY2 software update ACN424 now available
If you haven't already got it downloaded and installed, go ahead and check for updates, and it just might be waiting for you.
BlackBerry KEY2 software update ACI448 now available
Coming in at around 70MB, the update is noted to be build ACI448 and contains all the December Android security patches.