BlackBerry KEYone Release Date Announced

Good news, BlackBerry lovers! Known formerly under the codename of “Mercury,” the U.S. release date for the BlackBerry KEYone has finally been unveiled. They’ll be hitting the shelves on May 31st, 2017. Already launched in the U.K. on April 27th, the KEYone’s North American debut was postponed several times by TCL, the Chinese company that now manufactures BlackBerry mobile phones. TCL first showed off the new Android at February’s Mobile World Congress, and the world hasn’t stopped buzzing with anticipation since.

After all, it wasn’t that long ago that many people wondered if BlackBerry’s days were numbered. But back in its heyday, the company was so popular that it was nicknamed “CrackBerry.” Hence, many users are thrilled that the BlackBerry KEYone will soon follow in the footsteps of 2015’s BlackBerry Priv. They’re also curious to see how this new Android compares to BlackBerry’s signature phones. The KEYone still sports a trademark QWERTY keyboard — but do the similarities end there? Keep reading to find out.

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The BlackBerry KEYone’s Best Features

Reportedly selling for around $550 USD, the BlackBerry KEYone is an improved version of its predecessor, the Priv. With its sleek styling, responsive touchscreen, and a user-friendly keyboard, the KEYone pushes a lot of the right buttons. At 180 grams, it’s a sturdy model that measures in at 149.1 x 72.4 x 9.4mm. So, make sure you have enough pocket room! Here are some of the other perks below.

• Display. The BlackBerry KEYone has a 4.5″ LCD display. It’s crystal clear and the touchscreen is appropriately responsive.
• Camera. KEYone’s camera is a decent 12 megapixels, while the front camera offers 8 megapixels and night vision options. By BlackBerry’s standards, it’s the best quality camera seen to date. It’s able to film 4K videos, offers photo and film stabilizers, and you can take panoramas, burst photos, and even use real-time filters.
• System. For the BlackBerry KEYone’s system, it’s a Snapdragon 625 processor that offers 3GB of RAM. In terms of storage, there’s a lofty 32GB. So, you can go wild downloading apps in the Google Play store!
• Battery. The battery holds an impressive 3505 mAh. One user reported not having to recharge the phone after two days of usage, despite using it regularly to text, make calls, and browse the Internet. This model also recharges quickly, but it doesn’t offer wireless charging.
• Phone Case. So far, the BlackBerry KEYone is only available in black with silver accents. However, this won’t be a surprise to previous BlackBerry users, who know the company is devoted to monochromatic stylings.