The Top QWERTY Keyboard Phones to Buy in 2017

If you thought physical keyboards on smartphones were a thing of the past, think again. BlackBerry phones — which are well known for their physical keyboards — have been making a comeback. So it shouldn’t be surprising that most of the best QWERTY smartphones being released this year have been designed by BlackBerry. While there are still plenty of non-BlackBerry smartphones with QWERTY keyboards, few of them can compete with BlackBerry’s design and performance. Nonetheless, check out some of 2017’s top QWERTY phones below.

1. BlackBerry KeyOne

The best QWERTY phone being released this year is definitely the BlackBerry KeyOne (it was previously known as BlackBerry Mercury). It still has a classic BlackBerry design, but with all of the perks of the Android operating system. Unlike the BlackBerry Priv, the KeyOne has a completely visible keyboard — i.e., it can’t be hidden behind the screen. Unlike the classic BlackBerry design, the KeyOne has a longer screen, which makes it more similar to modern Android phones. The KeyOne features an LCD screen, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, and a Snapdragon 625 processor. For those who are a fan of the classic BlackBerry design, this one’s for you.

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2. BlackBerry Priv

If you’re looking for a smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard that’s more affordable than the KeyOne, then the Priv is your solution. As mentioned, this phone features a hidden, pop-out keyboard, which is appealing if you still want the look and feel of non-QWERTY smartphones. This phone has the Android operating system, a 5.4-inch HD display, an 18-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and the ability to record 4K video. It also has 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM. Overall, the Priv is a great QWERTY smartphone that still performs on the same level as many recent non-QWERTY smartphones.

3. LG Xpression 2

This is the most affordable phone on this list. If you simply want a basic phone with a QWERTY keyboard, then this is a good phone to choose. Visually, it resembles a more compact version of T-Mobile’s once-popular Sidekick phone. It has 256MB of storage and 128MB of RAM, making this a true throwback phone. This phone features limited apps, which means this device is better for those who want to stick to phone calls, texting, and email. There’s also a camera for basic picture-taking needs. Further, if you purchase a contract with AT&T, this phone will cost next-to-nothing.