The BlackBerry KEYone is an upcoming smartphone that features the classic QWERTY keyboard but runs on an Android operation system. (Photo : YouTube/Android Authority)
TCL captured the interest of tech lovers at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 given the company's unveiling of the BlackBerry KEYone. Given the said Android phone's mix of old elements and new upgrades, many critics shared their apprehensions over the unit's sales performance in the mobile phone market.
Lucky MWC 2017 attendees were treated to a plethora of new gadgets and mobile phones such as TCL's upcoming BlackBerry KEYone. Held in Milan, the Chinese firm even gave several tech fans the chance to learn more about the upcoming smartphone's features and specifications.
With a device that runs on Android Nougat, the BlackBerry KEYone boasts of a more powerful processor than its predecessor units with Qualcomm's octa-core Snapdragon 625 chip, according to Engadget. It also has a RAM size of 3GB, an Adreno 506 GPU and a 32GB expandable memory.
Other new features include an 8MP front camera, a 12MP rear camera and the inclusion of a security system named DTEK. The BlackBerry KEYone also has a quick charge feature that can power-up the device to half of its battery level in a little over 30 minutes, while a full battery ensures a day's use.
Similar to the previous BlackBerry models, the upcoming phone has the classic QWERTY keyboard pad with a 4.5-inch screen above it. Smartphone designers also added a fingerprint sensor on the keyboard's spacebar, as well as a touch gesture feature to open apps or access the home screen.
Meanwhile, with the retail price of $549, the said Android device's price tag may be too steep for some consumers. If compared to other smartphones, some premium brands are sold at a lower price point with better camera features and a large screen size. Moreover, it has yet to pin down potential partnerships with various carriers that can further increase its presence in the mobile phone market, according to The Verge.
At this time, it is still unclear if the BlackBerry KEYone will be able to grab a small piece of the market from big brands such as Apple and Samsung. However, the said smartphone may likely find its own niche given the potential interest of loyal BlackBerry users.
The BlackBerry KEYone will be released in April. Learn more about the device in the clip below:
