TCL has announced that the BlackBerry KEY² will be available to pre-order in the United States from June 29, with devices available from July 13.
BlackBerry KEY² will be available carrier unlocked in both Silver and Black color variants optimized for GSM carrier networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile starting at $649.99 USD. Both Amazon.com and BestBuy.com will offer pre-sale of BlackBerry KEY² starting on June 29.
“Although there are many different smartphones for consumers to choose from today, most tend to offer very similar experiences without much distinction from one to the next,” said Alain Lejeune, Senior Vice President, TCL Communication & President, BlackBerry Mobile.
“With the introduction of BlackBerry KEY², we’ve created a distinct smartphone that captures all the traits that have made BlackBerry smartphones iconic, while introducing new innovations and experiences that not only make this one of the best devices for security and privacy, but also the most advanced BlackBerry smartphone ever.”
Alex Thurber, SVP and GM of Mobility Solutions at BlackBerry added,
“BlackBerry phones are the world’s most secure Android smartphones. We design them for security from the inside out, and we’re proud to partner with TCL Communication on the launch of their all-new BlackBerry KEY2,”
“BlackBerry has been iterating and perfecting our approach to mobile security for decades, and we’re excited to have this new genuine, modern BlackBerry smartphone available for our fans around the world to enjoy.”
Running the latest Android 8.1 Oreo operating system, the BlackBerry KEY² is the first ever BlackBerry smartphone to feature a dual-rear camera. It also includes the introduction of Speed Key, a universal shortcut key that now makes it possible to instantly access the apps, contacts and functions you use most from anywhere on your device at any time.
The BlackBerry KEY² represents a clear step forward in the KEY product series, bringing together premium materials and refined details in this all-new BlackBerry smartphone. Starting with an elegant Series 7 aluminum frame for added durability, this continuous frame design offers a cleaner look and feel while increasing strength. The soft touch back has been updated as well with a new diamond pattern that adds to the premium design while also adding more grip and comfort.
BlackBerry KEY² Specs Operating System Android 8.1 Oreo Display 4.5-inch, 1620×1080 IPS LCD 434ppi 3:2 aspect ratio Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 Octa-Core 2.2 GHz x 4 + 1.8GHz x 4 Adreno 512 GPU RAM 6GB Storage 64GB (Black and Silver) 128GB (Black) Expandable microSD up to 256GB Rear Camera Dual Camera 12M (1.28um, F1.8) + 12M (1.0um, F2.6) with Dual Tone LED Flash HDR, 4K video recording at 30 fps Scan, Private Capture Front Camera 8MP Fixed Focus Selfie flash 1080p/30 video Battery 3500 mAh non-removable Charging USB-C Compatible with USB Power Delivery 2.0 v1.2 & 9V2A 18W Quick Charge 3.0 Chargers Water resistance No Headphone jack Yes Security DTEK security suite FIPS 140-2 Full Disk Encryption Android For Work, Google Play for Work Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, NFC GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, OTDOA FM Radio, 4G Mobile Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, USB OTG BBF100-1 – EU, Africa, AU, Japan LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/19/20/26/28/32 TD-LTE Band 38/39/40/41 BBF100-2 – Canada, US, LATAM LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/20/28/29/30/66 TD-LTE Band 38/39/40/41 BBF100-4 – China LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/20/26/28 TD-LTE Band 34/38/39/40/41 CDMA Band BC0 BBF100-6 (Dual SIM version) – ME, APAC, India, Indo LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/19/20/26/28/32 TD-LTE Band 38/39/40/41 Dimensions 151.4mm x 71.8mm x 8.5mm Weight 168g
