Blackberry KEY2 Red Edition

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₹53,290 (Last Known Price)
Blackberry KEY2 Red Edition is permanently discontinued.

Key Specs

Android v8.1 (Oreo)

Performance

(Good)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
  • Octa core (2.2 GHz, Quad Core + 1.8 GHz, Quad core)
  • 6 GB RAM

Display

(Excellent)
  • 4.5 inches (11.43 cm); IPS LCD
  • 1080x1620 px (FULL HD)
  • Gorilla Glass 3 Protection

Rear Camera

(Good)
  • Dual Camera Setup
    • 12 MP Primary Camera
    • 12 MP Camera
  • Dual-color LED Flash
  • 4k @30fps Video Recording

Front Camera

(Very Good)
  • 8 MP
  • Screen flash
  • Full HD @30 fps Video Recording

Battery

(Very Good)
  • 3500 mAh
  • Quick Charging v3.0; USB Type-C port

General

  • SIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano (Hybrid)
  • 5G Not Supported
  • 64 GB / 128 GB Storage, Expandable upto 256 GB
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Blackberry KEY2 Red Edition Expert Review Summary

Expert Rating:

3.5/5

Nitansh Rastogi
by  Nitansh Rastogi , 31 Jul 2018

Verdict

It`s clear that the KEY2 isn`t for everyone. While it scores well on all the hallmarks of a BlackBerry device – good build quality, a physical keyboard, software that focuses on security, and a great battery life, is that enough for a modern-day smartphone? Even for die-hard BB fans (or BlackBerry Boys, as the brand`s yesteryear`s ad used to refer to them), the answer isn`t as clear as black and white.Things become even more confusing when you bring the pricing into the mix. With a sticker price of Rs 42,990, the BlackBerry KEY2 is priced similar to some of the flagships, and yet, packs in m... Read Full Verdict

It`s clear that the KEY2 isn`t for everyone. While it scores well on all the hallmarks of a BlackBerry device – good build quality, a physical keyboard, software that focuses on security, and a great battery life, is that enough for a modern-day smartphone? Even for die-hard BB fans (or BlackBerry Boys, as the brand`s yesteryear`s ad used to refer to them), the answer isn`t as clear as black and white.Things become even more confusing when you bring the pricing into the mix. With a sticker price of Rs 42,990, the BlackBerry KEY2 is priced similar to some of the flagships, and yet, packs in mid-range internals. The biggest competition comes from the OnePlus 6 (review), which is a loaded handset, and is available for as low as Rs 34,990. Then there`s the competitively-priced ASUS ZenFone 5Z (review), which costs Rs 36,999 for its highest-end variant that offers flagship specs along with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. If you`re looking for something futuristic, then the recently-announced Vivo NEX (review) is an interesting option that boasts almost a full-screen fascia and top-notch hardware.However, none of these handsets can match up to what the KEY2 offers… especially when it comes to productivity and security. And therein lies the charm. All said and done, the KEY2 is the best BlackBerry smartphone you can buy, if you are willing to compromise on certain aspects and are clear on what you`re getting for your money.

    Pros

  • Solid build quality with a physical keyboard
  • Smooth performance
  • Versatile software with a focus on security
  • Great battery life

    Cons

  • The keyboard isn`t for everyone
  • Sub-par cameras
  • Priced steeply
Specs at a glance +
Design and display: stands out with its looks and build quality +

The BlackBerry KEY2 is among the very few smartphones in the market that come with a 4.5-inch display. But that doesn't mean the handset is compact, as the touchscreen is accompanied by a physical keyboard. The design language isn't much different from its predecessor – the KEYone (review), released last year – as both phones feature similar dimensions and build quality. That also means that the phone skimps upon all the latest trends such as notch displays, taller screens, and bezel-less design, among others.

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The key(board) to its success +

There was a time when BlackBerry phones were all the rage. And one important reason for the same can be attributed to the full-sized QWERTY keyboards at a time when other handsets were simply offering T9 keypads. The keyboard made typing on the go a lot easier and quicker. But things are different now, as touchscreen keyboards let you type faster and accurately as well, along with being more versatile and disappearing when not needed.

Read More
Software: productivity-oriented and security-focused +

The KEY2 runs Android 8.1 Oreo with its proprietary skin on top. While the interface looks like stock Android, it's filled with options. Some of the features have already been discussed above, but there's much more to the UI. BlackBerry pop-up widgets for example, let you swipe up on compatible app icons to access their widgets. Most apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, Calendar, and even Chrome can be accessed in this manner. Then there's BlackBerry Hub, which integrates all the notifications at one place, making it easier to view and reply to them, without worrying which app you might have received a notification from.

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Imaging: jumping on to the dual-camera bandwagon +

The BlackBerry KEY2 is the first smartphone from the brand to come with a pair of snappers at the back. The handset features dual 12-megapixel shooters, with the primary sensor offering an aperture of f/1.8. The dual cameras let you optically zoom in to the subject to get up to 2x closer or get the depth-of-field effect. There's also PDAF (phase detection autofocus) support for allowing the camera to lock focus on the desired object quickly. A dual-tone LED flash accompanies the snappers to assist in poor-lighting conditions.

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Hardware: a dependable workhorse +

The BlackBerry KEY2 isn't aiming for the flagship stature, and instead of the latest and greatest chipset from Qualcomm, it draws power from Qualcomm's most powerful SoC in the SD600 series – the Snapdragon 660. The octa-core chip is clocked at 2.2GHz for the high-performance cores and 1.8GHz for the power-efficient cores. The SoC is paired with 6 gigs of RAM. The combination works well to enable smooth performance while using multiple documents or switching between apps. At times, there's a split-second lag while opening apps, but overall, the device offers a buttery-smooth performance.

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Read full Review

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Blackberry KEY2 Red Edition Specifications

General Performance Display Design Rear Camera Front Camera Battery Storage Network & Connectivity Multimedia Sensors

General

Operating System Android v8.1 (Oreo)

Performance

(Good)
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 MSM8956
Processor Octa core (2.2 GHz, Quad core, Kryo 260 + 1.8 GHz, Quad core, Kryo 260)
Architecture 64 bit
Graphics (GPU) Adreno 512
RAM 6 GB
Benchmark Screenshots

Display

(Excellent)
Display Type IPS LCD
Screen Size 4.5 inches (11.43 cm)
Resolution 1080x1620 px (FULL HD)
Aspect Ratio 3:2
Pixel Density 433 ppi
Screen to Body Ratio (calculated) 55.57 %
Screen Protection Corning Gorilla Glass v3
UI Screenshots

Design

Height 151.4 mm
Width 71.8 mm
Thickness 8.5 mm
Weight 168 grams
Click to View Click to View

Rear Camera

(Good)
Resolution
CameraMPAperturePixel Size
Primary12 MPf/1.8
Secondary12 MPf/2.61µm
Autofocus Yes, Phase Detection autofocus
OIS No
Flash Yes, Dual-color LED Flash
Image Resolution 4000 x 3000 Pixels
Settings Exposure compensation, ISO control
Shooting Modes Continuous Shooting
High Dynamic Range mode (HDR)
Camera Features Auto Flash
Face detection
Touch to focus
Video Recording 3840x2160 @ 30 fps
Rear Camera Samples

Front Camera

(Very Good)
Resolution
CameraMP
Primary8 MP
Flash Yes, Screen flash
Camera Features Fixed Focus
Video Recording 1920x1080 @ 30 fps

Battery

(Very Good)
Capacity 3500 mAh
Battery Type Li-ion
Quick Charging Yes Quick Charging v3.0

Storage

Internal Storage 64 GB / 128 GB
Expandable Storage Yes, Up to 256 GB

Network & Connectivity

SIM Slot(s) Dual SIM
SIM Type SIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano (Hybrid)
Network Support 5G Not Supported, 4G
VoLTE Yes
SIM 1 4G bands
Expand
Bands Features
4G bandsTD-LTE 2600(band 38) / 2300(band 40) / 2500(band 41) / 1900(band 39)
FD-LTE 2100(band 1) / 1800(band 3) / 2600(band 7) / 900(band 8) / 700(band 28) / 1900(band 2) / 1700(band 4) / 850(band 5) / 700(band 13) / 700(band 17) / 850(band 19) / 800(band 20) / 850(band 26)
SIM 2 4G bands
Expand
Bands Features
4G bandsTD-LTE 2600(band 38) / 2300(band 40) / 2500(band 41) / 1900(band 39)
FD-LTE 2100(band 1) / 1800(band 3) / 2600(band 7) / 900(band 8) / 700(band 28) / 1900(band 2) / 1700(band 4) / 850(band 5) / 700(band 13) / 700(band 17) / 850(band 19) / 800(band 20) / 850(band 26)
Wi-Fi Yes, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) 5GHz
Wi-Fi Features Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile Hotspot
Bluetooth Yes, v5.0
GPS Yes with A-GPS, Glonass
NFC Yes

Multimedia

Audio Jack 3.5 mm, USB Type-C

Sensors

Fingerprint Sensor Yes
Other Sensors Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope

Blackberry KEY2 Red Edition Key Highlights

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 MSM8956
RAM & Storage 6 GB RAM + 64 GB
6 GB RAM + 128 GB
Display 4.5", 1080 x 1620 Resolution
Rear Camera 12 MP + 12 MP
Front Camera 8 MP
Battery 3500 mAh
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