BlackBerry Messenger maybe dead, but BlackBerry the company is certainly not. Verizon today announced the sale of BlackBerry’s new mid-ranger, the KEY2 LE. This is your standard BlackBerry device with a QWERTY keyboard and a touchscreen display working in tandem to offer the best possible user experience. The KEY2 LE will set you back by $450 off contract, while the carrier is also offering a 2-year contract option for $100.
The device utilizes an aluminum frame and a plastic back, giving you the combination of rugged as well as lightweight. It also has a premium appeal to it, thanks to the physical keyboard. In the hardware department, the phone comes with a 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 resolution display with Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 636 onboard. Users get 64GB of expandable storage onboard, accompanied by 4GB of RAM. Android 8.1 Oreo is running by default here, although we’re not sure if an update for Android 9.0 Pie is in the works. Since this handset is packed with BlackBerry specific features, it runs a slightly skinned version of Android.
You also get 13MP + 5MP dual rear cameras along with an 8MP selfie camera. Thankfully, BlackBerry has been mindful to include a 3.5mm headphone jack with the KEY2 LE. The 3,000 mAh battery should keep the device running for a while. One of the most interesting features here is the keyboard, with the space button also doubling as a fingerprint scanner.
It is learnt that Verizon will only offer the Slate color variant of the handset while BlackBerry originally announced Champagne and Atomic variants as well.