[da_murvel]

I own a KeyOne, released last year with Android instead of BB's own OS. I love it, only downside is that I had to import it as it isn't available in my country ... I'd mainly used Samsung flagship phones before and got really tired of all the bloatware as well as typing on a touchscreen. (Can't believe more people are questioning touchscreen typing on phones, I think it's horrible and I don't have the largest set of fingers in the world.) I bought it for roughly $500 and this is what I make of it after one year of using it:

The camera on my KeyOne is superior to anything I've tried before, I'd even go as far as saying that it's up there and competing with the giants. The Sony Z2 Compact camera is a potato in comparison. The keyboard feels a bit cheap and some keys make a squeeking noise, but it's still better than touchscreen typing by far. I've dropped the phone on a number of occassions, it hasn't broken once. The backside tend to pop out, but it's easy to put it back in place again. My biggest complain about the hardware would be the screen, as I haven't access to any protective accessories my screen is pretty scratched by now. It doesn't affect what's displayed on the screen (yet) however, but yeah, I think it scratch too easily. Like I said, the OS is Android, and it's been fairly problem free for being Android. However, lately it has been a bit too agressive in shutting down apps in the background. But I don't know if that is BB's own build's fault or Android in general. There are some pre-installed "security" apps which gives the feeling of the phone being more secure than your other average Android phone. I don't use them though.

My over all impression of the KeyOne is 8 out of 10 I'd say, and I think I'll keep it until it literally fall apart.

[Izkata]

I also have a KEYone, got it a few months ago. When I was looking to upgrade and saw it on my provider's site I was like, "holy crap, Android with a hardware keyboard finally exists?"

Really, I didn't even care that it was Blackberry, I've been getting so tired of the software keyboards that I couldn't even consider the others once I saw it. And for me, it was definitely worth it. Now I can actually touch-type again without having to pause between words to check I didn't mis-type anything - I can feel it, just like missing a key on a regular keyboard.

[NeedMoreTea]

I know one person with one, and that very much seems to be his impression too.

In other words it's the phone (Android + BB keyboard) they should have made years ago, and many were hoping for.

[superflyguy]

People are seeing on touchscreen phones, which is faster than typing. I can't believe you're surprised people aren't using BlackBerries! Once paying for texts stopped being relevant teenage girls moved onto smartphones and that was the of BlackBerry.

[captn3m0]

How's the update cycle like?

[walterbell]

Monthly or faster (if BB issues an out of band fix).

KEY2 is available in the US.

[mdm_]

I just upgraded from a KeyOne to a Key2 and it's better in just about every way. Twice the storage and RAM, faster CPU, dual camera, more spacious keyboard, cleaner design, more solid construction, and the fingerprint sensor is faster and works better with sweaty fingers (i.e. while running/exercising) than my work-issued iPhone 7.