The new BlackBerry phone brings the old-school keyboard back from the dead - here's what it's like
Jeff Dunn/Business Insider
Today, most name-brand smartphones look and feel about the same. The trend with the latest top-end phones is to shrink the borders around the display, but that's well on its way to being commoditized as well.
But for most phone makers, the "follow the leader" strategy isn't working. Apple and Samsung are, for the most part, the only ones who consistently sell to a mass market.
Eventually, these other companies will have to stand out or go away. If they do the former, I think we'll see a new wave of hardware that plays to specific niches. There'd be a phone for gamers, a phone for camera fiends, maybe even a modular phone. Would all of these be good? No. It's also worth noting that many companies have tried and failed on this route before. But with better tech to work with, augmented reality coming, and a much larger pool of people to sell to, it may be time to try again.
All of this is a roundabout way of saying the BlackBerry KeyOne is a quality phone, but only for a very particular group of people. More specifically, the new $549 device - which is technically built by Chinese brand TCL but uses BlackBerry's branding and software - should align well with anyone who misses the feel of a physical keyboard. What's more, it's the only good phone for that group.
For everyone else, though, it's probably overpriced.
I've been using a pre-production unit of the BlackBerry KeyOne for the past two weeks - here's what it's like:
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- Catan adds climate change to the latest edition of the world-famous board game
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- JNK India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more
- Indian Army unveils selfie point at Hombotingla Pass ahead of 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market