BlackBerry Ltd Might Announce Something New At IFA, Teaser Suggests

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A new 14-second BlackBerry teaser hints at something new related to the company’s latest flagship, the KeyOne. It is good to see that almost seven months after its release, the KeyOne is once again at the forefront for BlackBerry.

What the BlackBerry teaser hints at

The BlackBerry teaser starts with the text “BlackBerry KeyOne” for a few seconds and then ends with the text “IFA/ Berlin,” intensifying the possibility of a new variant being unveiled during the event. Though the teaser shows nothing in the way of a device, one thing that does stand out about the teaser is that almost everything in it is black.

Therefore, it is believed that the BlackBerry teaser might have something to do with a limited black version of the KeyOne, which was released in India. It could be that the black variant is coming to more markets. We won’t have to wait much longer to learn more, as IFA in Berlin will start September 1, but until then, the mystery remains.

The teaser comes on the same day BlackBerry got a Sell recommendation from Goldman Sachs. Goldman analyst Gabriela Borges noted that software for managing mobile devices will see intense competition from larger players such as Citrix Systems, VMware and Microsoft, which bundle their products into their broader business software offerings. BlackBerry’s lackluster quarterly earnings report in June could also be a reason for the Sell recommendation.

BlackBerry KeyOne specs

The BlackBerry KeyOne has entered the limelight for having the best of two worlds: Android and BlackBerry security. The phone comes with a physical QWERTY keypad and is powered by Android 7.1.1 Nougat. In addition, the handset comes with BlackBerry productivity and security apps.

The BlackBerry KeyOne comes packed with a 2.0 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor coupled with 4GB of RAM. It has 64GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 2TB via the microSD card. The KeyOne offers 4.5-inch full HD (1620×1080) IPS LCD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It has a 12-megapixel rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture, PDAF, and dual-tone LED flash. The front camera is 8 megapixels with an f/2.2 aperture, wide-angle lens and screen flash.

For loyalists and workaholics

Many believe that the KeyOne is for workaholics due to its keypad. The smart keyboard can double as a touch keypad responding to gestures, working exactly like the BlackBerry trackpad did in the past. This makes activities such as web browsing, writing messages and reading e-mails much easier. The battery life is another strong point that makes the KeyOne perfect for work.

However, some are not quite happy with the device, stating that BlackBerry was never just about keypads. The whole idea and design of BlackBerry’s earlier smartphones were about ease of use and perfection. The KeyOne also does not offer anything which is not already available in smartphones currently. Although the KeyOne comes with Hub, BBM and the keypad, “these are no longer the best way to interact with your phone,” says FirstPost.

Further, some reviewers were not happy with the weight of the KeyOne, stating that a slimmer and lighter phone would have been better. And since everyone is now used to a touchscreen, a transition from that to a keyboard now does not seem to be very easy.

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