(ThyBlackMan.com) Packed with Android Nougat and a QWERTY keyboard, Blackberry KEYone is coming this May. Previously known by its codename “Mercury,” the upcoming smartphone KEYone is a strategic combination of Blackberry’s software support and TCL’s commitment to security.
Just like many smartphone manufacturers, TCL also claims that the BB KEYone is matchless in terms of its features and specifications. The company claims that it is bringing the “Most secure Android smartphone” and also says that the phone’s keyboard is the “world’s most advanced keyboard to date.”
The touchscreen based smartphone features an intelligent keyboard that makes the device more appealing and compelling enough to draw attention from premium class business phone enthusiasts.
Powered by the latest version of the Android operating system, the phone is said to be the most secure. As the company has officially 
confirmed these details, here’s a reality check of the claims made about Blackberry KEYone features and specifications.
THE KEYBOARD
A smart keyboard in KEYone is available below the 4.5-inch touch screen. Similar to the Blackberry’s Priv, the company has again introduced a touch sensitive keypad, but with more advanced features. Numerous tricks can be done with KEYone’s smart keyboard.
From scrolling to assigning shortcuts and typing, BB KEYone is truly a smart phone. You’ll also find a fingerprint sensor on its space key. The combination of touch and a physical keyboard gives more freedom to you if you love multitasking.
Running multiple applications, especially using two applications at the same time enables users to take complete advantage of the physical and virtual keyboard.
Presence of a physical keyboard on smartphones is not considered smart by many companies. Apple, Samsung, Micromax and many other companies have almost ditched the concept of physical keyboard. There can be no comparison among many of the new generation smartphones and Blackberry KEYone as the physical keyboard doesn’t even exist and those companies don’t care about working on this technology. The combination of smart virtual and physical keyboard is also scarce in the smartphone world.
So, when TCL says that the upcoming phone has the most advanced keyboard in the world, you have no other option than admitting the fact.
SECURITY
No matter whether you like Blackberry phones or not, you can’t deny the fact that Blackberry security software offers one of the world’s most secure digital environment to its customers. This is one of the USPs of Blackberry and is the strongest reason why professionals still use Blackberry phones even when the companies like Apple and Samsung are taking the world by storm with their highly advanced operating systems.
From the beginning, Blackberry is promoting its mobile phones as the most secure devices. From J2ME days to email encryption through BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server) and modern day smartphones, Blackberry has maintained the promise of security.
BUT IT RUNS ON ANDROID, NOT BLACKBERRY OS
Blackberry has ditched its own proprietary mobile operating system and adopted Android Nougat for KEYone. We all know that Android phones can be easily exploited, but TCL has a lot to say about the phone’s security. If you dig deeper into the claims made by the company, you will realize that the architecture of KEYone is really very secure.
The manufacturer has tweaked the Android’s base security and has also locked down the capabilities of Google’s operating system Android. It doesn’t mean that Blackberry KEYone features less number of options for users, but in fact, it increases the level of security to a greater extent.
DTEK by BlackBerry delivers more personalized safety experience by enabling users to get control over privacy and security features. At the same time, users will also get hard drive encryption facility in case of loss of phone or damage.
After looking at the track record of Blackberry’s smartphone updates, it is very clear that the smartphone maker is really dedicated to delivering secure environment to its customers. The amount and frequency of security patches released by the company is matchless. It gives a confidence to users who wish to buy Blackberry phones and of course to those who wish to buy KEYone.
OTHER FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS
Apart from the keyboard, security features, a new OS and sleek design, there’s nothing groundbreaking. The KEYone 12MP rear and 8MP front camera with flash. The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa-Core 2.0 GHz processor and also features a 64-bit Adreno 506, 650MHz GPU. With 3GB RAM, the phone has a storage capacity of the 32GB flash memory which can be extended up to 2TB through microSD memory card. The phone’s 3505 mAh battery is claimed to last for a day once fully charged.
RELEASE DATE
The Blackberry KEYone release is scheduled for May 2017. Interested buyers can register the phone through the company’s official website. There is no specific release date is given at this point and the company has started accepting registration and soon the pre-order details will come out.
Staff Writer; Corey Shaw
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