BlackBerry has announced its latest Key2 LE smartphone that comes with a full QWERTY keypad. It is a less powerful version of the previously launched BlackBerry Key2 smartphone that was a good device for those who still need a physical QWERTY keyboard but a bit overpriced considering the hardware it runs on. The new handset is aimed at delivering the same sturdy physical keyboard, at a lesser price. Alongside the keyboard, highlights of the Key2 LE include a dual rear camera setup and new colour variants other than the regular black.
The Key2 LE is launched with 4GB RAM and options to select from 32GB or 64GB internal storage. The 32GB version is priced at $399 (Rs 28,283), while the 64GB version will cost $449 (Rs 31,827) in the US. The company has not announced the device’s Indian pricing and availability yet. The smartphone comes in Slate, Champagne and Atomic grey colour variants.
The Key2 LE features the same U shape as its predecessor and equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass that protects the display. The back panel comes with a textured pattern that is said to provide a better grip. BlackBerry has retained the 4.5-inch IPS LCD display on the smartphone that comes with a 3:2 display aspect ratio with 24-bit colour depth, 434 PPI and a 1620 x 1080p resolution. It is powered by the Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 and runs on Android 8.1 Oreo. The device’s internal storage can be expanded up to 256GB via a microSD card and supports hot-swappable.
In terms of optics, the Key2 LE comes equipped with a 13MP+5MP dual-rear camera with a dual-tone LED Flash. It supports capturing Bokeh shots, HDR, 4K video recording at 30 fps, Scan, Private Capture, and comes with PDAF. On the front, it sports an 8MP sensor that is capable of recording 1080p videos at 30fps. The smartphone is backed by a 3000 mAh battery that is said to deliver up to 22.5 hours of backup on “mixed usage”. Same as its predecessor, the device comes with the DTEK security suite, dual apps support and all of its keys are programmable for added convenience.