Latest Blackberry phone photography misfires and leaks online

[LemmingOverlrd]

What just happened? A company that claims it's in the business of making devices that ensure privacy, has had the press renders for its latest smartphone model leaked. This is the midrange Blackberry Key2 LE.

TCL, the manufacturer behind the Blackberry devices, sent out media invites just a couple of days ago with a Save the Date for August 30 at IFA Berlin, the annual consumer electronics show. As Blackberry has already outed its Key2 flagship phone (pictured above), analysts and media alike hinted at this being the preamble to a launch event for the mid-range Blackberry Key2 LE, Blackberry's long-rumored and unreleased smartphone.

The Blackberry Key2 LE is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 636 SoC and sport 4GB of RAM, paired with either 32GB or 64GB of storage. Like its big brother, the IPS screen is a 'shortened' 4.5-inch Full HD panel, with a 1620x1080 resolution and Blackberry's signature physical keyboard underneath. The optics and flash are said to be lower-spec when compared to the Key2, with a 13MP+5MP setup instead of the 13MP+13MP.

However, most attention has gone towards the materials used in the phone. Pundits suggest the polycarbonate shell of the Key2 has been replaced with a cheaper plastic version, as has the physical keyboard, allowing the manufacturer to offer different color tones and provide customization options.

Just got a save the date from TCL (BlackBerry licensor). Is this the upcoming Key2 Lite? https://t.co/Q3l8kCCqf8 pic.twitter.com/nwr8sMGUKf

— Matthew Hughes (@matthewhughes) August 13, 2018

With two weeks to go, Dutch site nieuwemobiel.nl got its hands on some candid photos of the Key2 LE. Here is a compilation of the top-, side-, bottom-, front- and back views.

Note the date on the time widget on the phone's home screen

Blackberry is a pale shadow of its former self, in particular since it fell out of favor in the US. However, every device launch still manages to stir up the analysts. Its previous Android-based devices failed to impress, but the Key2 still managed to cause an impression.

Known for its 'secure' phones, the Canadian company signed away the manufacturing rights of their phones to TCL Communication Technologies Ltd., a company specializing in mid-to-low range devices. TCL is the Chinese consortium currently behind the Alcatel and Palm phones.

IFA Berlin takes place from the August 31 until September 5 and has become one of two main stages in Europe for mobile announcements (the other being the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona) and it's just around the corner.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/75984-latest-blackberry-phone-photography-misfires-leaks-online.html

 

[Puiu]

Why?

 

[psycros]

Why?

Why does someone always post "why?" whenever Blackberry is discussed? Is there an in-joke I'm not aware of?

 

[Lionvibez]

Why?

Why does someone always post "why?" whenever Blackberry is discussed? Is there an in-joke I'm not aware of?

Just trolling.

There still is a market for Blackberry's I see them in the office and I own a keyone.

 

[Sausagemeat]

The article gets it right. BlackBerry is definitely a shadow of its former self. This is a mid specced Android phone with a keyboard and a blackberry skin on the OS. I’m sure Blackberry might keep their version of Android more up to date than other Android based mobile OEMs but it’s still the same, familiar, bloated google operating system underneath. And I’m sure they manufacturer the hardware with greater precision than others, actually I’m not that sure about that but they seem to be making an effort with physical build quality. However, really by far their biggest unique selling point is the keyboard - something other devices possess, just they aren’t quite as good maybe. In RIMs glory days, users chose blackberry for more than just the keyboard. I think it’s a shame, the mobile phone world is a multiple horse race but all of the horses except the Apple horse are just the same horse in a different frock. And the Apple horse is a dam expensive ride these days. I’d rather have a Razer phone than this, at least that has a 120hz screen, something a lot more cutting edge and innovative than a keyboard and the vague promise that your device is less likely to get hacked if you leave it on the train or install a dodgy app.

 

[Puiu]

Why does someone always post "why?" whenever Blackberry is discussed? Is there an in-joke I'm not aware of?

Look at it... it looks like a frankenstein monstrosity. Not to mention the anaemic hardware, very small screen and weird physical keyboard layout. You will do a LOT of scrolling on that thing and movies... you are better off not watching any on it (they look both pillar and letter-boxed and very small). Its big brother has an even worse price to performance ratio.

 

[senketsu]

I like Blackberry, I almost bought one, but it was too expensive. It's the security software that lets you know what your apps are doing that is attractive plus I'm not a 'media consumer' on a phone. Calls and text, taking the odd photo is what I use a mobile phone for.

 

[Kon Nik]

As our customers security and privacy is the priority in our relationship with them, our company can not afford to risk these relationships by using anything less then Blackberry products . In regards to this phone , it has appeal but obviously never using it before I can't speak to its quality . If it's anything like the key2s we just got, I don't see anyone being dissatisfied.