Unihertz Titan 2 brings modern power to classic BlackBerry-style design

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Much QWERTY, very Android: Despite being discontinued five years ago, the BlackBerry design is still popular. Many people want a modern phone with a physical keyboard – there's just something appealing about a tactile interface that a touchscreen can't match. Unihertz just launched a crowdfunding campaign to revive the classic design.

Unihertz released its first Titan smartphone in 2019, then followed up with the updated Titan Slim a few years later. Now, the BlackBerry-like series is getting a proper sequel with the Titan 2, and people are already throwing money at the Chinese manufacturer to secure a unit.

The Kickstarter campaign for the Titan 2 already has over 3,000 backers and quickly surpassed its initial funding goal of $100,00, which now sits at over $890,000. Unihertz describes itself as a team of passionate designers creating "bold" mobile devices and promises a much-requested hardware upgrade to the original Titan.

The Titan 2 boosts performance by up to 240 percent, thanks to its new 2.6GHz Dimensity 7300 octa-core SoC. Other key specs include a 4.5-inch square display with a sharper 1440 × 1440 resolution, 12GB of RAM, 512GB of built-in storage, and a non-removable 5,050 mAh battery with 33W wired fast-charging support.

The Titan 2 will come with Android 15 and full connectivity support for 4G/5G networks, the latest Wi-Fi standards, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC. Unihertz also completely redesigned the backlit physical QWERTY keyboard to make it more comfortable, reliable, and versatile. Keys are now customizable with specific shortcuts.

The company also added a small secondary display on the rear of the phone to check notifications at a glance. Unihertz upgraded the camera systems as well. The primary camera received a modest resolution bump from 48MP to 50MP and retains the same 8MP telephoto lens. However, the selfie cam saw a significant upgrade from the Slim, jumping from 8MP to 32MP.

Unihertz is clearly targeting nostalgic BlackBerry fans – those craving an OG-style productivity device with modern specs and support for the latest communication standards. Judging by the Kickstarter campaign's success, the Chinese company has found its niche and is thriving. The Titan 2 is currently available for pre-order at $269, with shipping set to begin in October 2025.

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Unihertz Titan 2 brings modern power to classic BlackBerry-style design

 

[m4a4]

...But why is it so wide and square? I guess the keyboard would feel better, but it doesn't look all that convenient...

 

[Hexic]

I think the thought of a physical keyboard is much more of a rose-tinted glasses phenomenon than anything else.

I’d argue you could put most people up against this product’s keyboard and a digital Android/iOS keyboard and they would prefer the latter… times have changed.

 

[Axeia]

After really missing my Nokia N900 with its great keyboard I got the BlackBerry Priv and turns out... I'm not a fan of the BlackBerry style keyboard.

Sweet sweet Nokia N900 if only Nokia would have had more faith in you.

 

[Squid Surprise]

Wish they could bring back the BlackBerry mail servers… true push email still doesn’t exist any more…

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I think the thought of a physical keyboard is much more of a rose-tinted glasses phenomenon than anything else.

I’d argue you could put most people up against this product’s keyboard and a digital Android/iOS keyboard and they would prefer the latter… times have changed.

People claim the same thing for physical controls in cars....only for the opposite to be true. Turns out some people really do enjoy tactile feedback.

 

[NumberNine]

Still just another Google spyware box.

 

[ZedRM]

I think the thought of a physical keyboard is much more of a rose-tinted glasses phenomenon than anything else.

Not for people who want physical keyboards. A lot of people are sick of onscreen touch keyboards.

Example: People with big hands/fingers. My father has huge hands and fingers to match. Using touchscreen keyboards is exactly painful for him. Physical keyboards do not and never did cause him the problems.

times have changed.

Not as much as you think.

 

[ZedRM]

Still just another Google spyware box.

Quit your moaning..

 

[New Day]

...But why is it so wide and square? I guess the keyboard would feel better, but it doesn't look all that convenient...

To not or not easily fit in your pocket unless you wear Tough Skins.......

I had a phone with a full keyboard - went from 3G slider to 4G smartphone and got the keyboard in case of screen break. I found I preferred swyping....except that my fingers - warm, cold, sweaty, clean to the bone, whatever - ghost like ****. So I rarely use a touchscreen for things.

 

[enonymous]

After really missing my Nokia N900 with its great keyboard I got the BlackBerry Priv and turns out... I'm not a fan of the BlackBerry style keyboard.

Sweet sweet Nokia N900 if only Nokia would have had more faith in you.

If only someone other than startups would make something like the fxtec pro1

I've bought the old planet computers gemini, fxtec pro1 and pro1x. The pro1 is nearly ideal for me, but never received an update. I don't even think it ever received a security update. I'd still use it but I shattered the screen. The pro1x is basically the same device with minor updates, but mine has network connectivity issues. It can't even pick up wifi in my house unless I'm in the room with my router. I'm 100% positive it never received a security update (currently on June 2022 update).

If only someone like OnePlus would make that specific phone. I'll pay near foldable prices

 

[HardReset]

...But why is it so wide and square? I guess the keyboard would feel better, but it doesn't look all that convenient...

This is not for looking videos. This is for work. And it works.

I think the thought of a physical keyboard is much more of a rose-tinted glasses phenomenon than anything else.

I’d argue you could put most people up against this product’s keyboard and a digital Android/iOS keyboard and they would prefer the latter… times have changed.

Ever tried to type 300 "hard" (=practically most are NOT recommended by autocomplete) words with touch keyboard phone? I have typed even longer documents with original Titan.

You want to work, you use physical keyboard. You want to look porn, you can use touchscreen. That's how it is. Basically you have no experience with physical keyboard phones, something that I have since 2008.

 

[Hexic]

Basically you have no experience with physical keyboard phones, something that I have since 2008.

Interesting assumption, and an incorrect one at that.

Inversely - I began using BlackBerry in roughly 2003, and I don’t currently make the mistake of associating nostalgia with increased efficiency.

This product is cool, but beyond that it ain’t moving mountains.

 

[HardReset]

Interesting assumption, and an incorrect one at that.

Inversely - I began using BlackBerry in roughly 2003, and I don’t currently make the mistake of associating nostalgia with increased efficiency.

This product is cool, but beyond that it ain’t moving mountains.

Assumption was purely based on what you wrote. Because physical keyboard phones are better for almost everything except consuming entertainment (videos, photos etc) or doing some image/vdeo editing. However there are other devices that are much better for those purposes. Basically touch screen phones are at best mediocre for everything.

Perhaps Most people are against physical keyboard phones but majority of physical keyboard phone decline is purely because manufacturers can simply decide what is available. Nowadays it's not about what is better, it's about what is available. Monitors are good example. For desktop use 16:10 is better aspect ratio than 16:9, no question. Now I haven't seen single 16:10 display with at least 2K resolution and at least 120Hz refresh rate. None available, none sold.

 

[Rumiku]

People claim the same thing for physical controls in cars....only for the opposite to be true. Turns out some people really do enjoy tactile feedback.

I am one of those people. It likely depends on the speed of the infotainment software and a user's patience level, but I find for me, personally, touch screen buttons to be irritating on a good day. My Wife's Jeep Wrangler vs my Dodge RAM, is night and day. Heated seats? Push a button on the Jeep. For the RAM, switch to environmental controls, if it registers the first time, usually a second click then tap the heated seats. Well, I didn't quite hit it the first time since I'm driving and slightly off center from the virtual button the size of a pea, type twice and finally get heated seats. Sometimes on second tap the screen wants to flash, refresh and require a final 3rd attempt.

My son's higher end Hyundai, same thing as the RAM. I miss physical controls more than I thought I would. It's really counter intuitive. But if I was take a fair guess, it would likely depend on both the Generation of the user and their tolerance.

As for the keyboard, I wouldn't mind trying it again. I used those types quite a bit in the early 2000's (anyone remember the Samsung i700 slider?). Autocorrect and iOS/Android has seemingly only gotten worse since around 2015 or so, with regards to screen typing. Might be a nice change of pace with a physical layout again. Maybe not.