Physical keyboard for the win

We’ve always been enamored by BlackBerry’s phones that had keyboards in them because hardcore tech Titos understand how great those things were for typing back in the day. With BlackBerry selling off its hardware division to TCL, we were never sure if the new, BlackBerry-branded phones made by the Chinese conglomerate would ever make their way here.

Now we know – Philippine Country Head for Alcatel Rudolph Santos says that they’ll be selling BlackBerry-branded phones soon, starting with the Key2 and Key2 LE.

The BlackBerry Key2 is a phone designed for die-hard BlackBerry fans. The device features the same capacitive keyboard that’s been in devices past, 3:2 aspect ratio screen to get more things done as well as tons of security features to keep your work (or personal) account nearly hack-proof.

The phone is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, 64GB/128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, as well as dual 12-megapixel rear cameras with f/1.8 and f/2.6 apertures, and an 8-megapixel front camera.

The BlackBerry Key2 LE (lite edition) of the device is a stripped down variant. It forgoes the capacitive QWERTY keyboard, has lower RAM and storage options and features a lower-spec Snapdragon 636 processor.

Alcatel is looking to launch both phones in the Philippines by late Feb or March this year, with the Key2 retailing for Php 39,995 and the Key2 LE coming in at Php 24,995.