U.S. consumers can now pre-order the BlackBerry KEY2 LE from Amazon; phone ships October 12th

So let's say that you love just about everything about the BlackBerry KEY2, from the physical QWERTY keyboard, to the Speed Key that allows you to switch between apps in the blink of an eye. And you daydream about taking pictures and videos using the dual camera setup on the back of the phone. But there is one thing holding you back from pulling the trigger on purchasing the device. That is the $649.99 price tag for the 64GB model. But there is a solution.

Starting today, U.S. consumers are able to pre-order the BlackBerry KEY2 LE from Amazon. This phone has many of the same features found on the KEY2, but with slightly reduced specs. And the BlackBerry KEY2 LE is priced at $449.99, 31% cheaper than the higher priced model.

The KEY2 LE has the same 4.5-inch LCD screen carrying a resolution of 1080 x 1620. But instead of the Snapdragon 660 Mobile Platform that powers the KEY2, the lower priced handset has the Snapdragon 636 chipset under the hood. It also has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of native storage. The dual cameras on back weigh in at 13MP and 5MP, with an 8MP front-facing selfie snapper.

While the KEY2's 3500mAh battery provides up to 48 hours of life between charges, the KEY2 LE sports a smaller 3000mAh battery. Still, the KEY2 LE does offer the Speed Key, the same physical keyboard, and all of the little things (BlackBerry Privacy Shade, DTEK privacy app, BlackBerry Hub) made available for free to those using an Android powered BlackBerry handset.

As we said, pre-orders for the BlackBerry KEY2 LE are being accepted today from Amazon, and will ship starting on October 12th. Color options are Slate and Champagne. If interested, click on the appropriate sourcelink below.

source: Amazon (1), (2) via CrackBerry