BlackBerry KEY2 Red Edition unboxing & hands-on: Red is the accent

Unless it’s something that hasn’t been seen or done before, new paint jobs aren’t the most exciting things in the world of smartphones. The vast majority of top-tiered smartphones are usually graced with a palatable selection of colors to choose from the onset, but for mid-range devices, it’d be astonishing if they’re available in anything else besides black. Well folks, the nearly year-old BlackBerry KEY2 was recently announced to be graced in a new color, which is surprising because for a business minded device, the decision to go with a red edition gives the phone a flashier look.

Even though the packaging doesn’t deviate from the previous offering, the only thing worth noting with it this time is the pair of red colored headphones that comes with it. As for the phone itself, there’s no denying that the red color is much appreciated given that BlackBerry smartphones have largely targeted business and enterprise users. The red color, in particular, gives off that metallic look when it’s inspected closely, but it looks like it’s more of the accent color than the main one. That’s because the rear of the KEY2 still features the same rubbery textured cover in black. Naturally, it would benefit greatly if it were red as well, but that’s not the case.

Beyond the aesthetics, this is the same KEY2 we saw last year – and the specs are evident of that! From its Snapdragon 660 chipset, to the same 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 IPS display, and the 12MP dual-camera setup it’s rocking on the back, there’s nothing different with this KEY2. Even the interface doesn’t get treated to any sort of red themed wallpaper! Then again, it’s not all that often that we get smartphones with physical keyboards – with this one offering one of the best out there!

However, the most puzzling thing about the Red Edition is the company’s decision to price it higher than the previous offerings. It’s baffling because the Red Edition of the KEY2 commands an additional $50 premium, tallying up at $700. Needless to say, it’s somewhat intruding on flagship territory at this price, but that’s what you’ll need to pay for this striking looking KEY2. Yes, you could go with the other, mundane colors, but you’re bound to raise a few eyes using the BlackBerry KEY2 Red Edition in public!