Home
News
You are here

BlackBerry KEY2 durability test - you can't break this

13comments

By Adrian Diaconescu

Published: Jul 24, 2018, 3:33 AM

Despite not exactly setting the world on fire with its horsepower, the BlackBerry KEYone was one of last year’s most well-reviewed Android smartphones. The mid-ranger felt like a welcomed blast from the past, combining a modern touchscreen with an ageless QWERTY keyboard, thus shining in the productivity department.

It was also hard to compete with the KEYone’s security and battery life, but unfortunately, the handset failed a pretty basic durability test. According to self-proclaimed “professional phone breaker” Zack Nelson from YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, the screen simply lacked enough adhesive on the back, randomly falling off not just in torture experiments, but also in real life.

Fast forward to this year’s refined, upgraded, and somewhat overpriced BlackBerry KEY2, and lo and behold, every single structural issue appears to have been fixed. Built like a tank, the metal-and-rubber new touchscreen/QWERTY hybrid can withstand quite a bit of pressure without so much as flexing.

There should be no need for free replacements issued for broken devices this time around, as the KEY2 seems to feature vastly improved durability compared to its deeply flawed predecessor. Even the use of ancient Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the 4.5-inch display feels like a good call, earning high marks for scratch resistance. The ingenious space bar doubling as a fingerprint scanner is also essentially scratch-proof, as are the front and rear camera lenses.

The physical keyboard on the whole looks impressively durable, with each individual key securely glued to a rubber backing over the circuit board. Bottom line, the BlackBerry KEY2 might be significantly costlier than the KEYone, but that’s because the build quality is so much better. Or at least that’s a key factor in driving the price up.

25% off eSIM data-only plans & global coverage - enter code IPHONE25, sign up required

Check Out The Offer

View Full Bio

Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.

Read the latest from Adrian Diaconescu