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Are there still any phones with a physical QWERTY keyboard?

The list of phones with a keyboard is getting shorter and shorter.
By
February 7, 2024
BlackBerry Key2
MSRP: $649.99
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Positives
Full qwerty keyboard
Classic Blackberry
Solid performance
Negatives
Limited carrier compatibility
Small display
Discontinued
BlackBerry Key2 LE
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Positives
Utilitarian design
Great keyboard
Good battery life
Negatives
Poky performance
Disappointing cameras
BlackBerry has a bad reputation with software updates
Unihertz Titan Pocket
MSRP: $309.99
Promoted
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Positives
Physical QWERTY keyboard
Affordable
Portable
Negatives
Tiny screen
Not the best specs
Outdated software
Unihertz Titan Slim
MSRP: $339.99
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Positives
Slim and modern design
Physical QWERTY keyboard
Affordable
Negatives
Mid-tier specs
Small screen
Outdated software
Clicks Creator Keyboard
MSRP: $139.00
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Positives
Familiar keys
Precise typing
Multifunction keys
Backlit keys
Pass-through charging
Sleek design
Negatives
Increased bulk
Learning curve
Limited compatibility
Premium price

Are you looking for the best phones with a physical keyboard? Your options are slimming down. There are still some devices you might want to consider if this is a feature you absolutely need, though. We’ll go over the best available options here.

The state of physical keyboard phones

Years ago, most of us had entirely written off the idea of a phone with a physical keyboard, as the category was all but dead. Not wanting to let go, BlackBerry started pushing back. The revival of the physical keyboard began with the BlackBerry Priv but didn’t truly heat up until the BlackBerry KeyOne and Key2’s arrival. Unfortunately, the trend didn’t last, and hope is undoubtedly dying.

TCL stopped making Blackberry phones, which left the brand languishing. Still, it had a fresh new owner in OnwardMobility, which promised it would offer a keyboard-toting 5G Blackberry phone. Sadly, the new company shut down in 2022, and all plans for a new BlackBerry phone were also canceled.

A crowdfunded phone, the ASTRO Slide 5G, successfully raised good money in 2020, and it had an expected October 2021 release date. Apparently, the device has reached some backers, but most were disappointed by the outdated tech, and many were still waiting for it in 2023. Fxtec released the Pro1, and in 2019, also made an Indiegogo campaign for a successor, the Fxtec Pro1 X. It’s now amazingly hard to get, and most don’t think it is a worthy acquisition.

Still, the market for phones with a physical QWERTY keyboard continues to die off slowly, and some of you might be better off picking one of the best Android keyboards or a Bluetooth keyboard instead. If you still want a device with an actual keyboard, though, we’ll go through the best options available.

The best phones with a keyboard

Editor’s note: We’ll regularly update this list of the best phones with physical keyboards when and if new ones launch. Of course, that is if they do.


BlackBerry Key2

blackberry key2 - The best phones with a keyboard

The BlackBerry Key2 offers several improvements over its predecessor. The keyboard received a facelift, featuring keys that are 20% larger than the ones on the KEYone. There’s also the Speed Key, a dedicated key on the bottom-right of the keyboard that lets you quickly jump to any app you’d like, from wherever you currently are on the screen.

The specs on the Key2 include two rear-facing 12MP sensors, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, and 6GB of RAM, which is twice the memory that the KEYone contained. You can also get at least 64GB of onboard storage, although some versions sold outside the US can get 128GB of storage. It comes with a 3,500mAh battery inside. Some excellent software security features include a Private Locker feature to place photos, files, videos, and even applications inside. You can only access this phone section with a fingerprint, PIN, or password.

The BlackBerry Key2 may be a bit of a niche device. Still, it will undoubtedly please hardcore BlackBerry fans or anyone who wants a solid smartphone made for business and security. It works with GSM wireless carriers, including AT&T and T-Mobile, and can still be found. The phone has been around since 2018, so it’s not a powerhouse. It’s also getting harder to get it brand-new.

BlackBerry Key2BlackBerry Key2
BlackBerry Key2
Full qwerty keyboard • Classic Blackberry
MSRP: $649.99
A legacy Blackberry phone with a mid-range processor, top-end RAM and storage, and a full qwerty keyboard.

Key2 specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, 1,620 x 1,080
  • SoC: Snapdragon 660
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 64/128GB
  • Cameras: 12 and 12MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 3,500mAh
  • Software: Android 8.1 Oreo

BlackBerry Key2 LE

BlackBerry Key2 LE - The best phones with a keyboard

The BlackBerry Key2 LE is a cheaper version of the Key2. It looks more or less the same, although it sports a plastic instead of a metal body. Most of the changes between the two can be found under the hood, with the LE model offering less power. It has the Snapdragon 636 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and 32/64GB of storage.

The phone packs a smaller battery at 3,000mAh and has a different dual-camera setup with 13 and 5MP sensors. It has a 35-key physical keypad with a fingerprint scanner embedded into the space bar. Other specs and features include an 8MP selfie camera, expandable storage, and Android Oreo.

You can still find it but will have difficulty picking up a new unit. Regardless, it should be cheaper than the Key2, and is definitely one of the best phones with a physical keyboard.

BlackBerry Key2 LEBlackBerry Key2 LE
BlackBerry Key2 LE
All-day battery life • 3.5mm jack • Excellent microphone
The Key LE prioritizes privacy and security
The BlackBerry Key2 LE smartphone is an excellent option for enhanced privacy and security at work. The backlit keyboard is fast and handy, and it supports fast charging.

Key2 LE specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, 1,620 x 1,080
  • SoC: Snapdragon 636
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 32/64GB
  • Cameras: 13 and 5MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 3,000mAh
  • Software: Android 8.1 Oreo

Unihertz Titan Pocket

Unihertz Titan Pocket - The best phones with a keyboard

Mostly known for its tiny devices, it seems Unihertz is a company that likes to fill in markets other manufacturers ignore. The Unihertz Titan Pocket keeps phones with physical keyboards alive, as well as offering pretty good specs and features for a very reasonable price.

Aside from the well-made physical keyboard, you’ll get a rugged construction, an octa-core processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 4,000mAh battery, and a 3.1-inch screen with a 716 X 720 resolution. It comes with Android 11. This isn’t a very recent Android version these days, but it is as recent as you can get from phones with a physical QWERTY keyboard.

If you prefer a slightly larger device, you should also look at the Unihertz Titan ($319.99 at Amazon). It’s even older, but it’s still a good option when so few of them exist.

Unihertz Titan PocketUnihertz Titan Pocket
Unihertz Titan Pocket
Physical QWERTY keyboard • Affordable • Portable
MSRP: $309.99

Titan Pocket specs:

  • Display: 3.1-inch, 716 X 720
  • SoC: 2GHz octa-core processor
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 16MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 4,000mAh
  • Software: Android 11

Unihertz Titan Slim

Unihertz Titan Slim 1 - The best phones with a keyboard

Unihertz has something much more sleek-looking and elegant if you don’t like rugged looks. The Unihertz Titan Slim follows a very similar design to BlackBerry’s Key2 devices, but comes with different internals.

The unit features a Helio P70 chipset, 6GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The 4.2-inch 768 × 1,280p screen is a bit tiny, but you get a full QWERTY keyboard that will keep your fingers off the screen while typing. You’ll also get nifty features like a fingerprint reader, infrared, dual-SIM support, and a 4,100mAh battery.

It’s no champion, but this is one of the newest phones with a physical keyboard, considering it was released in 2022.

Unihertz Titan SlimUnihertz Titan Slim
Unihertz Titan Slim
Slim and modern design • Physical QWERTY keyboard • Affordable
MSRP: $339.99

Titan Slim specs:

  • Display: 4.2-inch, 768 × 1,280
  • SoC: Helio P70
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Cameras: 48MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 4,100mAh
  • Software: Android 11

iPhone and Clicks Creator Keyboard case

clicks keyboard laying on table
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

If you really want a phone with a physical keyboard, and you don’t want to buy what could be considered an antique in the modern world of tech, then this is your best bet. This isn’t technically one of the best phones with a physical keyboard, though. It’s a keyboard case.

The trick is it’s yet to launch, and it is scheduled for a Q1 release (so, very soon). It’s also only available for a few devices so far, and none of them are Android phones. The Clicks Creator Keyboard is only available for the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. But the company mentions it will also come for other devices in Q2, 2024, including the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15.

This is one of the most expensive iPhone cases around, though. It will cost $139. We had some time to play with it during CES 2024, and were actually pleasantly surprised by it. The tactile feedback is great, and the backlit keys make it easy to type in the dark. It works as a pretty good iPhone case, too.

Again, the Clicks Creator Keyboard isn’t available yet, but you can learn more about the product and sign up for notifications by clicking on the link below.

Clicks Creator KeyboardClicks Creator Keyboard
Clicks Creator Keyboard
Familiar keys • Precise typing • Multifunction keys
MSRP: $139.00

FAQs

Smartphones with physical QWERTY keyboards are becoming a scarce breed. Very few are still around, and most are already pretty old.

Whether you prefer physical or software keyboards is a subjective matter. Many like the tactile feedback you get from pressing actual keys. That said, these smaller keyboards aren’t always optimal. They are usually crammed into small spaces and offer little to no customization. Physical keyboards pretty much become dead space when not typing. This is why the industry has moved to software keyboards, which can be customized and adapt to every user’s needs.

Most phones with a physical keyboard aren’t too expensive, mainly because they are pretty old now. Of course, plenty of other factors will come into play. Any phone with more capable specs will cost more, whether it has a keyboard or not. Most newer keyboard-toting handsets are budget phones, though. Also, we’ve seen some of these get more expensive with time, as devices with keyboards become rarer.

As you can see, you don’t have many options to pick from. Maybe it’s time to finally let go of phones with physical keyboards. At least for now, it would be worth checking out our list of the best Android phones and best budget phones.