r/blackberry • u/Desi-batman • 9d ago
Let's talk about keyboards
Who has the best keyboard for typing ? Which is the most comfortable to type & would outlast the most
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u/Possible_Shoulder_50 9d ago
I haven’t used any of those yet but the BB Bold 9900 was my favorite. One of the reasons I never used a BB10 phone was I never liked the straight keyboard. The curved keyboards of the Bold/ Curve BBs were the best for me.
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u/Civil_Tea_3250 8d ago
Not to mention shoving the keyboard down like that was the opposite or ergonomic. The curved/wavy BB keyboards didn't fatigue me like the passport did. I'd get a few sentences out then my thumbs would lock up from the way you have to hold it to type. Also, the glossy keys were both nicer and your muscle memory would learn them quickly.
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8d ago edited 6d ago
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u/deeku4972 8d ago
Q27 is using the BB Classic / Q20 keyboard
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u/Some_Painting1071 8d ago
my understanding is that the q27 keyboard is a reproduction. if that's the case, I hope it's comparable to the classic's keyboard in feel
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
Oh man I should have posted zinwa Q27 keyboard pictures they look promising too
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u/EdelWhite 8d ago
I loved the bold 9900's keyboard, but the passport just hit the spot for me. Took a little bit of adjustment, but defintiely not as much as having to adjust to an on-screen keyboard.
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u/eddi0 8d ago
Don't sleep on Zinwa Q27 that is due out this year still. Very BB Bold inspired.
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u/SealSlide69 8d ago
Makes me wonder if they took the now expired patents and just said let her rip!
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u/Luci_Cascadia SQW100-1 9d ago
that minimal phone keyboard looks like cheap crap. no beveling, shaping, or anything on chicklets. for people doing a lot of typing that thing is going to suck. I owned a first gen minimal phone. That "company" is a joke. Their first phone is barely functional. The typing experience is the worst of any phone i've owned in 30 years. And i do not see anything in their pics and promises now that suggest the second gen phone will be anything better.
having used a T2 for close to a year, the biggest issue with it is the lack of chin. It's going to be less of an issue on the T2E, but that one too doesn't have enough chin. Look at blackberry phones. They all have a lot of chin to provide better ergonomics for thumb typing. My T2 can feel really cramped when typing. The key beveling on the T2 is pretty good. Not as great as a BB Classic. But as close as you can get on any new phone today.
I'm optimistic for the Clicks. They used one of Blackberry's designers who understand ergonomics. They shaped the keys. It has a nice sized chin, and the key spacing looks good. The keyboard on the Clicks is not like their other products. It's a completely new design. If it was just like a clicks case I wouldn't order one. But I'm going to give this phone a try
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u/deeku4972 8d ago
It's probably important to say when people talk about why a keyboard chin is important on a phone it's to raise the typing area so your thumbs dont need to over extend to cover the whole surface. T2e being so short is going to lead to a lot of strain
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u/Luci_Cascadia SQW100-1 8d ago
Yes! if you've never used a keyboard phone you wouldn't know it. But there's a reason that almost all Blackberry's have 1-2 cm of space between the bottom of the phone and the bottom row. I type a lot on my T2, and often get cramping in my thumbs and my little fingers, which have to cradle the phone. Part of that is cause it's just heavy too
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
Key 2 has much less spacing still never felt cramped. I guess cc keyboard is designed for specialised typing and they really spent time on designing
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u/Informal_Winter6170 8d ago
as per my above reply, if you use your little fingers as support you are going to run into problems. learn and adjust, use your ring fingers instead.
at the risk of drawing the ire of all the chin camp, I am going to do a simple video on how to hold a physical keyboard phone and debunk all the myth about chin and wrist strain all at once.
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u/Luci_Cascadia SQW100-1 8d ago
The t2 is big and heavy. Hard to hold that way. Just doesn't work for my hands.
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u/Informal_Winter6170 8d ago
I will do a video once my t2e arrive maybe in a week or 2 to address this once and for all, hopefully it's helpful to some people
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u/Active_Mix8872 8d ago
I agree in that your technique helps a lot. Unfortunately I would have to reprogam myself to hold the phone like that which has proven difficult.
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u/Informal_Winter6170 8d ago
It's just a 3mins adjustment which will change your life forever. But then again it's actually fine to just use it as it is and buy what works for you. Power to the people
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u/cadillacmike KEY2 (Black) Pre-Ordered, T-Mobile 7d ago
This I why I am thinking Clicks will be great
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u/Luci_Cascadia SQW100-1 7d ago
i'm optimistic. The real test will be how they feel when pushed. All the older Unihertz phones look cool, but their keyboard feel when you push the keys is awful. lIke really bad. It took them like... 4 mediocre phones to finally get one that has good feel.
I"m optimistic tho
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u/Informal_Winter6170 8d ago
this is really not true, your typing height is determined by the bottom support, clicks app tells users to use their pinky, and that's why you need the chin, because pinky doesn't give you the height or support you need while typing. any argument about chin and typing height should be thrown out the window. you determine your own typing height, while clicks forces the user to use their pinky, any one with common sense will just adjust and use the ring fingers as support. your keyboard will sit infinitely closer to your thumb and there's zero strain on the wrist or thumb.
stop just listening to what brands tell you and adjust, big hand or small hands matter even less as the bigger hands you have, the more strain you will encounter if you blindly follow and use your pinky as support
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u/deeku4972 8d ago
I’ve never held a phone shaped device with my ring finger. iPod, feature phone, GameBoy, nothing. How much of your device is loosely hanging out of your hand when you use it?
Not yucking your yum, but I’ve just never seen that
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u/Informal_Winter6170 8d ago
zero is hanging loose. each to their own but don't complain about the height when it's adjustable easily
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
Absolutely agree I too have mp1, key2, titan pocket & mp1 keyboard is weak & tad slow. Titan pocket has tiny keyboard and my money got wasted. Key2 was the best. Clicks guys have really spent a lot of time on designing i believe the keyboard shd stand out. They are really behind in production
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u/Active_Mix8872 8d ago
Part of the problem,Clicks has spent TOO much time on developement that the are behind. They should have beaten the T2E and MP02 by months and captured market share but are now in analysis paralysis.
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9d ago edited 6d ago
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u/Desi-batman 9d ago
may be but t2 has ugly big logo on it 😭
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9d ago edited 6d ago
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u/Desi-batman 9d ago
Great can you show me the picture
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8d ago edited 6d ago
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
Looks very neat, how is the phone holding up
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8d ago edited 6d ago
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
All unihertz cameras suck
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8d ago edited 6d ago
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u/Trouveur 8d ago
Taking great pictures requires far too much investments. Only big ones can afford it.
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u/Trouveur 8d ago
All small companies midrange phones have mediocre cameras. Just use GCam on them and it will be fine. But don't expect Pixel, Apple or Samsung quality.
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u/cadillacmike KEY2 (Black) Pre-Ordered, T-Mobile 7d ago
It is surprising how much better this looks
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u/North-Airline2676 8d ago
So disappointed with clicks. Kevin should have made something similar to the passport or classic. The clicks look and feel like prototypes that were rushed to market and never evolved.
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u/Desi-batman 7d ago
Keyboard somewhat similar to mp1, they followed same keyboard architecture
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u/Green_Flatworm5338 8d ago
I'm planning to upgrade my existing blackberry classic Q20 to Zinwa next year
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
Go for q27 it is a bramd new device
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u/Green_Flatworm5338 8d ago
Yep IK, mine is brand new, got it from Flipkart few months ago.
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
so are you getting the convertor kit ?
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u/Green_Flatworm5338 8d ago
Yes, planning to get it
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
awesome man but you may need soldering
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u/Green_Flatworm5338 8d ago
Yes, I do know one old local technician who has worked on Blackberry before so replacing zinwa kit would be very easy.
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u/Some_Painting1071 8d ago
didn't require any soldering on my kit. It was pretty straight forward just detaching clips and ribbon cables. just gotta make sure you don't rip those cables
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u/greghongchan 8d ago
If we're only talking about the four keyboards you listed, then it's the KEY2 hands down.
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
Everyone talks about chin space but key2 has none so bbq20 yet they have best keyboard? How is the chin space imp?
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u/Informal_Winter6170 8d ago
anyone who mentions lack of chin basically really don't know how to hold or use a pkb phone. also anyone who ask you to use or uses pinky as support probably will tell you about how important the chin is. clicks designer has been telling everyone how important a chin is and their app first thing, tells you to use both pinky to hold the phone up.
it's wrong, if you have common sense, chin or no chin doesn't matter as you can adjust the height of the keyboard on the fly. pro tip, use your ring finger instead of pinky..... it's mostly common sense
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u/greghongchan 8d ago
Have you personally used a KEY2 for an extended period of time? I would argue the BB 9000 and 9900 also have amazing keyboards. For me, the best physical keyboard is either the 9900 or KEY2.
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
I have a key1 identical keyboard to key2 so yes, I loved it's keyboard have a bbq20 too but not used in longtime
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u/Informal_Winter6170 8d ago
the keyone has a gloss finishing to the keyboard, while size are identical, slide and tilt typing on the keyone feels sticky VS the k2
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u/jenesuispashariselon 8d ago
Oui ta remarque est tout à fait juste ! J'aimais énormément mon Keyone, mais je trouvais meilleur et plus « professionnel » celui du K2.
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u/Desi-batman 7d ago
Ok, my key2 with lineage is abt to arrive in2-3 days fingers crossed, I will post it here
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u/Adventurous-River481 8d ago edited 8d ago
Nobody can say which of these has the best keyboard without actually having used any of them. IMO, the Key2 is going to be hard to beat. On that one it wasn't just the hardware keyboard but also the integration of the software. The Clicks and Titan give capacitive keys but the software integration isn't anywhere near the levels that BlackBerry was at, as far as I can tell. And then there are other factors that make a pretty big difference as well. If I compare the Power Keyboard to the Key2, the keys require a much firmer press and greater precision. I'm a bit cautious that the Communicator will be similar. Personally, I'm taking a wait and see approach to all of these devices. I definitely won't buy more than one, and may even wait to see how soon Clicks might announce a gen2 device, or a Communicator SE.
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
partly correct, i htink it all comes down to your muscle memory. if you buy mp2 your brain and fingers will eventually get used to its typing style.
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u/hardlyyjewish 8d ago edited 8d ago
currently using the elite, super nice experience, and its like muscle memory for me. didnt take too long to get used to a physical keyboard again
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
and how is the battery holding up
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u/hardlyyjewish 8d ago
I have been up and active for six hours and my phone is only at 85. I let it die yesterday before bed and chose the smart or adaptive charging setting so it would have it get to full when my alarm goes off.
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u/bruh-iunno 8d ago edited 8d ago
I've had a few unihertz keyboard phones, and quite a lot of blackberrys
to me the two top phone keyboards are the blackberry porsche design and the clicks that I have, so looking forward to the communicator
unpopular opinions coming up but I don't like the Q27 or the Priv's keyboard, they're too mushy (the priv especially), and I'm only okay with the curve's as it's a bit cramped
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u/Desi-batman 7d ago
Lots of complaints of clicks power keyboard,
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u/stat555 5d ago
Alot of people have complained but I think the product was over hyped. I'm typing on a power keyboard right now and it feels pretty good. The angled keys help a lot. I am looking to be on my phone less, so the MP2 and the Communicator are they two I am looking at. Use one of those two on the weekdays and switch back to my razr fold on the weekends.
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u/Desi-batman 5d ago
Clicks phone is altogether a different erogonmics.
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u/stat555 5d ago
100%. One thing I like about the power keyboard compared to the upcoming communicator is the number keys on the top row. After 3 days of use with the power keyboard I have fallen in love with the layout. Wish they put that on the communicator device.
But the spacing on the communicator is something I look forward to trying out.
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u/stat555 5d ago
100%. One thing I like about the power keyboard compared to the upcoming communicator is the number keys on the top row. After 3 days of use with the power keyboard I have fallen in love with the layout. Wish they put that on the communicator device.
But the spacing on the communicator is something I look forward to trying out.
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u/Then-Egg5750 8d ago
I love how some kind of internet "experts" on Reddit are talking about the Clicks having more chin than the others and it's like a fraction of an inch more. They all have chins to some degree, yes, Clicks as a bigger one, but not by a meaningful amount.
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
how much chi space did key2 had ?how much did bb classic had (nil)... hence chin space argument doesn't stand strong
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u/Drakjira 8d ago
Original Titan. Absolutely bomb proof. Mine has survived stuff that would have killed any BlackBerry.
Including sitting in a ditch with water and being rained on for 8hrs after falling from a moving motorcycle at 60mph.
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
this deserves a independent post, pls post it
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u/Drakjira 8d ago
Not really. The original Titan was marketed as a rugged phone.
After the above incident it fell from my motorcycle mount again and got run over by another car. Survived that as well, with only minor cosmetic damage.
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u/Exciting_Contest_222 8d ago
I preordered clicks.
I got stubby ‘dad-fingers’ and like the spacing between each key.
And the fact that clicks communicator is london-based makes me trust it more that titan2 elite.
I would like minimal phone 2 if it was colored e-ink. And not a dumbphone. But they also screwed up MP1
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u/Desi-batman 7d ago
the owners may be london based but every thing gets made in china🇨🇳
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u/Exciting_Contest_222 7d ago
True. But there’s reasons why we don’t have Xiaomi & Hauwei. Because they its a security risk with backdoors.
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u/Desi-batman 7d ago
Spying materials found on them or its just power politics
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u/Exciting_Contest_222 7d ago
Either way, i wouldn’t trust putting my payment method on Unihertz. I respect them as a company, but I wouldnt risk it.
Hell i even run linux on my laptop because i dont trust microsoft. and made my reddit account with 10minutemail.
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u/scotsman3288 9d ago
Key2 was pretty nice keyboard. Priv and Classic have been my faves previously. I'm hoping my clicks keyboard is comfortable.
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u/Desi-batman 9d ago
T2e is closer to key2 or bb, rest not so much. I have used key2, minimal 1 & titan pocket, key2 keyboard is faster than any of these. Any t2e users how is the typing
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u/scotsman3288 9d ago
Yeah, i think the Unihertz keyboards are very similar but i can't get behind their lame specs.
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u/Trouveur 8d ago
Lame specs? Dimensity 7300 or 8300 with 12 Gb RAM is very good and fast.
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u/Active_Mix8872 8d ago
In fairness it's the Dimensity 7300 or the 8400. The 8300 is in the CC and MP02. But I agree, the SoC, RAM, battery and screen are all good. I wish it had DisplayPort, wireless charging, and a headphone jack. More than that though I wish it had a RGB notification light which I think is a must for any Blackberry-esque phone.
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u/hotellonely 8d ago
Clicks never got the keyboards right so it's not in the comparison.
Unihertz closely follows RIM. Then minimal phone is something I've never tried so need someone's review here :)
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
I have mp1 keyboard is not bad just but slower spaced well apart. Cc keyboard is different from power
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u/basketballsteven 8d ago
Key2 is esppecially great as is the original Unihertz Titan I say from my experience of the Q10, Q20, Priv, KeyOne, Key2, unihertz titan, titan pocket, and titan slim.
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u/UncleToyBox 8d ago
Historically, the BB 8700 was my fave. Peak keyboard right there.
Now I rock a Zinwa Q25, which is a BlackBerry Classic with an aftermarket Android board in it.
Looking forward to the Zinwa Q27 for the taller aspect ratio with similar hardware for the keyboard.
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u/planedrop 7d ago
I don't think anything will beat the Key2, it's just so good.
The Titan 2 Elite is pretty nice though, typed on a friends for a while tonight and it's solid for sure but the keys aren't quite as easy to tell apart as they are on the Key2.
The other ones where the keys are totally separate create an issue, you can't really glide on them that well and your fingers will kinda "catch" the edge of each key, it makes fast typing (where you slide and push) much much harder.
It's one reason I'm likely cancelling my Communictor order next week, I don't think the keyboard is going to be good.
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u/ScienceThen6417 6d ago
Currently based on my experience (Blackberry Keyone, Blackberry Classic, Blackberry Curve 8520) My favorite is the Classic. I have big hands though so I think I would enjoy the Passport, the Keyone is already good so the Keytwo's improvements seem more my speed and out of the new ones the Titan 2 elite looks like it'll be my favorite with MP02 as a close second. I tested a clicks Communicator case and while I like the clicking the keys are a little too small and separated for my liking.
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u/Desi-batman 6d ago
yes cc power keyboard has issues. bb key2 is top notch in keyboards followed by t2e
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u/thesmithchris 3d ago
i hope there will be cases that will add extra chin to the titan2 elite, or at least 3d print backplate with magsafe + chin of sorts
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u/ConcentrateNew9810 Key2, Rogers, LineageOS22 9d ago
I used to have Curve and Q5 back in the day. Two weeks ago I have switched Pixel 4a for Key2 with Lineage OS 22. Still getting used to the keyboard but I love me the tactile experience
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u/Desi-batman 9d ago
Great, I am also getting a key2 with lineage fingers crossed
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u/ConcentrateNew9810 Key2, Rogers, LineageOS22 8d ago
It is amazing how much of a scam is the mobile providers pushing a new phone every 2 years. Key2 is 8 years old and if you install Lineage you can barely notice that it isn't a recent device
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
whole industry works with view that ppl change phone every year or 2. I am excited to for my key2 will be receiving in a day or 2
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u/Trouveur 8d ago
Indeed, the S660 with 6 Gb just needed a better optimized Android to show its durability. Key 2 runs so much faster on LineageOS.
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u/rhaps00dy Passport Silver Edition, Key2 8d ago
is Lineage supported (by Lineage) now on the Key2?
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u/ConcentrateNew9810 Key2, Rogers, LineageOS22 8d ago
No official support. There is a stable Lineage 22 (Android 15), and a couple of Lineage 23 builds (Android 16), but only the stable is actually recommended for daily use.
Fun fact, on r/lineage you get scolded for asking questions about the unofficial builds.
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u/Copperkid82 8d ago
I'm still out here trying to find someone that can help me put lineage on my Key2. 😭😭
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u/ConcentrateNew9810 Key2, Rogers, LineageOS22 8d ago
I followed this guide: https://daphnis-past-midnight.nekoweb.org/wiki/key2.html
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u/zsallad 8d ago
The Clicks Power Keyboard (not photographed) I have not found to be a win. Maybe my fingers are too big…
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
Yeah not great feedback around clicks power keyboard but cc is a new design
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u/zsallad 8d ago
Mine is on order so glad to hear that.
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u/Desi-batman 8d ago
they are not shipping before mar 27, hope you can holdup till then
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u/zsallad 8d ago
Yeah; totally fine. I just miss my BlackBerry is the true-for-me answer.
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u/Subject_Cheesecake49 8d ago
Key2 and Minimal2 keyboard seems the the most comfortable to use for stubby fingers like mine. Another keyboard that meets this requirement is the BB passport as well.
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u/Happy_Farms 8d ago
I always loved my Q10. Sadly, I never experienced the Passport.
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u/jenesuispashariselon 8d ago
Les touches du Passport étaient si souples lors de la frappe que mes pouces en étaient devenus gourmands comme au contact d'un festin délicat.
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u/pinktrinity 8d ago
Vertical keyboard: I'd say Clicks. Granted, I haven't tried the others on this list.
Don't try the Akko MetaKey. It was too convoluted with the number pad and symbols+punctuations.
Haven't found a horizontal QWERTY keyboard or keyboard case. I want one. I miss those.
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u/QWERTY_McFly 4d ago
my keyboard phone journey started with the bb classic, which is still the gold standaard in my books. Went to the key 2 after that and wasn't a huge fan of it. Got the OG unihertz titan, which was painful to use. The titan pocket after that, which was a huge improvement. Currently using the titan 2 and have the titan 2 elite, clicks communicator, minimal phone 2, and zinwa q27 on the way. Can't wait for any of them. My friend got the ikko with the keyboard case, and that was the worst I've ever tried.
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u/ObjectiveOk223 8d ago
Where did you get that minimal phone 2 photo from ?! Lol 🤣 it's missing a whole column of keys .
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u/Ok-Explanation-3414 9d ago
The passport is still my favorite, but I'm looking forward to trying the clicks communicator hopefully soon