BlackBerry is coming back

The Q20 is a phone that embodies the most distinctive features of BlackBerry. Photo: SlashGear .

Before the iPhone reshaped the mobile market, the world witnessed the dominance of Nokia's "brick" phones and unique flip and slide phones. BlackBerry was one of the most prominent examples. Their phones featured a distinctive physical "QWERTY" keyboard, modern email capabilities, and many other conveniences.

The arrival of the iPhone ushered in a new era, with keyboard phones slowly disappearing from the market. However, this situation may soon change as a Chinese company is trying to bring BlackBerry back.

The BlackBerry Classic, also known as the BlackBerry Q20, was launched in 2014 and used the BlackBerry 10 mobile operating system. Eleven years after its release, a company called Zinwa Technologies is ambitiously aiming to revive this legend by equipping it with completely new internal components.

The hardware specifications of the Zinwa Q25 have been revealed by the company. Photo: Zinwa Technologies.

This information was revealed in an interview between the YouTube channel “Returning Retro” and a representative from Zinwa Technologies. According to the interview, the company expressed its desire to help BlackBerry re-enter the market. To realize this plan, Zinwa Technologies is acquiring remaining stock of the older Q20 model, including both used devices and products still in inventory in the Hong Kong supply chain.

Zinwa Technologies doesn't just sell BlackBerry Q20s as is. Instead, the devices undergo a modernization process with new internal components like a new motherboard, new camera, and new battery.

The company will retain some components such as the screen, keyboard, notification LED and outer shell. Zinwa revealed the official name for the refreshed BlackBerry Classic model is Zinwa Q25. This name is a combination of the company name (Zinwa), the letter Q from the original BlackBerry name, and the number 25 representing the year 2025 - the expected launch date of the device.

In terms of specifications, the Zinwa Q25 will be equipped with a MediaTek G99 Octacore chip, with a clock speed of up to 2 GHz and a 4G modem – comparable to current mainstream smartphones. The device will have 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, along with a MicroSD card slot.

Notably, the Zinwa Q25 boasts a significant camera upgrade. The front camera has an 8-megapixel resolution, while the main camera has a 50-megapixel sensor. Additionally, the device will integrate a USB-C port.

The product will run on the Android operating system. Photo: Zinwa Technologies.

Despite numerous upgrades, the Zinwa Q25 retains the classic BlackBerry design. The Zinwa still features a 720x720 pixel LCD touchscreen, along with the characteristic physical keyboard and familiar casing.

The company also notes that the Zinwa Q25 won't receive many system updates. This is a special project, aimed at true BlackBerry enthusiasts, not a regular product line.

Currently, customers can order the complete device for $400 . Notably, those who want to customize their Q20 themselves can choose to purchase a customization package for $300 .

This kit allows users to assemble and modify the device themselves. The first Zinwa Q25 units are expected to be delivered in early August.

Source: https://znews.vn/blackberry-sap-tro-lai-post1559892.html