Why BlackBerry is back

BlackBerry phones are making a strong comeback. Photo: Joshua Hoehne/Unsplash .

Before the iPhone reshaped the mobile market, BlackBerry was the “coolest” phone. At its peak in the early 2000s, BlackBerry dominated more than 50% of the US smartphone market and 20% of the global market.

However, the arrival of the iPhone marked a new era, causing physical keyboard phones to gradually disappear from the market. Finally, BlackBerry stopped supporting its classic phones in 2022.

But the story doesn't end there. BlackBerry is being "resurrected" by Gen Zers, who are sharing vintage phones they found on TikTok — ironically, since these phones don't actually support the TikTok app.

On TikTok, young users are sharing their personal experiences of owning a BlackBerry again. “Bought a BlackBerry Bold just because I liked it,” one user posted, holding an old phone he bought for $40 .

TikTok users "flock" to buy BlackBerry phones. Photo: TikTok.

Another wrote while unboxing his old BlackBerry Bold 9900: "This is a sentence I never thought I'd say, especially not in 2025. I already have a BlackBerry."

"My first phone was an iPhone in 6th grade, so I never had the chance to own a BlackBerry like I always wanted. This has always been a dream of mine," the user further explained.

Currently, phrases like “#flipphone” on TikTok have attracted more than 35,000 posts, while the BlackBerry-specific hashtag has more than 125,000. These videos , which often reach hundreds of thousands of views, document users’ journeys back to basic phones, including models like the BlackBerry Classic Q20 and BlackBerry Curve.

According to Fast Company , Gen Z is participating in a movement called "Digital Detox Summer", in which users temporarily put aside modern smartphones to find classic technology devices to relax and stay away from contemporary technology.

Specifically, a TikTok video that attracted 6.4 million views had the following content: "POV (Perspective): You buy a BlackBerry in 2025 because your iPhone is ruining your life". In the comments section, many people expressed their agreement: "This is the pinnacle of technology", or "BlackBerry has a chance to make a spectacular comeback".

On Reddit, excitement for BlackBerry phones and other vintage tech products is also rife.

Reddit user “coldheartedsigma” shared a now-deleted post that hinted at a BlackBerry comeback. While some expressed skepticism, others couldn’t help but be excited. “Please be real,” one comment read. “I would be very interested if this actually happened,” added another.

First introduced in 1999, the BlackBerry 850 was a two-way pager with email capabilities, and was the forerunner of later BlackBerry phones.

The phone line has undergone many improvements, with notable versions such as the BlackBerry Curve launched in 2007, the BlackBerry Flip 8220 released in 2008, and the BlackBerry Key One - a smartphone with a physical keyboard, launched in 2017.

Source: https://znews.vn/ly-do-blackberry-tro-lai-post1560275.html