Key2 owner - worth upgrading?

[phoebus2000 7]

I have a BlackBerry Key2 and it is doing me well enough, keyboard works fine, no problems. I mainly use it for note taking during interviews and emulator gaming up to Dolphin/Citra.

I am tempted by the FXTec due to the improved processor and screen size. But I don't need it. Yes it's pricey but I could sell my Key2 or KeyOne and get some money towards it.

Has anyone made the leap from a Key2 or general thoughts on upgrade worthiness?

[EskeRahn 5,460]

Some have been reporting making that swap.
But I don't think that you can give a general verdict here.
For some with sufficiently fine fingers the keys and minor display of the Key2 are fine, and for those the Pro1 will be huge with limited gain.
For others a keyboard in portrait is a cramped compromise, and for us the larger keyboard with a lot more keys is a bliss, and the larger screen also welcomed.

Note that some apps do not support landscape, or if forced to landscape uses the display really poorly. So if you are strongly dependant of such apps and are not able to find alternatives, you will have to let do with touch input for those - or accept the screen to be sideways (I actually use a few apps like my banking app that way when entering text).

But though I have had a BB Priv I'm very biased, as I have been crying out for a device with the keyboard in the right direction for almost a decade - so don't just take my word for it. 😁

[_DW_ 628]

I made that swap and TBH I still can't make my mind up.  I used the Key1 keyboard more but that was just because you had to Pro1 you don't, only time I use the keyboard is in games or SSH to a server.  The benefit I do get is of course the performance.

On another side there is the astro slide coming out next year which is a similar price but a lot better performance but it is larger (can even get it 35% off at the moment but thats risking indigogo backing). 

Hopefully FXTec have something in the works as well even if it's just updated specs and hardware design issues fixed.

If you asked this question a year ago (ignoring supply issues!) I would say go for it 😉

[ToniCipriani 194]

As a Priv owner...  Had to pull out my Priv the other day because the indoor reception was so much better and I had an important phone call to take.  Immediately I was reminded how much better that keyboard was. No cramped hands when typing and the touch-scroll was second to none. The novelty of landscape on the Pro1 wore off  for me. It was indeed good for remote desktop and terminal scenarios but those aren't common use cases. More than half of my apps don't work with landscape (and the apologists here will insist it's "bad coding").

I'm actually tempted to switch back, and if that alleged new BlackBerry from Foxconn is actually a vertical slider again, I'll ditch my Pro 1.

[Hook 3,020]

40 minutes ago, ToniCipriani said:

As a Priv owner...  Had to pull out my Priv the other day because the indoor reception was so much better and I had an important phone call to take.  Immediately I was reminded how much better that keyboard was. No cramped hands when typing and the touch-scroll was second to none. The novelty of landscape on the Pro1 wore off  for me. It was indeed good for remote desktop and terminal scenarios but those aren't common use cases. More than half of my apps don't work with landscape (and the apologists here will insist it's "bad coding").

I'm actually tempted to switch back, and if that alleged new BlackBerry from Foxconn is actually a vertical slider again, I'll ditch my Pro 1.

I wouldn't say bad coding.  They just don't plan for a low frequency use case when it would require little effort on their part because Android does the heavy lifting and does it quite well.  Luckily, split screen handles the few stubborn apps I use-- and mostly the ones that won't do landscape are not very keyboard intensive (weather, bank) so it's actually fine to just flip a moment and do them.

My answer to this question would be to simply ask how much you like Blackberrys.  I had several, all work issued, and I hated them.  I find portrait keyboards cramped and impossible to type on, and I find small square screens awful if you are doing anything other than just reading through emails.  I have big hands, I'm in love with my Pro 1 keyboard and a screen large enough to do real work. I don't find landscape a novelty.  For me, I find it the key to getting work done.

But if you really love your BB and find the keyboard to be bout right, then you should probably stay with it unless forced to move.

The other element right now is that you are likely to be disappointed and frustrated with the wait time. 

So if you are very happy with your BB, you might want to not plunge in. You might even say where you are located on the off chance that a Pro 1 owner is near you so you could get your hands on one to test.

 

[DieBruine 397]

4 hours ago, ToniCipriani said:

As a Priv owner...  Had to pull out my Priv the other day because the indoor reception was so much better and I had an important phone call to take.  Immediately I was reminded how much better that keyboard was. No cramped hands when typing and the touch-scroll was second to none. The novelty of landscape on the Pro1 wore off  for me. It was indeed good for remote desktop and terminal scenarios but those aren't common use cases. More than half of my apps don't work with landscape (and the apologists here will insist it's "bad coding").

I'm actually tempted to switch back, and if that alleged new BlackBerry from Foxconn is actually a vertical slider again, I'll ditch my Pro 1.

Funny, the small width of the Priv is wat forced me to ditch that phone. That and the unlockable bootloader/lack of OS-upgrade. If I recall correctly I have owned all Qtek/HTC/Motorola landscape keyboard phones. Priv was my first portrait. Apart from the width I was very happy with it. My daughter used one until last Saturday. She seems very happy with her Pro1, as am I. Do not understimate the difference between landscape en portrait width.

You say you don't need the upgrade. But if my reason to buy a new phone was based on improved performance, and I could get decent money for my current phone, I'd get the new one. Then again, make sure it's worth the upgrade in performance.

[sorgo 13]

On 9/15/2020 at 6:30 AM, phoebus2000 said:

I have a BlackBerry Key2 and it is doing me well enough, keyboard works fine, no problems. I mainly use it for note taking during interviews and emulator gaming up to Dolphin/Citra.

I am tempted by the FXTec due to the improved processor and screen size. But I don't need it. Yes it's pricey but I could sell my Key2 or KeyOne and get some money towards it.

Has anyone made the leap from a Key2 or general thoughts on upgrade worthiness?

Key2 owner in the process of converting to pro1.

What will disappoint you:

• bulky, heavy device
• pretty large keyboard, hard to type, needs a lot of practice
• complicated unlocking, very unreliable fingerprint sensor (compared to key2 where you just place your thumb at the spacebar while grabbing the phone and it's unlocked at the time you pick it up)
• sw maturity, my phone came with unlocked bootloader, was not able to get google pay, netflix and some other apps running. rumor is out there the newer phones should be locked, mine was delivered in early Aug
• curved edges will drive you crazy. unintentional contact with any part of your palms with the edges makes it impossible to control the phone, you need to train yourself to avoid it or use an app that blocks x pixels from the sides
• opening/closing the keyboard switches the screen orientation and some apps are not good and handling it (e.g. restarting the enrollment/login process etc)
• landscape mode not supported by some apps, it can be forced by a 3rd party app
• keyboard is not capacitive, does not have gestured
• a bit fragile construction compared to key2 in a silicon case
• no convenience key, no speed key shortcuts

What you'll enjoy:

• larger display, much larger and better display
• keys keys keys and extra keys. arrow keys, numeric row, tab, escape, ctrl, alt, even you can type $ on the keyboard without the vkb
• better sound and now in stereo
• newer android generation (key2 is android 8 and no upgrade in the future, pro1 is android 9 stock)
• open bootloader, you can flash anything, i ended up running lineageos

 

I am not sure if I'll switch completely to pro1 any time soon. I am very used to the key2 and even tasks like grabbing the phone and googling something is much more efficiently executed on key2 imho. Probably if I gain confidence and speed in typing on pro1, i will make the switch.

Edited September 16, 2020 by sorgo

[OKSun 103]

3 hours ago, sorgo said:

Key2 owner in the process of converting to pro1.

What will disappoint you:

• bulky, heavy device
• pretty large keyboard, hard to type, needs a lot of practice
• complicated unlocking, very unreliable fingerprint sensor (compared to key2 where you just place your thumb at the spacebar while grabbing the phone and it's unlocked at the time you pick it up)
• sw maturity, my phone came with unlocked bootloader, was not able to get google pay, netflix and some other apps running. rumor is out there the newer phones should be locked, mine was delivered in early Aug
• curved edges will drive you crazy. unintentional contact with any part of your palms with the edges makes it impossible to control the phone, you need to train yourself to avoid it or use an app that blocks x pixels from the sides
• opening/closing the keyboard switches the screen orientation and some apps are not good and handling it (e.g. restarting the enrollment/login process etc)
• landscape mode not supported by some apps, it can be forced by a 3rd party app
• keyboard is not capacitive, does not have gestured
• a bit fragile construction compared to key2 in a silicon case
• no convenience key, no speed key shortcuts

What you'll enjoy:

• larger display, much larger and better display
• keys keys keys and extra keys. arrow keys, numeric row, tab, escape, ctrl, alt, even you can type $ on the keyboard without the vkb
• better sound and now in stereo
• newer android generation (key2 is android 8 and no upgrade in the future, pro1 is android 9 stock)
• open bootloader, you can flash anything, i ended up running lineageos

 

I am not sure if I'll switch completely to pro1 any time soon. I am very used to the key2 and even tasks like grabbing the phone and googling something is much more efficiently executed on key2 imho. Probably if I gain confidence and speed in typing on pro1, i will make the switch.

I acknowledge and respect the above experience. Just want to share that so far my experience has been more positive as I only set up the pro 1 recently: I benefited from the updated software, and from  the tips of the community (Thread below). I am not a phone expert, but I could follow the advices which solve many of the problems listed above. Even using android stock, I am quite happy with the experience.

 

 

[phoebus2000 7]

Thanks all for your thoughts and comments. My reading is that the Pro 1 is a pretty good phone but it's a first generation and has a few bugs in it. I think that as my Key2 is serving me well for now and I quite like the keyboard (though it could do with cursor keys, but that's a BlackBerry thing) I may hang on to it for now. But I will be keeping on eye on here for news and updates on the Pro1.

[ToniCipriani 194]

On 9/16/2020 at 10:29 AM, Hook said:

I wouldn't say bad coding.  They just don't plan for a low frequency use case when it would require little effort on their part because Android does the heavy lifting and does it quite well.  Luckily, split screen handles the few stubborn apps I use-- and mostly the ones that won't do landscape are not very keyboard intensive (weather, bank) so it's actually fine to just flip a moment and do them.

My answer to this question would be to simply ask how much you like Blackberrys.  I had several, all work issued, and I hated them.  I find portrait keyboards cramped and impossible to type on, and I find small square screens awful if you are doing anything other than just reading through emails.  I have big hands, I'm in love with my Pro 1 keyboard and a screen large enough to do real work. I don't find landscape a novelty.  For me, I find it the key to getting work done.

But if you really love your BB and find the keyboard to be bout right, then you should probably stay with it unless forced to move.

The other element right now is that you are likely to be disappointed and frustrated with the wait time. 

So if you are very happy with your BB, you might want to not plunge in. You might even say where you are located on the off chance that a Pro 1 owner is near you so you could get your hands on one to test.

 

  

On 9/16/2020 at 2:27 PM, DieBruine said:

Funny, the small width of the Priv is wat forced me to ditch that phone. That and the unlockable bootloader/lack of OS-upgrade. If I recall correctly I have owned all Qtek/HTC/Motorola landscape keyboard phones. Priv was my first portrait. Apart from the width I was very happy with it. My daughter used one until last Saturday. She seems very happy with her Pro1, as am I. Do not understimate the difference between landscape en portrait width.

You say you don't need the upgrade. But if my reason to buy a new phone was based on improved performance, and I could get decent money for my current phone, I'd get the new one. Then again, make sure it's worth the upgrade in performance.

I guess neither of you read till the very last line about ditching the Pro 1, meaning I'm currently using one, lol.

Edited September 19, 2020 by ToniCipriani

[Hook 3,020]

2 hours ago, ToniCipriani said:

  

I guess neither of you read till the very last line about ditching the Pro 1, meaning I'm currently using one, lol.

When I said  "my answer to this question..." I was addressing the OP.  You didn't ask a question.  Lol.