It’s been nearly a decade since the last first-party BlackBerry device was released, the 2015 BlackBerry Priv. Since then, we’ve seen numerous BlackBerry-branded phones, as well as other Android OEMs, incorporate physical keyboards into their phones, with varying success. Unihertz has offered several keyboard devices over the last few years. Still, this latest device is the closest anyone has ever come to recreating the BlackBerry Passport, with its unique 1:1 aspect ratio.
The Unihertz Titan 2 reached its Kickstarter goal within minutes, and the device is expected to ship in October. It features a 4.5-inch display with a 1:1 aspect ratio. The Titan 2 is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, including 12GB of RAM, and will be available with 512GB of storage. It’s a thicker phone at 10.8mm, and it weighs a pocket-stretching 235g, but that’s a small price to pay for those who haven’t given up their physical keyboards. It’s expected to retail for $400, with Kickstarter specials for early birds.
The closest we’ll ever get to a BlackBerry Passport 2
I’ve been using the Unihertz Titan 2 for the last couple of days, and I’m impressed. While the keyboard still isn’t as good as my beloved BlackBerry Passport, it’s close, and it’s the best keyboard Unihertz has built to date. I hoped the Titan 2 would be thinner, but it’s a chonky smartphone, even though it sheds much of the unnecessary armor featured on the original Titan.
Network compatibility has always been a challenge for Unihertz, as its devices are primarily limited to T-Mobile and Verizon (with a workaround) in the US. For Verizon, you must activate your SIM on another device before using it in a Unihertz phone, and AT&T was a non-starter. Unihertz aims to change that with the Titan 2 and is currently working with AT&T to obtain certification for its network.
While the Titan 2’s spec sheet and build quality make sense for the price, software support is another matter. Unihertz doesn’t quote a specific amount of support. The Titan 2 ships with Android 15, but it’s typical for Unihertz phones to receive only a couple of updates a year, and possibly one Android upgrade. If you’re looking for the latest and greatest Google Gemini features, the Titan 2 isn’t for you. However, if you’re searching for a physical keyboard phone in 2025, AI is probably the furthest thing from your mind.
