BlackBerry is set to deliver a 5G flagship handset with a physical keyboard this year

Blackberry has been away from the smartphone game for quite a while now, with the brand's last release being the KEY2 LE back in 2018. It appears things are about to change, however, as we may be set to see a new Blackberry-branded device soon.

After ending the partnership with TCL last year, the BlackBerry brand is now tied to OnwardMobility, and the company plans to release a new BlackBerry phone sometime this year. According to CEO Peter Franklin, the new BlackBerry phone will be launched in North America and Europe this year. The phone will eventually make its way over to Asia but a timeline for that is currently unknown. 

Going by the interview, it's expected that the upcoming BlackBerry device will sport a physical keyboard, as has become the brand's calling card. The device will also be a flagship phone, so should be competitive. That's an important point, as recent BlackBerry devices failed to offer good enough hardware for their listed prices. There's a sizable market for phones with physical keyboards in a world where no other OEM makes one; the big question, however, is how the rest of the phone holds up.

Buy the BlackBerry KEY2 on Amazon.