5 smartphones with the best physical keyboard

Most smartphones today use only touch inputs. That means using the on-screen touch keyboard, which may cause you to enter inaccurate and slow content.

However, there are still some phones on the market that have physical keyboards, better tactile feedback and better accuracy. Today's article will introduce some smart phone models with physical keyboards.

1. Blackberry Key2

Reference price: $ 609.99 (VND 14,200,000)

Very few smart phone companies have physical keyboards and the Blackberry is the most prominent among them. The company's latest phone has a keyboard, the Blackberry Key2 model, which provides many of the functions that the best smartphones on the market own. Blackberry Key2 has a 'sleek' design, the back has good grip and aluminum frame.

Blackberry Key2 is equipped with Snapdragon 660. This is a mid-range processor that can handle tasks and play games quite well. The default configuration has 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which can be expanded with a microSD card. Blackberry Key2 also has dual rear camera, dual SIM support and 4.5 inch full HD screen.

The physical keyboard follows a standard QWERTY layout, providing a very comfortable typing experience. In addition, all keys on the keyboard function as extra buttons. You can assign application shortcuts to specific keys, activate certain commands, and quickly switch between applications.

The surface of the entire keyboard also acts as a touchpad. This means that you can swipe up or down on the keyboard, and what you see on the screen will scroll up or down. There is also a fingerprint sensor integrated into the spacebar.

Key2 runs Android 8.1 and comes with a variety of Blackberry privacy features. Another great aspect is battery life. Because Blackberry Key2 does not run on exceptionally powerful processors and smaller screen phones than usual, the 3,500mAh battery can be used up to two days.

2. Blackberry Priv

Reference price: $ 505.36 (VND 11,763,000)

If you like a phone with a slide-out keyboard for uninterrupted media viewing, the Blackberry Priv is a consideration. Blackberry Priv has a screen larger than 5.4 inches and a sliding keyboard at the bottom of the device. You can also quickly switch between typing modes, if you sometimes want to use an alternative touch keyboard.

Blackberry Priv is equipped with the old Snapdragon 808 processor, Android 6.1 and 3GB RAM. Although not the fastest phone, but the Priv Blackberry still handles daily tasks well. You can also expand storage capacity with microSD card.

Priv has an 18MP rear camera with optical image stabilization function and Schneider-Kreuznach lens. Blackberry Priv also has a sharp 1440 × 2560 screen, good brightness, brilliant colors and great for watching videos.

The physical keyboard slides smoothly and very neatly. The keyboard layout is also easy to get used to, because the keys are quite well arranged, even if the device is not very large.

3. Samsung Galaxy Folder 2

Reference price: $ 659 (VND 15,350,000)

Before announcing the Galaxy Fold, Samsung's previous folding device was Galaxy Folder 2. Instead of having a QWERTY keyboard like the rest of the phones on this list, Samsung Galaxy Folder 2 owns a T9 keyboard with letters and The character is assigned to the numbers.

Folder 2 is compact in size, similar to the old flip phone from the early 2000s. Its small size makes it easy to put in a pocket or purse when going out.

This phone is primarily intended to upgrade for old phone users. Despite its somewhat classic appearance, Samsung Galaxy Folder 2 has many features of modern smartphones. Galaxy Folder 2 runs Android 6.0, has a quad core Snapdragon processor and is compatible with LTE networks.

That means Samsung Galaxy Folder 2 can handle most basic tasks like surfing social networks, browsing and messaging. The phone also has a front and rear camera. The screen of this phone has a size of 3.8 inches and a resolution of 400 × 800, suitable for viewing photos.

The T9 keyboard brings a similar experience to old mobile phones. Not as fast as typing on the QWERTY keyboard, but works well for those who are familiar with this type of keyboard.

4. Blackberry Key2 LE

Reference price: $ 425 (VND 9,900,000)

Considered a 'variant' of Key2, Blackberry Key2 LE retains many of the essential features of this flagship, but has a more 'affordable' price.

Key2 LE is equipped with Snapdragon 636 processor (a bit slower than Key2) and 4GB RAM. This processor can complete many tasks, switch between applications and browse the web. Blackberry Key2 LE also has a 3,000mAh battery, smaller than Key2, but still enough to use all day at a moderate level. However, Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 will compensate for the lack of battery life, as you can charge Key2 up to 50 percent in just 36 minutes.

LE also has a well-designed QWERTY keyboard, with programmable keys, touchpad and fingerprint sensor. Blackberry Key2 LE also has a 4.5 inch screen size with 2K HD resolution. LE has 64GB of internal storage and can upgrade further via microSD card.

Moreover, the back has a sturdy structure and a strong grip feel. However, the aluminum frame has been replaced with plastic. The speaker part of this phone is a bit poor, so you should use a pair of replacement headphones.

5. Samsung Galaxy S8 + Keyboard Cover

Reference price: VND 16,000,000

If you prefer to use a full-sized smartphone but still want to own a physical keyboard to use when you need it, Samsung Galaxy S8 + Keyboard Cover may be your choice. Although many Bluetooth keyboards work with mobile devices on the market, no keyboard provides a seamless experience. This Keyboard Cover (translated as keyboard cover) works with Samsung Galaxy S8 + and attaches to the lower half of the phone.

The keys are moderately sized and feel comfortable to press, so the normal typing speed is still well maintained. For most cases, you will type much faster and more accurately. Because regardless of any touch input, Samsung Galaxy S8 + Keyboard Cover is also compatible with regular strength stickers.

The screen will automatically resize when you put the keyboard cover device on the phone. Although this device does not make the viewing area on the screen smaller, you can easily remove it when you want to play games or watch videos in full screen. This keyboard cover device can connect and disconnect immediately.

The only problem is that the keys do not have a backlight, so you'll have to rely on memory to correctly type characters in low light conditions.

The options listed above provide a much easier typing experience than on-screen keyboards. If you want to use your current smartphone to perform some typing, you can connect the USB keyboard to your Android phone.

Wish you find the right choice!