Unihertz's titan 2 elite hits $2.46m on kickstarter in 11 minutes
Unihertz's latest device, the Titan 2 Elite, has made a stunning debut on Kickstarter, raising over $2.4 million in just 11 minutes.
Physical keyboards make a strong comeback
This remarkable success indicates a growing demand for smartphones with physical keyboards, a feature that was once synonymous with BlackBerry phones.
Unihertz, a Chinese manufacturer known for its rugged and feature-packed devices, has managed to tap into this niche market with the Titan 2 Elite.
Building on the success of its predecessor, the Titan 2, the new model offers a refined design, improved performance, and a range of innovative features tailored to users who prefer a physical typing experience.
With its classic phone-style QWERTY keyboard, each key can be set to hold a long-press and a short-press shortcut, providing users with greater control and customization options.
Other key specs include a 4.03-inch AMOLED display with a 1080 x 1200 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, powered by either a MediaTek 7400 or Dimensity 8400 processor, depending on the variant, paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
The device also boasts a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto camera, a 32MP front-facing camera, and a large 4050mAh silicon-carbon composite anode battery that supports 33W fast charging.
Availability is set for July for the standard model and October for the Pro variant, with Android 16 out of the box, promising updates up to Android 20 and security patches until 2031.
Pricing starts at approximately $389 for the standard edition and $479 for the Pro model, both with a 20% discount on Kickstarter.
Should blackberry make a comeback?
Unihertz's success raises questions about the potential for BlackBerry to revive its brand and capitalize on this resurgence of interest in physical keyboards.
While BlackBerry's name still carries significant brand recognition, the company's past attempts to re-enter the market with Android devices have been met with lukewarm reception.
However, with its name and reputation, BlackBerry may be able to expand the market for physical keyboard phones in a way that Unihertz and Clicks can't.
One potential strategy for BlackBerry would be to focus on designing the best Android-powered physical keyboard phone it can, without trying to appeal to both virtual and physical keyboard users.
Only time will tell if a revamped BlackBerry can recapture the magic of its heyday or if Unihertz and other niche players will continue to dominate this segment of the market.