Source: CrackBerry
It is honestly hard to believe how good we QWERTY lovers used to have it.
There was a time when the consumer mobile phone market was bursting at the seams with devices that proudly featured a physical keyboard.
And it wasn’t just smartphones. Many basic phones and feature phones (in-between devices that had more features than the “dumb” basic phones but not as many as their full-fledged smartphone peers) could be found rocking QWERTY keypads, taking advantage of the then-new SMS and instant messenger obsessed consumer market.
Nowadays? Not so much.
In fact, for a while yours truly was all but convinced that new production QWERTY phones were well and truly gone forever. Broadly speaking, consumers became entranced with a new “superior” (please picture me making the most over exaggerated air quotes right now) input method: the capacitive touch screen. Manufacturers noticed and have been feeding us this new favorite flavor ever since.
But is touch screen input really superior? In some applications I would argue the answer is undeniably yes, but for text input and messaging services I’m not so sure…
And it is apparent that I am not alone. What would have been unimaginable just a couple of years ago is now upon us: The QWERTY Renaissance!
From modular “dumbphones” to blasts from the past (and everything in between), here are the QWERTY options currently available, or announced so far, in 2025.
Often overlooked, the BlackBerry KEYone (2017), KEY2 (2018), and KEY2 LE (2018) still offer surprisingly adequate functionality in 2025.
Sure you have to find one in good condition (spacebar issues were widely reported), and the outdated Android version limits app availability, but if you are looking for a basic messaging device with some light app use, these TCL-made BlackBerry handsets are still worth a look.
MrMobile and CrackBerry Kevin made some serious noise when they “brought buttons back” with Clicks Technology (to iPhone in 2024 and to Android in 2025), drawing a proverbial line in the sand with the bold claim that phones are indeed better with buttons.
As I’m sure you can guess, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment — be sure to read CBK’s 15 Reasons Why Having Real Buttons on a Smartphone is Better thoughtpiece — but at that time this was more than a little risky.
The resurgence in interest in phones with PKBs (physical keyboards) we are now seeing unfold was little more than a whisper in the wind at the time. Thankfully, Clicks led the way and, in my personal opinion, set the bar for keyboard accessories incredibly high. That Clicks garnered so much attention at launch and sold over 100,000 units in its first year is likely at least part of the inspiration we are seeing for new players and QWERTY projects to emerge.
Clicks Keyboard cases are available for many iPhone models from the iPhone 14 forward, including the recently announced iPhone 17, as well as newer Pixel and Motorola RAZR handsets.
I really cannot overstate how much I love the added functionality this accessory provides and cannot wait to see what Clicks has in store for us QWERTY lovers in the future.
An intentional tech device if ever there was one, and the debut device of The Minimal Company, the Minimal Phone is an unholy mash-up of hardware design choices that create a one of a kind user experience.
With a generic e-paper display (you read correctly, this thing is NOT using the more popular, but proprietary, e-ink technology), a QWERTY keyboard, as well as an SD card slot, headphone jack, and full Android there is a lot to love. However, the monochrome display and modestly-powered processor combined with a work-in-progress software experience make for a steep and patience-requiring learning curve.
For the record, this is still one of my go-to devices “warts and all” months after it arrived in my mailbox.
Unihertz is a manufacturer based in Shanghai that makes handsets for folks who like rugged smartphones, small smartphones, and (you guessed it) QWERTY smartphones. The Titan 2 is their latest device in that latter category.
Hot on the heels of an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign, the Titan 2 offers 5G connectivity, a capacitive QWERTY keyboard (similar to that of the legendary BlackBerry Passport…actually the whole device bears a striking resemblance), full Android, and even a secondary rear-facing screen.
Reviews of pre-production units have been mixed, and we will update this article once we get our hands on our own Titan 2 for testing.
Have you ever wondered, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could still use my favorite BlackBerry but with modern apps and performance?”
The team at Zinwa Tech is making that a reality. In an oversimplification of their approach, they are redesigning and replacing the internal components of some of the most beloved BlackBerry devices with up-to-date hardware and installing Android.
Beginning with the BlackBerry Classic (with plans to include the Passport, Q10, and eventually their own “from scratch” device), fans will be able to return to their favorite QWERTY smartphones without the trade-offs that using the original hardware and operating systems necessitates in 2025.
Pre-production test units have begun shipping and full production is scheduled to begin this September. Our own CrackBerry Kevin also has plans to meet up with the lead developer later this month in China. If these meet the mustard, who knows.. you may even see us ressurrect ShopCrackBerry.com to start selling them here!
Source: Ikko
iKKO Audio has created a unique value proposition in the Mind One: a square-shaped smartphone packed with Android and a secondary “iKKO AI OS,” a flip-up camera, and an optional QWERTY case add-on (taking what some might consider a page right out of the Clicks playbook).
The combo of an optional QWERTY case with a small phone form factor make this a neat combo for both minimal device fans and qwerty fans, but how it all works together with its “AI OS” is yet to be properly tested.
Similar to the Titan 2, iKKO saw a few thousand supporters step up to the Mind One’s crowdfunding campaign and plans to begin full production this September with shipments to backers slated for December 2025.
I’ll be honest with you my friends, I have never seen anything quite like this device from Keyphone. It resurrects hallmarks from yesteryear (a headphone jack, SD card slot, and swappable battery to name a few) and combines them with wild features like interchangeable keypads, customizable camera modules, and a fine-tuned Android operating system that not only discourages distraction but prevents it entirely.
Source: Keyphone
Sidephone, like the Minimal Phone and Keyphone, is designed to appeal to end users looking for more intentional tech options to help reduce distractions and boost productivity. Running SideOS, it will offer a more open Android experience than Keyphone but not fully unrestricted as seen with the Minimal Phone.
So why include it as an honorable mention? It doesn’t have a QWERTY keyboard…yet. Also using modular functionality, Sidephone is set to ship with a T9 keypad “tile,” but the company has said some iteration of QWERTY will be available as more keypad tiles are released in the future. The first two additional tile options are set to be announced as early as September.
So there you have it! Let us know about any we might have overlooked in the comments below, and please check back regularly.
We plan to update this article as more information becomes available about these devices and add new credible additions to the “QWERTY Renaissance” we learn about going forward.
Buttons are back 😎
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