Latest news with #Unihertz
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
This BlackBerry Ripoff Is My Only Hope at Feeling Young Again
I love my phone. Guys, no… I love my phone so much. I hate that I love my phone, but I love it nonetheless. I love my phone so much that I spend all day typing stupid little words into its stupid little screen and waiting for stupid little responses. I love my phone, but it does not love me, especially when it comes to typing. I'm so bad at typing. If there were a contest to try and fail to type the least amount of words in the most amount of attempts, I'd win the triple crown platinum all-time iron chef trophy (on one leg with my eyes closed). That's a me problem for sure, but if you're old enough to remember a time before social media, it may be a you problem, too. Don't worry, though; there's a solution to your God-awful typing, and it's been under your nose for a long time, technically. The solution: this blatant BlackBerry ripoff with a physical keyboard, Android 15, and 5G connectivity. Introducing Titan 2 — the phone that can move forward and look back! 👀 As the latest 𝟓𝐆 𝐐𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐘 smartphone running 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝟭𝟱, Titan 2 blends classic design with modern performance. 🚀 Its redesigned physical keyboard brings back the tactile satisfaction of real… — Unihertz (@Unihertz) June 26, 2025Introducing the Titan 2, a new crowdfunded phone from Unihertz that (like its predecessor, the Titan 1) clearly takes its cues from BlackBerry. Most importantly, there's a full QWERTY keyboard with real buttons that you can press with your tired-ass thumbs to produce words that hopefully construct whole sentences. It's a story as old as time, but in a never-ending sea of touchscreens, somehow a breath of fresh air—or at least recycled, non-touchscreen air. If you're wondering how the hell you scroll on something like this, I'm also excited to relay that there's a scroll sensor built into the freaking keyboard. That means you can just swipe on the keys to ingest all the brain-rotting TikToks your internet-addled brain desires. I have my doubts about how well that feature works, but it's a nice flourish nonetheless. Also, don't worry, you can still use the display as a standard touchscreen if you so choose. On top of all of that, there's also a screen on the back of this thing, which is bonkers. Unihertz, on its Kickstarter page, describes this feature as follows: 'Titan 2 features a 4.5-inch square primary display with a resolution of 1,440 × 1,440 pixels, alongside a secondary rear display for an even more imaginative dual-screen experience. Its flat-edge design adds a modern, sleek touch to the device.' Basically, it looks like you can see timers and notifications on the second, smaller screen, which is nice if you want to flip your phone upside down and give your equally tired eyes a bit of a rest but still keep a smaller, tired eye on the influx of Slack messages you desperately want to ignore. Camera-wise, there's nothing really to write home about—there's a 50-megapixel front-facing sensor and a 32-megapixel selfie camera—but that's probably not why you'd be interested in a phone like this anyway. There's something really interesting about the fact that a phone like the Titan 2 or the Titan 1 can exist in this world where everything is a glass slab, and as a screen-addicted millennial, I think I understand the appeal. As much as technologies like touchscreens and autocorrect have become the lynchpin and launchpad to our smartphone experience, I think there's still something weirdly unintuitive about typing on a flat glass surface. My thumbs, no matter how much I try to train them, sometimes just don't want to cooperate, and autocorrect sometimes feels equally as unruly. There's a simplicity and tactility that I crave, and clearly others do too. As of writing this, the Titan 2 has $1,005,074 from backers already, and the fact that Unihertz was able to make a sequel to its 2019 Titan in the first place says a lot. It's going for around $271 and estimated delivery is currently October. Let's just be honest: I'll probably never feel young again, but hats off to Unihertz because a physical keyboard might at the very least make me feel less old.
GSM Arena
3 days ago
- GSM Arena
The Unihertz Titan 2 brings back the QWERTY keyboard, pairs it with a square 4.5" display
Do you miss the BlackBerry Passport? Well, Unihertz is working on resurrecting the form factor with the Titan series. The latest is the Unihertz Titan 2, which is up on Kickstarter for a crowdfunding campaign. Well, it's more of a pre-order – the $100,000 goal was unrealistically low and it has already been surpassed over 8 times, anyway. The Titan 2 has a square 4.5' display with 1,440 x 1,440px resolution – just like the Passport. There's actually a second display on the back too, a 2' 410 x 50px panel, although the utility of that is questionable beyond using it for main camera selfies. The star of the show is the 3-row QWERTY keyboard with a function row above that. It's touch sensitive, so you can use it to scroll and to move the text cursor (including selecting text). The keyboard is backlit and supports multiple languages. You can also assign apps to be launched when long-pressing certain keys for instant access. The company worked with carriers around the world to make sure the Unihertz Titan 2 is supported – it's in the process of getting approval from AT&T, which will allow the phone to work on the AT&T and Cricket networks. Do note that the US version is separate with support for additional bands. Supported carriers This is a dual-SIM phone, by the way. It also has Wi-Fi 6 (ax), Bluetooth 5.4 and NFC connectivity, plus an IR blaster and an FM radio receiver (but no 3.5mm headphone jack). The new model launches with Android 15 and claims massive performance improvements over the original Titan, up 240% overall, according to Unihertz. The Dimensity 7300 chipset has a faster CPU (+202%) and the GPU (+341%). The chipset is paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB storage. The Titan 2 is powered by a 5,050mAh battery with 33W charging. A full charge can be achieved in an hour and a half. All this while making the phone thinner (10.8mm) and lighter (235g) than its predecessor. The phone has a 50MP main camera on the back alongside an 8MP 3.4x telephoto module. The front camera has a 32MP sensor. The two early bird price tiers are sold out, but you can still grab an Unihertz Titan 2 with a 33% discount – that is $270 (MSRP is $400). The Kickstarter campaign has a few combos and bundles too. Shipping is expected to start in October 2025. Unihertz Titan 2 specs Here's the promo video for the Unihertz Titan 2 – if you're jealous of that leather cellphone holster, soon you will be able to get one too. It's an add-on that will be available in the post-campaign survey period. Source
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Phone Arena
Unihertz is now taking pre-orders for the sequel to its BlackBerry Passport clone the Titan 2
Earlier this month we told you that Unihertz was planning to list the Titan 2 on Kickstarter. This would be the sequel to 2019's Titan, a phone that was a clone of the 2014 BlackBerry Passport, now a cult model. The Passport and the Titan both carried a 4.5-inch display with a 1440 x 1440 square resolution and it featured a hybrid physical touchscreen QWERTY keyboard. The Passport had BlackBerry 10 pre-installed while the Titan launched with Android 9 Pie and received an update to Android 10. Unihertz released a video for the Titan 2 calling it "the first QWERTY smartphone reborn for the 5G era." As the video points out, the Titan features a new design with a sub-screen on the rear panel. The Titan 2 has Android 15 pre-installed and a tactile backlit QWERTY keyboard allowing users to experience the fastest and most intuitive typing yet. The keys on the QWERTY keyboard can be programmed as shortcuts to open apps quickly with the tap of a key. Unlike the original Titan which supported only 4G LTE connectivity, the Titan 2 supports 5G. The Titan 2 also has what Unihertz calls "Pro Features" such as NFC, Bluetooth, and an Infrared port. The Titan 2 supports multiple languages and with Dual SIM capabilities, a Titan 2 user can have a number for work and one for play. Biometric scanners can unlock the device with a fingerprint or by recognizing the user's face. The rear camera on the Titan 2 is backed with a 50 MP sensor and includes a new telephoto lens that delivers 3.4x optical zoom. On the phone's display, there is a 32 MP front-facing camera for selfies and video chats. Speaking of the display, the Titan 2 will continue where the Titan left off with a 4.5-inch LCD screen and a 1440 x 1440 resolution. Keeping the lights on all day is a 5050 mAh battery with 33W fast charging. The handset is equipped with 512GB of storage. Unihertz says that the Titan 2 combines both form and function. Unihertz is accepting pre-orders for the Titan 2 from Kickstarter. The Titan 2 has already raised $837,858 which is well above the initial target of $100,000. Thus far, the project has attracted 2,847 backers and there are still 29 days to go. One special deal still on the Kickstarter site offers the Titan 2 priced at $269 or 33% off. If you missed out on the original BlackBerry Passport and the Unihertz Titan, don't miss out on the Titan 2. By the way, Unihertz is in the process of working out a deal with AT&T that will allow the Titan 2 to be authorized on AT&T and Cricket/ Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
The Verge
4 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
The Titan 2 is a modernized BlackBerry with 5G, Android, and a second screen
Despite the demise of the BlackBerry, there's still a demand for smartphones with physical keyboards, if successful products like the Clicks keyboard case are any indication. Unihertz, a Chinese company best known for its small Android handsets, has announced the Titan 2: a follow-up to its first BlackBerry Passport-inspired smartphone that adds modern upgrades like 5G, a faster processor, and Android 15. The company is making the Titan 2 available through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that has already surpassed its $100,000 funding goal. Full retail pricing for the phone is expected to be around $399, with shipping starting as early as October 2025, but the early backers can preorder one for $269. The Titan 2 is powered by a Dimensity 7300 8-core 2.0-2.6GHz processor paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Not only is it more powerful than Unihertz's original Titan, which launched in 2019, but the Titan 2 is also sleeker. It's slimmed down from the previous 16.65mm to 10.85mm, and it's 235 grams, which is about 68 grams lighter than its predecessor. Its slightly smaller 5,050mAh battery supports 33W fast charging but not wireless charging. The 4.5-inch screen on the Titan 2 is slightly smaller than the original's, but the resolution has been increased from 1,430 x 1,438 pixels to 1,440 x 1,440 pixels. That's relatively low by today's screen standards, but the Titan 2 is designed to be a productivity tool first and foremost. Unihertz has also included a second 2-inch screen on the device's back, with a resolution of 410 x 502 pixels, making it useful for monitoring notifications, using widgets, or framing selfies. The screen is integrated into the Titan 2's rear camera bump, which includes an 8MP telephoto camera and a 50MP main camera; up front, you'll find a 32MP selfie camera. The company says the Titan 2's QWERTY keyboard has been redesigned so that it delivers a 'more comfortable, reliable, and versatile tactile typing experience.' Custom long-press and short-press shortcuts can be configured for all of the keyboard's letter keys, and you can slide your finger across the keys' surface to scroll. Other upgrades include Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, an infrared port, dual-band GPS, and an FM radio, while features like a fingerprint sensor and a pair of programmable shortcut buttons on the side have been carried forward from the original Titan.
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Tom's Guide
This BlackBerry Passport clone reignites my love of QWERTY keyboard phones — here's why
I loved QWERTY keyboard phones. Some of the first smartphones I ever owned featured them, like the HTC Apache and Motorola Q. With the original iPhone's announcement in 2007, however, Steve Jobs used the opportunity to poke fun at all the keyboard phones out there during that time — and it essentially started their downfall and paved the way for all-touch screens. It's funny how something old becomes new again. I've been using the Unihertz Titan 2 for a bit and I can't deny how it reignites my love of QWERTY keyboard phones. This isn't the first time that Unihertz has explored keyboard phones because it's a follow-up to the original Titan the company released in 2019, but it actually looks and reminds me more of the BlackBerry Passport with its quirky design and runs Android. Are keyboard phones making a comeback? That's unlikely. But given the popularity of the Clicks keyboards, I wouldn't be surprised if some people might go back to using a physical keyboard. The Titan 2 is definitely a gem amongst all the best phones around, but the bigger question is if this reimagine BlackBerry Passport clone can really convince me to give up my all-touch phones. Unihertz Titan 2 Display 4.5-inches (1440 × 1440) Refresh rate 120Hz adaptive Rear cameras 50MP main, 8MP telephoto with 3.4x optical zoom Front cameras 32MP Chipset MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G RAM 12GB Storage 256GB Battery 5050 mAh Charging 33W wired Operating system Android 15 Size 5.43 × 3.49 × 0.43 inches (137.8 × 88.7 × 10.8 mm) Weight 8.28 ounces (235 grams) Colors Black What I really enjoy about the keyboard on the Titan 2 is that it's spacious and tactile with its response. Due to how wide the phone's designed, it never feels like it's cramped when I'm typing away. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Taking a page out of the BlackBerry Passport, the Titan 2's physical keyboard is touch sensitive — letting me use it to scroll vertically, as well as double tap to place the cursor in a specific spot. Even though I'm nowhere as fast as typing on a touchscreen, I'm at least able to type at a solid rate with few mistakes. Thankfully, there are dedicated buttons on the top row that make the typing experience easier to use — especially when it comes to symbols with the dedicated function. While the symbol and function buttons on the top row can be customized for different functions, the back and square keys cannot. It makes sense that the back button performs a back function, but the square button actually puts you into the muti-tasking window to switch between apps. Taking a page out of the BlackBerry Passport, the Titan 2's physical keyboard is touch sensitive that lets me use it to scroll vertically, as well as a double tap function to make it a cinch to place the cursor in a specific spot when I'm typing. If that's not enough, it appears as though you can also create shortcuts similar to the Clicks keyboard, but I couldn't figure out the exact button combinations to use them. Aside from its unconventional design, the other thing that stands out to me about the Titan 2 is the tiny 2-inch display on the back of the phone. Unihertz refers to it as the 'SubScreen' and it actually reminds me of the outer screens in flip-style phones because of how it can act as shortcuts to many different things. I can activate the SubScreen by double tapping on it, which I can then swipe around all the different menus. It also acts as a notification window too, along with being able to take selfies with the rear camera. Ironically, this display looks sharper, more detailed and more colorful than the main one, but its small size limits what I can really do with it beyond shortcuts. For example, I can choose to run full apps on the SubScreen, which suffices for some things. However, it's not practical for other things like surfing the web or reading emails due to its miniscule size. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset and paired with 12GB of RAM, the Unihertz Titan 2 handles most tasks with ease. really enjoy the keyboard's touch gestures for scrolling, which I find really helpful with one-handed usage. I also enabled a 3-finger swipe up gesture from the bottom edge of the screen to initiate a split-view mode that lets me run two apps simultaneously. Even though it handles these tasks just fine, I just find the Dimensity 7300's performance underwhelming when it comes to gaming. In fact, I've found it to stutter whenever I launch city attacks in Age of Origins. The frame rates just drop to the point that it becomes problematic, so I'd probably steer clear if gaming is a priority. Interestingly, the Titan 2 has a feature that rarely ever makes it to phones nowadays — an infrared blaster. It's positioned on the top edge of the phone and essentially transforms it to a universal remote that lets me control my TVs, receivers, sound systems, and cable boxes. I have close to a dozen different remotes around my home and I really love how I can use the Titan 2 to control them all. You have to give the Titan 2 credit for doing something bold. There are few QWERTY phones on the market for good reason, and this is one of the few that satisfies the craving for a tactile typing experience. The phone itself isn't too bad, but there's clearly a few things to consider. For example, it's unknown what the software support is going to be like — but I'm generally not optimistic it would be more than a couple of years. And despite having a dual camera system in place, complete with an 8MP telephoto shooter with 3.4x optical zoom, the image quality is subpar. You'll need to convince yourself these are compromises you're willing to make. I personally value camera performance over most things, so unless the final software build improves upon the performance, it's unlikely to replace the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 I've been using. However, its $399 cost is very tempting. If you're willing to put down a pledge, an early bird Kickstarter special could get you one for as low as $269.
