BlackBerry is back, sort of, except this time via Kickstarter with a modern twist

The dream of a modern BlackBerry just refuses to die. And this time, it’s not BlackBerry or accessory maker Clicks trying to revive the QWERTY keyboard.

Instead, a Chinese smartphone maker is stepping in to bring back tactile typing nostalgia in a modern form.

Dubbed the Titan 2 Elite and Titan 2 Elite Pro, these devices from Unihertz are BlackBerry-esque smartphones that pack a physical keyboard, a compact display, and just enough modern hardware to stay relevant in 2026.

If you were a BlackBerry fan back in the day, you’ll likely love what Unihertz is doing here. But don’t get too excited just yet. Here’s why.

What modern BlackBerrys could have looked like

Unihertz’s latest devices aren’t just retro-inspired accessories or add-ons. These are fully functional smartphones that, at least on paper, feel surprisingly capable. In many ways, this is probably what a modern BlackBerry could have been.

Both Titan 2 Elite models feature a full QWERTY keyboard. And it’s not just for typing emails or messages, rathe the keyboard doubles up as a touch-sensitive surface for scrolling, which is a neat feature addition.

Up front, you get a 4.03-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s compact by today’s standards, but that’s exactly the point.

Under the hood, there’s decent power on offer. The Elite is powered by the Dimensity 7400 chipset, while the Pro variant steps it up with the Dimensity 8400.

For cameras, both phones come with dual 50MP sensors at the back and a 32MP front camera. The Pro variant also adds optical image stabilisation on its telephoto lens. You also get a 4,050mAh battery, along with support for 5G, dual SIM, and eSIM. The phones run Android 16 out of the box, with Unihertz promising multiple future updates.

Buy you can’t buy them

While these BlackBerry-style devices sound exciting, there’s a catch. Unihertz is launching the Elite series via Kickstarter, which means you can’t officially buy them in India right now. And there’s no clear word on a wider release.

ALSO READ: Clicks announces its first-ever phone, and it’s a BlackBerry lookalike

As for pricing, the Titan 2 Elite starts at $489, which is roughly Rs 45,900. The Pro variant is priced at $579, or about Rs 54,390.