19 votes

BlackBerry Classic returns in 2025 as Zinwa Q25 with updated hardware and software, conversion kit available

Posted by moocow1452
Tags: android, china, phones.smart, blackberry.classic, zinwa.q25, hardware, mods, business, zinwa technologies, author.wayne williams, source.techradar, short read
https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-return-of-the-og-chinese-firm-wants-to-androidify-the-blackberry-classic-and-sell-it-for-usd400-with-passport-and-keyone-to-follow

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Title
Zinwa Q25 brings Android 13 and new internals to the old BlackBerry Classic
Authors
Wayne Williams
Published
Jun 14 2025
Word count
356 words

8 comments

  1. [3]
    macleod
    Link
    I wrote this in another post, but I have higher expectations for the Unihertz Titan 2. The Titan 2 is android w/ a 1:1 4.5" screen on the front, a tactile keyboard in style of the blackberry, and...

    I wrote this in another post, but I have higher expectations for the Unihertz Titan 2.

    The Titan 2 is android w/ a 1:1 4.5" screen on the front, a tactile keyboard in style of the blackberry, and a secondary small screen on the back. Beyond excited to receive in October Reviews have been great, check it out.

    9 votes
    1. [2]
      crulife
      Link Parent
      I'm certainly interested, but wondering how well do Android applications scale to non-standard size/ratios? Also, is degooglification an option for Unihertz phones?

      I'm certainly interested, but wondering how well do Android applications scale to non-standard size/ratios? Also, is degooglification an option for Unihertz phones?

      1 vote
      1. macleod
        Link Parent
        Of the reviews I've seen, which I've watched far too many for something I am excited for, most have talked about this but there are two parts to it: 1: The keyboard can be used as a touchpad for...

        Of the reviews I've seen, which I've watched far too many for something I am excited for, most have talked about this but there are two parts to it:

        1: The keyboard can be used as a touchpad for scrolling, clicking (double tapping for likes, zooming), etc. This means you aren't placing your hands or thumbs over the content like we do in a standard smartphone format. I am hoping to find a way to enable a "mouse" mode to interact with the touchscreen as little as possible. This helps in a lot of the aspect ratio issues.

        2: Apps that are not quite designed for it, seem to work well. Android apps are typically designed for all sorts of screen sizes, from phones, to tablets, to everything else. The square aspect ratio is certainly different, but still doable for most apps — especially since we have so many popular foldable devices like the Z Fold, Razer, etc which all convert into a square aspect ratio in folded mode.

        For some apps, such as Pokemon Go (I don't play, but reviewers do?) there is some strangeness due to the ratio (bottom sections of the pokeballs seem to be cut off). But, Android has a built in "compatibility" mode for distinct screen sizes, and Unihertz has this readily enabled, meaning that if there is an app that doesn't quite fit, or looks wonky (vertical videos) you can enable the compat mode with a toggle in the app settings, and it will basically block off the sides of the screen, leaving a vertical orientation to make it fit. I believe there is also app-based DPI control, so you can directly set the "zoom" level of the app, so you can force them to load their tablet layouts as well, similar to going "desktop mode" in a mobile browser for a website not designed for mobile.

        Also, is degooglification an option for Unihertz phones?

        I would imagine so. Titan I was certainly less popular than this one already, and it had numerous custom ROMs up in days. LineageOS is likely to work out of the box, but Unihertz OS seems to be pretty minimal anyway, no bloat, more open, and would likely be able to have google removed, disabled, or sandboxed (namely, play services).

  2. AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    An old coworker of mine is/was a big BlackBerry fan and had one until the end, defined as when it would no longer connect to networks at all, and this would be a nonstarter for him. BlackBerry...

    An old coworker of mine is/was a big BlackBerry fan and had one until the end, defined as when it would no longer connect to networks at all, and this would be a nonstarter for him. BlackBerry isn't just a formfactor, it's an entire OS and software all it's own and this being Android based makes it just a small screen phone with a keyboard.

    2 votes
  3. [2]
    Areldyb
    (edited )
    Link
    I would be stoked if I hadn't just swapped my fire hazard Pixel 6a for a 9a. I much prefer a physical keyboard, and loved my KeyOne until the software support dried up.

    I would be stoked if I hadn't just swapped my fire hazard Pixel 6a for a 9a. I much prefer a physical keyboard, and loved my KeyOne until the software support dried up.

    2 votes
    1. boxer_dogs_dance
      Link Parent
      I kept a blackberry until nearly the end because I loved the keyboard. I didn't have to look to type and I didn't make typos.

      I kept a blackberry until nearly the end because I loved the keyboard. I didn't have to look to type and I didn't make typos.

      1 vote
  4. macleod
    Link
    Aside: If you haven't seen the BlackBerry movie that came out in 2023, you should. It's great, and very different (less sensational) take on a tech company. This is the scene that fully convinced...

    Aside: If you haven't seen the BlackBerry movie that came out in 2023, you should. It's great, and very different (less sensational) take on a tech company. This is the scene that fully convinced me that I had to find it and watch it ASAP, and yes that is Glenn Howerton.

    Based on a book that might be even better, so check that out as well: Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry by Jacquie McNish & Sean Silcoff

    2 votes
  5. donn
    Link
    This might be for me. I do miss having a physical keyboard and, for what it's worth, an actual holdable phone. Using the original BlackBerry part also gives me some hope for QC on the physical...

    This might be for me. I do miss having a physical keyboard and, for what it's worth, an actual holdable phone. Using the original BlackBerry part also gives me some hope for QC on the physical keyboards (because an inconsistent physical keyboard is worse than a touchscreen.)

    1 vote