Latest news with #BlackBerryClassic
Gizmodo
12 hours ago
- Gizmodo
This $320 Kit Brings the BlackBerry Classic Back From the Dead
People are bored of their phones. So bored of their big, boring glass and metal slabs that they can't help but dump all over phones like Nothing's Phone 3 that don't look like boring-ass bricks. But apparently people are so bored of their phones that somebody went and made a whole-ass kit that replaces the guts of the long-dead BlackBerry Q20, or 'Classic,' with new components and effectively modernizes it with Android. Beloved for its QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry OS (who remembers BBM?), the BlackBerry Classic launched in 2014 and lived a short two years before it was discontinued in 2016. Falling fast behind iPhone and Android, BlackBerry, fresh off its rebranding from RIM in 2013, replaced its aging mobile OS with BlackBerry 10, which could later run Android apps. Alas, even with Android apps, BlackBerry 10 couldn't catch up to Apple and Google's mobile ecosystems. Enthusiasts refuse to give up on the BlackBerry Classic, though. A company called Zinwa Technologies is selling a $320 kit called the 'Q25 Pro set' that replaces the Classic's core components—the CPU, RAM, storage, cameras, battery, and even the charging port—with a feature set that is more up to date. You need to bring your own Q20 donor for the mod, but if you've got one that you're willing to prep for surgery, the upgrade kit gives you a MediaTek G99 chipset, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, NFC, and LTE. It also bumps up the rear camera to 50 megapixels and the selfie camera to 8 megapixels. The battery is an all-new 3,000mAh one that Zinwa claims will last one day, and the charging port is USB-C. Don't have a BlackBerry Q20 in a drawer collecting dust? Not to worry. Zinwa is also selling a 'Q25 Pro full device' that comes with the Q20—same body with the exact 720 x 720 resolution screen, QWERTY keypad, touchpad, and all—for $420. You get all the same upgrades in the kit. Eric Migicovsky, the original founder of Pebble, who is currently reviving the e-paper display smartwatch under the Pebble brand, shared his modded Q20 on X. 'Damn this is cool,' Migicovsky said. 'Someone made a Android mainboard replacement for the Q20. It fits perfectly inside the existing phone. Uses the same display but upgrades the camera and switches to USB C. It feels so good to hold blackberry again. The soft touch back feels amazing.' Damn this is cool. Someone made a Android mainboard replacement for the Q20. It fits perfectly inside the existing phone. Uses the same display but upgrades the camera and switches to USB C. It feels so good to hold blackberry again. The soft touch back feels amazing — Eric Migicovsky (@ericmigi) August 14, 2025The Q25 Pro runs Android, but not the latest Android 16. It's Android 13 from 2022. Responding to an X reply calling out the old version of Android, Migicovsky said, 'What does it matter? Is there a noticeable difference between 13/14/whatever we're on now?' Maybe not for basic apps and phone use like calls, messaging, and web browsing, but an old version of Android may not have the latest security updates, which is pretty important in 2025. Still, it's great to see enthusiast startups go so hard on such a niche phone. There's been a wave of nostalgia for retro tech, particularly phones with physical QWERTY keyboards. Recently, Unihertz announced the Titan 2, a BlackBerry Passport-esque phone with a QWERTY keyboard (and a funky second screen on the backside). Tech reviewer Michael Fisher, aka MrMobile, is still chugging along with Clicks, the company pumping out QWERTY case accessories for the iPhone. Clicks recently released a version of its keyboard case for the 2025 Motorola Razr Plus and Ultra foldables. Anybody got the phone numbers for former BlackBerry co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie? I'm dying to know their thoughts on the Q25 Pro kit.
Android Authority
4 days ago
- Android Authority
BlackBerry Classic is being revived with Android, and it can be yours for $400
Zinwa Technologies TL;DR A Chinese company is reviving old BlackBerry Classic phones with Android. The main board has been replaced, and so are the cameras, battery, and USB port. The revived BlackBerry is up for pre-ordering, and the company plans to start mass production by September. BlackBerry was more than a phone brand. It was a long-running phenomenon that would instantly shape your impression of the person using it as someone important. And so, it isn't surprising to see so many people longing for its revival. While I never owned a high-end BlackBerry (though I always wanted the Torch with a slide-out QWERTY), there is a tiny chance I might be able to do that soon. That's because a Chinese company is on a mission to revive old BlackBerry devices, with a twist. A brand named Zinwa Technologies is working on resurrecting a limited number of decade-old BlackBerry Classic Q20 devices and installing Android on them. The reborn phone will be sold as Zinwa Q25 Pro. Zinwa Technologies To make sure the hardware is compatible with Android, Zinwa is retrofitting the BlackBerry Classic with a new main board, equipped with a more recent MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of onboard storage. The Classic's touchscreen also helps avoid any friction with the Android interface. Don't want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a preferred source in Google Search to support us and make sure you never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more. Among other changes, Zinwa has upgraded the Q20's original battery by almost 15% and added new cameras, including a 50MP on the back and an 8MP for the front. Meanwhile, the newer chipset brings support for 4G LTE, although the current model does not feature 5G support. The team has also replaced the micro USB port with a newer USB Type-C for faster charging and data transfer speeds. Based on demos shared by the team, BlackBerry's signature capacitive trackpad runs seamlessly on the revived device. The Zinwa Q25 Pro currently runs on a bare-bones version of Android 13, and there are no concrete plans from the company to update to newer versions, unless there is enough interest to foster development. So, if you're inclined to buy it, ensure you purchase this without expecting long-term support from the company. However, if all goes well, Zinwa might explore retrofitting other BlackBerry models, including the Passport and KeyOne, the latter of which was among the limited BlackBerry phones that came pre-installed with Android. The Zinwa Q25 Pro is priced at $400, but the company is also selling a DIY kit to transform your old BlackBerry Classic for $320. Both of these are available on an online store, while the company also sells the camera modules and battery separately. Zinwa plans to start shipping the Q25 Pro by the end of August to the first 100 backers and aims to go into mass production by mid-September. If you're interested in the project, you can join its Discord channel for more updates on shipping and other models under consideration for refurbishment. Who knows, with Android 16's improved support for physical keyboards, it might be a success. Follow
News18
18-06-2025
- News18
BlackBerry Phones Running On Android Could Be Making A Comeback With A New Name
Last Updated: BlackBerry phones running on Android could become a reality once again thanks to this Chinese company and its big plans. Remember the popular BlackBerry Classic phone with the QWERTY keyboard and BB Messenger fad? Well, we could see this classic device make a comeback in a new avatar and running on Android. Reports this week claim a Chinese company could be making this move, and offer this phone with its own branding. This Blackberry Classic 2.0 model will be manufactured and designed by Zinwa Technologies and the name of the new phone will be Zinwa Q25, as mentioned in a report by TechRadar. So what will the Zinwa Q25 bring to the table beside the Classic design? The report says it will come with Android 13 version out of the box, and not 14 or 15 but the company assures you will get security updates and bug fixes regularly. It is likely to be powered by a MediaTek Helio chipset with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The modern version of the Classic will get USB C for charging, NFC, and a single SIM slot with support for 4G LTE bands across the globe. It could have a square-shaped body, with the simple styled keyboard and the LED notification light for messages and calls. The phone is likely to pack a 3,000mAh battery. Zinwa also will have its own version of the BlackBerry cursor built into the Q25 which negates the use of a touch screen and let people navigate on the phone using the trackpad. You will get a single 50MP camera at the back and an 8MP selfie shooter. The BlackBerry Android phase started with a lot of excitement but the company's ambitions and push fizzled out quickly. There is hope that companies like Zinwa can give it a modern twist and bring the old BB memories back for the consumers. First Published:
