The BlackBerry-TCL deal expired earlier this year, and we thought this could mark the end of the BlackBerry Android phones. The security startup OnwardMobility has now signed an agreement with the Canadian company to manufacture 5G BlackBerry phones in 2021.
For what it's worth, previous BlackBerry phones came in some interesting features that helped make them stand out from the crowd. Here are some of the underrated features OnwardMobility would like to bring back when it releases its version of BlackBerry Android devices.
1. Privacy shadow
The Privacy Shade feature is a BlackBerry exclusive feature that makes it difficult for people to look over their shoulder and look at your screen. We hope it comes pre-installed on future BlackBerry Android phones.
This feature darkens your entire screen except for the area around your finger. This allows you to drag your finger across the screen to read something or view content. This seems ideal when you're on the subway, in a tight airplane seat, or in any other situation where strangers might be looking at your phone.
2. Send pictures directly to your locker
One of the underrated features we've seen on BlackBerry Android phones has to be the fingerprint lock option. Yes, we know the ability to use a physical fingerprint scanner as a trigger isn't new at all. But it's what these phones do later that is a handy feature.
Connected: How fingerprint scanners work - optical, capacitive and ultrasonic variants explained
Tap the KeyOne or Key2 fingerprint scanner embedded in the space bar to take a photo. The picture will then be automatically sent to your locker. That way, you don't have to think about deleting that sensitive picture or moving it to your file safe.
3. Boost mode for charging
This isn't a fancy name for proprietary fast charging or anything like that, but nonetheless, TCL's BlackBerry phones offered a Boost mode that allows you to refill faster. All you have to do is connect your BlackBerry Android device and select the option when prompted.
Boost mode significantly reduces the power consumption of your phone to shorten the charging time. It does this by changing how often your phone synchronizes data and notifications and reducing system animations. Fortunately, TCL also lets you exit Boost mode after a certain charging time or after reaching a set percentage.
Sure, Boost mode is basically a power-saving mode that we've seen on other phones in some ways. But the execution definitely makes it one of the most underrated features we've seen on a BlackBerry Android phone.
4. A convenience key
TCL's BlackBerry phones contained a convenience key with which a desired app or function could be opened at the push of a button. This is nothing new either, as we've already seen some phones offer hardware keyboard shortcuts over the years - such as Samsung's Bixby button. Even so, it's still a very handy feature.
Read: The 5 best Bixby remapper apps that are worth trying out
With this, TCL has made the convenience key for the Key2 series very intelligent. The assigned function of the button may change depending on where you are and what you are doing. For example, our own Jimmy Westenberg said that a music streaming app could be automatically assigned to this button when the phone detects that you are driving. You can also choose to have the button open your Slack app when the phone detects that you are at work.
5. Keyboard shortcuts
With the BlackBerry KeyOne and Key2 series, you can also assign apps to the keyboard yourself. For example, if you want to quickly launch Gmail through KeyOne, you can just hold down the G key. However, this feature only works when you are on the home screen.
Fortunately, the Key2 phones introduce a Speed Key. For example, all you have to do is hold down this key and press G to launch Gmail. It works regardless of the app you're using, so you can quickly open and juggle apps without going back to the home screen.
We already know that OnwardMobility will work on at least one BlackBerry keypad phone. So we hope that this shortcut function lands on this device.
Are there any other underrated BlackBerry Android features you'd want to see on the new BlackBerry phones? Let us know in the comments!
