BlackBerry Classic to return as Android phone? Here’s what we know

Blackberry

The iconic BlackBerry Classic, loved for its physical keyboard and business-first design, might be making a comeback but with a modern twist. A Chinese company named Zinwa Technologies is planning to bring it back under a new name: the Zinwa Q25, as per a report by TechRadar.

This updated version keeps the retro charm of the original BlackBerry Classic (also known as the Q20), including the square 720x720 touchscreen, physical keyboard, LED notification light, and the classic BlackBerry-style body. But under the hood, it's all modern.

The Q25 will run on Android 13, giving users access to today’s apps and features while holding on to the BlackBerry experience many people still miss. It will come packed with a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and a 3,000mAh battery. For photos, it’ll offer a 50MP main camera and an 8MP selfie camera.

It won’t get Android 14 or newer versions, but Zinwa says it will regularly push updates for bug fixes and small improvements.

The phone will also include NFC, USB-C, a headphone jack, MicroSD support, and a single SIM slot. It supports all global 4G LTE bands, so it should work on most mobile networks worldwide.

One of the most interesting features returning is the trackpad, which Zinwa says will work just like the original—either as a cursor or a directional pad depending on how you use it.

The phone is expected to be priced around $400, and if it does well, Zinwa plans to bring back more classic BlackBerry models like the Passport and KEYone in the same way.

So, if you’ve been missing your old BlackBerry but want the power of a modern Android phone, the Q25 might be just the throwback you’ve been waiting for.