IFA 2018

BlackBerry KEY2 LE is a toned-down, colorful version of KEY2

Same design but cheaper and youthful

Published

August 31, 2018

Daniel Morial

If people find the BlackBerry KEY2 quite expensive, then this toned-down version might appeal more to consumers and maybe even attract the younger generation to go try a BlackBerry in 2018.

At IFA 2018, TCL Communication unveiled the new BlackBerry KEY2 LE which is essentially a KEY2 at a cheaper price. To achieve this, the LE is powered by a lower-tier Snapdragon 636 processor instead of a Snapdragon 660. Memory is still sufficient at 4GB while storage will be up to 64GB. If that’s not enough, the microSD card slot is always present.

The camera department also had to make some compromises. Instead of having two 12-megapixel sensors at the back, the LE model comes with 13- and 5-megapixel rear shooters. The secondary sensor is purely for depth sensing, so there are no telephoto capabilities.

The KEY2 LE comes with a smaller 3000mAh battery, but the company still claims long battery life for at least 22 hours of demanding use. There are also smart features that know the best time to charge based on usage and previous charging patterns.

The rest of the KEY2 LE’s specs are similar to the KEY2’s including the 4.5-inch Full HD+ display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. It’s protected by an unspecified version of Gorilla Glass.

The look of the KEY2 LE is also identical to the KEY2 including the keyboard and hidden fingerprint reader in the spacebar key, but they are built differently. The cheaper one is made out of hard plastic instead of aluminum, yet it retains the soft-touch textured back panel.

Because of this, the KEY2 LE will come in three color variants: Slate, Champagne, and Atomic which has a red keyboard accent. It’s also the lightest and thinnest device in the KEY series.

The BlackBerry KEY2 LE will come with Android 8.1 Oreo and DTEK by BlackBerry out of the box and it’ll be available for purchase in markets globally this September. Pricing starts at US$ 399 for the 32GB storage variant while the 64GB version is priced at US$ 449.

Related Topics:BlackBerry BlackBerry KEY2 LE TCL

Cameras

Polaroid OneStep+ puts a modern twist to old-school photography

Don’t judge a camera by its vintage appearance

Published

September 7, 2018

Koy Mapolon

As the throwback trend continues to be popular, print photos are coming back in style. And in a time where the Fujifilm Instax line has taken the world by storm, Polaroid jumps back in to take back the crown with their latest release, the Polaroid OneStep+.

Inspired by the 1977 OneStep model, the Polaroid OneStep+ takes the classic Polaroid camera and packs it with a bunch of cool features to pull it right into the late 2010s. You can still snap a photo instantly, just like old-school Polaroids, but now you can also use a new app that lets you do fancy stuff with your camera.

Remote Trigger, Self Timer, and Noise Trigger make it so that you can get the perfect group shot even without having to ask a stranger to take it. Give your photographs more character with Double Exposure and Light Painting. And enhance the quality of your captures with Portrait and Manual mode.

Just like that, your instant photography game just got much more elevated. And apart from the i-Type film that’s specially made for this line, you can use their 600 film which gives this new and innovative little machine even more of a vintage feel. For the price you pay, I think it’d be well worth it!

The Polariod OneStep+ is available now, and you can get it for US$ 159 on their website.

Accessories

Sennheiser’s new earbuds take true wireless tech to a whole new level

So many features in such a tiny object

Published

September 5, 2018

Koy Mapolon

One of the biggest names in the audio industry, Sennheiser, just announced their first entry into the true wireless game. During IFA 2018, they revealed the Momentum True Wireless earbuds — a great mending of form and function.

These earbuds use Sennheiser’s driver technology to ensure amazing sound quality, and the mix of their noise-cancellation technology and Transparent Hearing makes it possible to still be aware of what’s around you even with them on.

They’re lightweight, splash- and sweat-resistant, and have different ear tip sizes to make sure they are comfortable for everyone. These were also designed with an intuitive touch surface that lets you tap or swipe to control your music, answer phone calls, or call up your voice assistant. It claims to last about five hours but, as is with other products in the game, charge only when inside the case.

It’s amazing how all that tech can fit into as small a packaging as these earbuds. At US$ 299, they’re a bit pricey, but considering what you get for it, I think these could be an amazing daily driver.

The Momentum True Wireless earbuds will be available in mid-November, and you can pre-order them here.

Editors' Choice

GadgetMatch Awards: Best of IFA 2018

What an amazing selection of products!

Published

September 4, 2018

Marvin Velasco

IFA has had a whirlwind of amazing announcements at its show in Berlin this year, and now that most brands showed their best products, we’re finally able to give out awards for the ones that caught our attention the most.

Here we are: These are the best gadgets and tech we’ve seen at IFA 2018!

ASUS ZenBook 14

IFA became a showcase for laptops that eliminate bezels almost entirely. The ASUS ZenBook 14 is a great example of this, and even offers one of the most unique trackpads we’ve ever seen, being able to turn into a virtual numpad at the press of a button. Now that’s laptop innovation!

Huawei Kirin 980

While other manufacturers are scrambling to release their next-generation processor, Huawei beat everyone to the punch with the Kirin 980, the world’s first commercial 7nm chipset. It’s amazingly fast both in AI capabilities and real-world usage — a must-see on Huawei’s next flagship phone!

Huawei P20 Pro (Leather)

How do you make one of the best Android phones this year even better? If you ask Huawei, it’s by slapping on genuine leather to the back for an awesome new texture. The leather variant of the P20 Pro not only looks good, but will also age like fine wine the more you use it.

Huawei Tracker

If you want something that can track your valuables wherever they are, it doesn’t get any better than the Huawei Tracker. It’s complete in features, from the SIM and full global navigation support to IP68 water and dust resistance. Nothing will ever get lost when this is attached!

LG 8K OLED TV

Welcome to the era of 8K! The newest super-dense resolution is coming to your next televisions, and LG is spearheading this charge. LG’s 88-inch 8K OLED TV is pretty much the pinnacle of technological advancement in the living room.