So much more than a BlackBerry clone

I test over 40 smartphones a year, and I fall into a bit of a pattern. I’ll use a phone for a period of time on first release, then move on to something else. If I find myself thinking about the previous phone while I’ve got my SIM in the latest and greatest, then I know the phone is a winner.

That’s precisely how I feel about the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite.

If it were just another BlackBerry clone, I wouldn’t feel the same way. Yes, I’d jump at the chance to buy a new BlackBerry-branded device running BB10, but that’s not going to happen. Instead, Unihertz scores by breaking out from the original mold, while keeping the essence of what made BlackBerry successful. I enjoy using the Titan 2 Elite because it stands on its own as a physical keyboard phone in 2026 — not just a walk down memory lane.

I find the Titan 2 Elite enjoyable because Unihertz ticks all the boxes for what makes a solid smartphone. It features a gorgeous 4-inch OLED display that refreshes at 120Hz. It’s the best panel Unihertz has ever shipped on a device, and it’s a highlight of the phone. I pump up the saturation in system settings, and I’m repeatedly amazed by how fantastic and vibrant the display looks.

The phone also runs well. The Dimensity 7400 won’t be confused for a flagship chipset anytime soon, but it gets the job done, pushing a smooth 120Hz experience. Communication, social media, and light gaming are all easily handled. And if you do find you need more power, you can pay extra for a Dimensity 8400 variant, but I’ve seen no need.

Smartphones are starting to spoil us with excellent battery life. And the Titan 2 Elite is no exception. Its just over 4,000mAh silicon-carbon battery lasts me a couple of days on a single charge — precisely what I’d expect from a keyboard phone that is used differently from a device such as the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Whether it has a physical keyboard or not, the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite is a decent midrange smartphone that makes a perfect base to start from.

With any keyboard phone, the experience should revolve around the keyboard. Even earlier Unihertz efforts felt as if the keyboard was an afterthought, merely slapped onto an Android device. Plenty of earlier physical keyboard phones made the same mistake, hoping the allure of another BlackBerry, fueled by nostalgia, would be enough to drive sales.

The Titan 2 Elite does much more, as the keyboard and phone work together perfectly. Unihertz made sure to include enough features from older BlackBerry devices. I love that it has a capacitive keyboard, which lets me swipe and scroll without touching the screen. That might not seem like a big deal to most, but when the screen is only four inches, you don’t want your fingers blocking any of the content.

The keyboard itself is magnificent. It’s a firm enough click to feel satisfying without being too difficult to type. Nothing is worse than writing out a couple of long emails only to feel thumb fatigue, and I’ve had no problems from the Titan 2 Elite after thousands of words.

I made sure to take a few minutes to customize the experience. I can set apps to each key, with activation via a short or long press. I can also assign functions to buttons along the frame, making it easier to use. I keep mine set to compatibility mode, just in case there is an app that doesn’t play nice with a 1:1 aspect ratio, I can quickly switch to one that does.

I loved BB10 as much as the next diehard fan, but Android has a lot more upside by design. Yes, you do give up some of the safety and security you had with BlackBerry’s old operating system, but you pick up so much more.

I love customizing my experience. I’ve installed Niagara Launcher on the previously released Unihertz Titan 2, and it’s fantastic. The Titan 2 Elite goes beyond nostalgia by changing how I use my phone without limiting me. I can scroll through Instagram and Facebook on the Titan 2 Elite when I need to, but I don’t feel the burning desire to pull out my phone just to check social media every few minutes.

My messages are more purposeful. I’ll never be as fast typing on a Titan 2 Elite as I am on traditional smartphones, but I don’t consider that a negative. I’m more accurate, and I have a couple of seconds more to think about what I’m saying. I find myself typing out thoughtful responses, not just little blurbs or fragments. It’s a small item, but it’s why I love physical keyboards on phones.

I don’t feel limited, but it’s also not business as usual with the Titan 2 Elite, and I’ve grown to like that.

Sure, I was a BlackBerry user years ago, and if you asked me which phone I’d prefer in my pocket today, it would be my beloved Passport.

However, that’s not why I’d buy a Titan 2 Elite, especially for almost $500. It’s a phone that stands on its own merits, despite the heavy design influence from devices such as the BlackBerry Q10 and BlackBerry Bold.