In the last few years, the dominance of AI (Artificial Intelligence) has been increasing in the smartphone industry. Big brands like Google Pixel, Samsung, Huawei, and Apple are prominently introducing new AI features in their latest phones. In such a situation, a question that often comes to the mind of old BlackBerry users is whether BlackBerry will also make a comeback with AI-enabled smartphones? To know the answer to this question, we have to understand the recent history and current strategy of BlackBerry.
BlackBerry separated itself from the business of making smartphones in 2016. Since then the company has been focusing on software and cybersecurity solutions. However, in 2020, the BlackBerry KEY2 LE was launched under a licensing deal with TCL, which was the company’s last branded phone. Since then BlackBerry has not shown any interest in the smartphone market.
But a Reddit post in March 2025 intensified the discussion among BlackBerry fans. The post claimed that a UK-based startup is going to launch a new QWERTY keyboard phone with 5G support by licensing BlackBerry’s patents. This phone was said to have features like AMOLED display, 12GB RAM, and Android 15 or 16. But this information was completely unconfirmed and not from a verified source. The user who posted did not reveal the name of the company or the timeline, citing NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), which makes it seem speculative.
This is not the first time that rumors of a new BlackBerry phone have surfaced. In 2020, a company called OnwardMobility announced the creation of a BlackBerry-branded 5G phone, but the project was canceled after the license expired in 2022. It is clear from this that the BlackBerry brand name is still so powerful among the people that any small or big news becomes a discussion. But the reality is that BlackBerry Limited’s focus is currently on IoT (Internet of Things), automotive software (QNX), and cybersecurity. The company’s recent statements also do not indicate any return to the smartphone market.
Both nostalgia and demand for BlackBerry’s return can be seen on social media. Many users on X (formerly Twitter) have demanded new phones with QWERTY keyboards, but at the same time some fact-checkers have described the recent rumors as fake or photoshopped.
If BlackBerry really thinks of launching AI-enabled phones, what challenges will it face? First of all, today’s smartphone market is very competitive. Companies like Google, Samsung, and Apple are investing heavily on AI chips and software. In such a situation, BlackBerry will have to offer something unique to make its mark. Secondly, BlackBerry has been known as security-focused devices with physical keyboards. Perhaps it can create a new segment by combining AI and security, but for this it will need heavy funding and technology partners.
For now, if one wants a BlackBerry-like experience, devices like the Unihertz Titan 2 are the go-to options. It is a Keycrust project inspired by the BlackBerry Passport that is expected to launch by June 2025. But it is a third-party product with no direct connection to BlackBerry.
In conclusion, there is no concrete evidence that BlackBerry will launch a new smartphone with AI capabilities anytime soon. However, nothing is impossible in the mobile tech world. If a startup or tech giant partners with BlackBerry in near future, we might see a new-age BlackBerry smartphone that are not secure but powerful and problem solving. But until then, BlackBerry fans will have to be happy with the memories of old keyboard phones.
