Interest and hype around BlackBerry continues into 2026 as viral social media videos show influencers ditching modern smartphones for classic models in a ‘digital detox’. A Chinese firm has relaunched the Q20 Classic with upgraded hardware and Android 13, while more alternatives continue to appear from Unihertz and Clicks.
Once the height of the mobile market, the humble BlackBerry was a must-have phone, in part for how BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) completely changed the game for messaging on the go, paving the way for the likes of WhatsApp and iMessage. Although the brand is now largely defunct, that hasn’t stopped BlackBerry from having a vinyl-like revival, which has spiralled into a viral trend.
As more people continue to embrace the idea of moving away from traditional smartphones in the hope of having a healthier, less dependent relationship with their tech, the BlackBerry has swooped in as a promise of what could have been if candybar-style phones hadn’t taken off and completely dominated the market.
With all BlackBerry phones now being completely second-hand, however, trying to get your hands on one can be quite an endeavour, but there are plenty of companies looking to fill the gap with their own physical keyboard clone devices. To know more about the BlackBerry revival and better understand the options available to you (if you’re tempted to take the plunge yourself), keep on reading.
Is BlackBerry making a new phone in 2026?
In a word, no. Don’t expect there to be a new BlackBerry phone anytime soon or possibly ever. There was supposed to be a new BlackBerry model in 2021, but it never happened.
While you can keep on scrolling to find out exactly what happened to that phone, you’ll be glad to know that there are options out there for anyone in the market for a BlackBerry-esque experience.
Near the end of last year, the long-awaited Zinwa Q25 Pro came to market, providing an updated reskin of the BlackBerry Classic, effectively giving fans a means of enjoying the traditional BlackBerry design but with more modern components that make it a viable handset in 2026.
The phone also runs Android as standard, so you have access to crucial software such as WhatsApp and Instagram.
Other upgrades include 12GB RAM alongside the MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, and 4G compatibility so you can connect to nearby network signals without issue. Unfortunately, the Q25 Pro is not available in India as a result of the country’s regulations regarding imported tech, which forced the company to cancel and refund all India-based pre-orders.
The company is also planning a similar refurbishing process for the BlackBerry Passport, this time labelled the Zinwa P26, but we’ll make sure to update this section once more information appears.
For an entirely new device, there’s the Zinwa Q27, described as a ‘modern BlackBerry clone’, but it won’t arrive before May 2026, according to the site.
It will have a 3.92-inch AMOLED screen, MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor and run Android 16. Two other options come in the form of the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite and the Clicks Communicator.
Despite being similar in appearance, these two devices have different approaches to usability.
With a promised five years of software updates, the Titan 2 Elite is being positioned as a genuine alternative within the Android phone market, whilst the Clicks Communicator is pitched as a companion device to your main phone, being a distraction-free device that lets you lock in with typing and messaging.
There’s also the Clicks Power Keyboard, which is now available to pre-order for £81/$109 and is ideal for anyone who wants to add a bit of BlackBerry functionality to their phone without swapping to an entirely new device.
Because it connects to your phone via a MagSafe connection, it’s best designed for users of the iPhone 12 onwards, although it can also be used in tandem with the Pixel 10 range of phones.
Why are BlackBerry phones getting popular in 2025/26?
There’s recent hype for BlackBerry largely due to a viral trend on social media.
It appears that some Gen Zs, after recycling various other 2000s trends and fashions, have adopted BlackBerry as a new go-to mobile phone option.
The idea being, like basic Nokias, is that it’s a way to detox from the addictive nature of a full-blown smartphone. Less doomscrolling, in-app purchases, binging YouTube videos when you should be asleep and such like. It’s appealing to me, and I’m not even close to being Gen Z.
Viral TikTok hits include this clip from shozie_055 with the caption “POV: you bought a blackberry in 2025 bc your iPhone is ruining your life.” and has millions of views.
There are also plenty of YouTubers reviewing phones like the BlackBerry Classic in a ‘still worth buying?’ way.
It seems to be a follow-on trend from the ‘flip phone challenge’, where you ditch your modern smartphone for an old-style basic flip phone like the iconic Motorola V3 for a period of time, or as long as you can.
However, as we all know, that never came to fruition. In June 2021, OnwardMobility announced that it had lost the license to use the BlackBerry name and branding. This was a huge blow to those hoping for a modern revival of the iconic smartphone brand.
OnwardMobility had planned to release a 5G BlackBerry device with a physical keyboard, focusing on security and productivity. The device was rumored to run on Android and be targeted towards government and enterprise customers.
The demise of this project was a disappointment to many BlackBerry fans who were hoping for a return to the glory days of the brand. It seems that the market for physical keyboard smartphones is just not as strong as it once was, with touchscreen devices dominating the market.
So, for now, if you want to experience the nostalgia of using a BlackBerry phone, your best bet is to dig out an old model from your collection or pick one up second-hand. Just be aware of the limitations and security risks that come with using an outdated device.
Whether you choose to embrace the trend of using a classic BlackBerry or opt for a more modern alternative, the choice is yours. Just remember to stay safe and secure while using your device, and enjoy the retro feel of typing on a physical keyboard once again.
In late July 2021, OnwardMobility announced its “Pre-Commitment Program” for the development of the first 5G BlackBerry. This program allowed fans and businesses to provide input on the phone’s development process and gain early pre-order access. However, as time passed, no concrete details about the phone’s release date or specifications were revealed.
With the legacy BlackBerry devices losing software support in January 2022, the spotlight turned back to OnwardMobility. The company had gone silent after mid-2021, leaving fans in the dark about the progress of its debut device.
After mounting pressure from the media and BlackBerry enthusiasts, OnwardMobility released a blog post titled “Contrary to popular belief, we are not dead.” In the post, they acknowledged the lack of communication and promised more regular updates starting that month to address questions about the device’s development.
Despite this renewed commitment, BlackBerry (the company) decided to cancel OnwardMobility’s license, preventing them from using the BlackBerry name. Following this, OnwardMobility faced challenges with the project timeline, leading to its ultimate decision to abandon the project and shut down entirely.
The initial announcement hinted at the phone being a secure, feature-rich 5G-ready device aimed at enhancing productivity. The design of the phone was said to take inspiration from the BlackBerry Priv, the last phone made by BlackBerry itself and the first to run on Android.
Ultimately, the journey of the 5G BlackBerry from OnwardMobility ended in disappointment, with the company unable to bring the device to market. The legacy of BlackBerry lives on in its cybersecurity endeavors, while fans of the iconic brand are left to reminisce about the innovative devices of the past.
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