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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTCL stopped making new BlackBerry-branded phones after August 31, 2020, but the announcement did not remotely disable phones people already owned. TCL said it would continue customer service and warranty support for existing devices through August 31, 2022, or longer where local law required. Those support dates have since passed, and BlackBerry’s listed end-of-life dates for its Android phone apps arrived in 2022. Today, TCL-made BlackBerry phones are discontinued legacy devices, not currently supported mainstream smartphones.
What did TCL announce?
On February 3, 2020, TCL Communication announced that it would no longer design, manufacture, or sell new BlackBerry-branded mobile devices after August 31, 2020. TCL’s rights under its BlackBerry licensing arrangement were ending. The announcement described the end of a handset partnership; it does not establish that BlackBerry abruptly revoked the license as punishment or that one particular incident caused the split. AnandTech’s report of TCL’s announcement records the cutoff and support commitment.
The distinction matters: August 31, 2020 was the end of TCL’s ability to sell new phones under that arrangement, not a shutdown date for devices already in customers’ hands. TCL said it would provide customer service and warranty support for its existing portfolio until August 31, 2022, or longer where local law required it. That promise was for customer and warranty support; it was not, by itself, a guarantee of Android upgrades or security patches through that date.
Why was TCL making BlackBerry phones?
BlackBerry had shifted away from manufacturing phones itself and toward software and services. In December 2016, BlackBerry announced a licensing arrangement under which TCL would design, manufacture, sell, and support BlackBerry-branded Android devices using BlackBerry security software and applications. BlackBerry’s filings describe TCL as a licensee for much of the world, while noting other licensing arrangements in some markets. BlackBerry’s 2017 announcement and its 2019 financial information describe the licensing model and regional scope.
#1 Best Overall
- COMPATIBILITY: Compatible with KEYtwo (Key2)
- Non-Slip: This KEYtwo (Key2) Cover with a TPU finish provides a soft, comfortable grip and fingerprints are easily wiped away
- Durable & shockproof: TPU Silicone cushions and protects against shocks, falls, drops, scratches and bumps
- Easy access: Precise cutouts on phone cover enable easy access to all buttons, ports and camera
- Clean & Slim: Lightweight TPU with a silky matte finish keeps the case thin and attracts less dust and lint than liquid silicone – ideal for pockets, bags and everyday use.
These were Android phones bearing the BlackBerry name and incorporating BlackBerry software—not devices running the older BlackBerry operating systems. Ending TCL’s partnership ended one major hardware relationship. It did not mean BlackBerry as a company had ceased to exist; BlackBerry continued to focus on secure communications and software for enterprise and government customers.
Which phones were part of the TCL portfolio?
The main TCL-produced BlackBerry Android models were:
Rank #2
- COMPATIBILITY: Compatible with KEYtwo LE (Key2 LE)
- Non-Slip: This KEYtwo LE (Key2 LE) Cover with a TPU finish provides a soft, comfortable grip and fingerprints are easily wiped away
- Durable & shockproof: TPU Silicone cushions and protects against shocks, falls, drops, scratches and bumps
- Easy access: Precise cutouts on phone cover enable easy access to all buttons, ports and camera
- Clean & Slim: Lightweight TPU with a silky matte finish keeps the case thin and attracts less dust and lint than liquid silicone – ideal for pockets, bags and everyday use.
- BlackBerry KEYone
- BlackBerry Motion
- BlackBerry KEY2
- BlackBerry KEY2 LE
The devices combined Android with BlackBerry branding and software; the KEY models were especially associated with a physical keyboard. TCL was not the only BlackBerry phone licensee worldwide. BlackBerry filings describe other arrangements in India and neighboring markets, as well as Indonesia, so the end of TCL’s agreement should not be read as covering every BlackBerry-branded handset arrangement in every region. See BlackBerry’s 2017 financial statements.
What happened to owners after the partnership ended?
Existing phones did not automatically stop powering on, placing calls, or running Android when TCL’s sales rights ended. The support commitment had a separate end date: August 31, 2022, subject to longer periods required by local law. After that announced window, owners should not assume that TCL warranty coverage, customer service, replacement parts, or software maintenance remained available.
Rank #3
- Wonderful Design - USTIYA designed case for BlackBerry Key 2 allows perfect display of the phone's appearance, allowing you to appreciate its beauty and design. It shows the original color of the phone.
- The combination of flexible TPU and shock absorbing Four Corners helps protect your BlackBerry Key 2 from drops and other impacts
- Its design with micro dots on the inside prevents the wet and sticky appearance, so common among transparent cases, thus helping to maintain the beautiful design of your BlackBerry Key 2
- The matte side strips of the edge can increase the stability of the grip of the mobile phone, making it comfortable to hold and preventing it from slipping, while also preventing phone corrosion from hand sweat. Easy to clean, you only need to gently wipe it with a damp cloth to remove stains and dirt.
- DIY customization: due to the special material of the transparent phone case, you can stick photos, patterns, etc. that you like on the back of the phone to personalize it and reflect your style and personality.
Check the specific handset and service you depend on rather than treating all BlackBerry-branded devices alike:
- Model and operating system: A KEY2 running Android is not governed by the same service changes as a BlackBerry 10 Passport.
- Carrier support: A phone may still turn on but be unreliable or unusable on a particular network because of that carrier’s bands, network changes, or voice-over-LTE requirements. Compatibility is specific to the model, carrier, and country.
- Email and enterprise services: Users dependent on a BlackBerry-hosted email address or certain enterprise licensing arrangements may have been affected by legacy service changes. Organizations should verify their licensing and supported device setup rather than infer it from the handset brand.
- Used-device condition: A secondhand phone may have no remaining manufacturer warranty. Battery condition, carrier compatibility, and the availability of parts vary by device and seller.
How the 2020 announcement differs from the 2022 service shutdown
BlackBerry ended infrastructure services for BlackBerry 7/7.1, BlackBerry 10, and PlayBook devices on January 4, 2022. That was a later event affecting legacy platforms, not the date TCL stopped selling new phones. BlackBerry’s end-of-life FAQ says Android-based BlackBerry devices were not affected by that legacy shutdown, except in specific cases involving BlackBerry-hosted email or certain enterprise licenses. BlackBerry’s end-of-life FAQ explains the distinction.
Rank #4
- Protective Kickstand Cover + Custom Belt Clip Holster Combination
- Ratchet Clip Will Turn/Lock In Different Positions
- Unique Design Can Hold Phone BOTH WAYS: "Face-In" for Optimal Screen Protection or "Face-Out" for Viewing
- Kickstand Will Prop Phone for Viewing Vertical or Horizontal - Great for Watching Videos
- Rubberized Powder Coating and Ribbed Texture for Enhanced Tactile Grip
BlackBerry’s Android applications had their own lifecycle. The company’s application lifecycle page lists several, including DTEK, Launcher, Password Keeper, Privacy Shade, and Keyboard, as reaching end of life on February 28, 2022. It lists Keyboard’s end of development as August 27, 2019, and its end of life as February 28, 2022. BlackBerry defines end of life as the point at which a product is no longer supported and receives no new versions, patches, security fixes, or workarounds. These application dates are not the same thing as the end of TCL’s warranty commitment. See BlackBerry’s smartphone and tablet application lifecycle page and its lifecycle terminology.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you buy a TCL-made BlackBerry phone now?
These phones may appeal to collectors or to people who specifically want a hardware keyboard, but their manufacturer-support period and the listed lifecycles of BlackBerry’s Android applications have expired. That makes them a poor default choice for a security-sensitive primary phone. An old device can remain functional without receiving current security maintenance or having reliable compatibility with future apps and carrier networks.
Best Value
- Made from the high quality tempered-glass with 100% bubble-free adhesives for easy installation and maximum scratch protection
- 2.5D rounded edge glass for comfort on the fingers and hand
- 99.99% HD clarity, and maintains the original touch experience
- Hydrophobic and oleo-phobic coating to reduce sweat and reduce fingerprints
- Include 2 pcs tempered glass screen protectors
If you are considering one, verify the exact model’s network compatibility with your carrier, inspect battery condition, confirm that the seller offers a return option, and decide whether the phone’s software limitations fit your use. For enterprise work, use a currently supported device and supported mobility-management platform rather than relying on discontinued handset software. For a keyboard-first experience, check the current availability, Android version, carrier compatibility, and update policy of any alternative individually; a third-party keyboard or launcher does not reproduce BlackBerry’s complete security model.
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