Zinwa Q27: A BlackBerry-style Android phone with a physical keyboard is now up for pre-order
If you've missed the feel of a real keyboard under your thumbs since BlackBerry went dark, the Zinwa Q27 is now open for pre-order — starting at $420 for the 256GB model and $480 for 512GB. The device ships with a screen protector and case already included. The catch: Zinwa hasn't committed to a firm ship date, and production volumes depend on how many pre-orders come in, with Q2 2026 as the working target, per LiliPuting.
The hardware
The Q27 was built from the ground up as a keyboard phone — not a retrofit or clip-on case. Above the physical QWERTY keys sits a 4-inch AMOLED display running at 1080 × 1240 pixels, a near-square aspect ratio that makes sense for the form factor even if it's not ideal for scrolling Instagram. Inside, MediaTek's Dimensity 7300 handles the processing — a reliable mid-range chip tuned for efficiency rather than raw gaming performance. It pairs with 12GB of RAM and runs Android 16 out of the box.
The spec sheet holds up well for a productivity-first device. You get 5G, dual SIM plus eSIM, NFC for contactless payments, and a notification LED — a small touch most flagship makers quietly dropped years ago. The 4,000 mAh battery supports 33W wired charging and 15W wireless Qi charging, which is a welcome addition for a phone in this category. One thing missing from the box: a charger, notes Notebookcheck.
Buying it in the US or UK
There's no carrier deal or official retailer partnership announced for the US or UK market. Pre-orders go through zinwa.com directly, which means customs duties and VAT are questions worth answering before you commit. Pricing also has some uncertainty — an earlier listing on GoodEReader showed $589 for the 256GB model, though more recent sources point to $420 as the current figure.
Zinwa Q27 dimensions. Image: Zinwa
The keyboard-phone niche is slim but not empty. Unihertz's Titan 2 Elite is targeting a September shipping window, and the Clicks Communicator — a keyboard attachment for iPhone — is aiming for end of year. The Q27 sits in interesting company, but between the pre-order-dependent production schedule and no guaranteed ship date, early adopters are buying on faith as much as spec sheet.
If tactile keys are a dealbreaker for you and you can wait until mid-2026, the Zinwa Q27 is worth watching. Everyone else might want to see how the first batch lands before clicking buy.
