I’ve been using the BlackBerry KEYone for almost a week now, and during that time I have noticed a couple of things; 1) the camera on the back of this thing is amazing and, 2) this is one of the most unique phones you can buy right now.

Why’s it unique? Simple, it has a QWERTY keyboard, a feature no one else can claim to have. By itself this probably isn’t enough to dissuade you from a new iPhone or the Samsung Galaxy S8. But the KEYone is WAY more than just a QWERTY keyboard.

The camera, for instance, is utterly superb. It completely took me by surprise when I tested it out during a recent trip to Wales. The KEYone uses the same 12MP Sony IMX378 sensor as the Google Pixel and, if you’ve used that phone, you will know just how capable this setup is.

Whether shooting in low light or bright sunlight, the Sony IMX378 is a brilliant sensor. It captures masses of detail thanks to its large 1.55μm size and it is masterful in how it balances colour, as you can see in the image samples below: 

The KEYone autofocus is snappy and its built-in HDR Auto mode ensures images captured are always beautifully composed, regardless of lighting.

BlackBerry KEYone Camera Specs

• 12MP auto-focus large pixel camera
• 4K video recording at 30 fps
• Phase Detect Auto Focus (PDAF), Fast focus lock
• HDR 6-element f2.0 lens
• Dual Tone LED Flash – Enhanced photo colour balance
• 4x digital zoom
• Continuous & touch to focus, face detection, electric image stabilisation
• Panorama, Burst, Live Filters
• Multi-Frame Low Light Enhancement

You also have an 8MP shooter on the front, which is also well above par for 2017.

Basically, BlackBerry has gone all out with imaging on the KEYone and it the plan has worked beautifully.

I do not ever recall using a BlackBerry with a good camera. Like, ever…

Photography just wasn't what BlackBerry’s were about in the past; they were about security and emails and messaging. Now, though, you have a BlackBerry handset that not only looks, feels, and performs like a classic BlackBerry, but one that can also shoot images and video to the same standard as the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Google Pixel phone.

And that hasn’t happened before in the BlackBerry ecosystem. This is a significant moment for BlackBerry and I kind of wish it would make more of a big deal about how good the KEYone’s camera actually is!

Here’s a break down of the BlackBerry KEYone’s core specs:

• Android Nougat
• 4.5in 1080p display
• Convenience Key
• 8MP front camera with flash
• 12MP auto-focus large pixel rear camera
• Fingerprint Sensor
• BlackBerry Security software

My full review of the BlackBerry KEYone will be going live next week, so keep an eye out for it then.

And if you cannot wait THAT long before pulling the trigger on a shiny, new BlackBerry KEYone you can pre-order the handset at Carphone Warehouse right now for £499.99.