The QWERTY keyboard layout has been around since the late 1800s, and it was originally designed for typewriters. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that QWERTY keyboards began to appear on mobile phones.
The first QWERTY phone was the Motorola V.box, which was released in 2000. The V.box was a relatively large and bulky phone, but it was still a major breakthrough because it allowed users to type emails and text messages much faster than they could on a traditional keypad.
In the years that followed, other manufacturers began to release their own QWERTY phones. Some of the most popular QWERTY phones of the early 2000s include:
- BlackBerry Bold: Released in 2008, the BlackBerry Bold was one of the first smartphones with a full QWERTY keyboard. It was known for its excellent email capabilities and its secure messaging system.
- Nokia E71: Released in 2008, the Nokia E71 was a business-oriented QWERTY phone. It was known for its durable design and its long battery life.
- BlackBerry Curve: Released in 2007, the BlackBerry Curve was a more affordable alternative to the BlackBerry Bold. It was known for its user-friendly interface and its long battery life.
QWERTY phones were very popular for several years, but they began to decline in popularity in the late 2000s. This was due to the rise of smartphones with touchscreen keyboards. Touchscreen keyboards were easier to use than QWERTY keyboards, and they allowed users to access a wider range of features and applications.
Despite the decline in popularity, QWERTY phones still have a place in the market. There are still some people who prefer the physical feedback of a QWERTY keyboard, and there are some businesses that require their employees to use QWERTY phones for security reasons.
Here are some of the most recent Android smartphones with QWERTY keyboards:
- Unihertz Titan Slim: Released in 2022, the Unihertz Titan Slim is a thin and light smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard. It is also a rugged phone, which means it is water and dust resistant.
- BlackBerry KEY2 LE: Released in 2018, the BlackBerry KEY2 LE is a more affordable alternative to the BlackBerry KEY2. It has a full QWERTY keyboard and a fingerprint sensor.
- Planet Computers Cosmo Communicator: Released in 2021, the Planet Computers Cosmo Communicator is a smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard and a second screen. It is also a 5G phone, which means it can access the fastest mobile internet speeds.
The future of QWERTY phones is uncertain. However, it is clear that they will continue to have a niche market for people who prefer the physical feedback of a QWERTY keyboard.
