Nearly a decade after BlackBerry bowed out of the smartphone market, the company’s legacy devices are being revived in unexpected ways. A Chinese brand called Zinwa Technologies is bringing back the BlackBerry Classic Q20, this time refitted with Android and modern hardware, in a project that blends nostalgia with updated specs for those who miss physical keyboards.
The upgraded device, marketed as the Zinwa Q25 Pro, keeps the familiar design of the Classic but swaps in contemporary components. Instead of the aging Snapdragon S4 Plus chip found in the 2014 Q20, the new model runs on a MediaTek Helio G99 processor paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Battery life also gets a boost with a 3,000 mAh cell, while the cameras have been modernized to a 50MP rear sensor and an 8MP front camera. The micro-USB port has been replaced by USB-C, rounding out the upgrades that make the device compatible with today’s expectations.
For comparison, the original Q20 shipped with just 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and an 8MP rear camera. By modern standards, it’s nearly unusable, but the refreshed version aims to combine the tactile appeal of a physical keyboard with the practicality of Android.
Zinwa is offering two purchase options. Consumers can buy a fully assembled Zinwa Q25 Pro for $420, or, for those who already own a BlackBerry Classic Q20 (or want to pick up a used one), the company sells a DIY kit with the replacement components for $320. The first 100 retrofitted units are expected to ship later this month, with broader production planned for September. However, as with many small-scale hardware projects, shipping timelines may shift depending on demand and production challenges.
The project taps into a growing niche of smartphone enthusiasts who value physical keyboards and miss the days before touchscreens dominated the market. While BlackBerry itself has long exited the mobile space, the modded BlackBerry Classic with Android represents a second life for one of its last well-regarded devices.
For fans of retro tech, the Zinwa Q25 Pro offers a way to revisit the BlackBerry experience without sacrificing modern functionality—though whether it finds more than a small, dedicated audience remains to be seen.
