For anyone who grew up glued to a BlackBerry Classic, here’s a bit of welcome nostalgia. Chinese startup Zinwa is bringing back the iconic BlackBerry Classic — only this time with modern Android internals. Called the Zinwa Q25, this refreshed device retains the beloved QWERTY keyboard and classic shell while swapping in a new engine under the hood.
The specs are surprisingly decent for a niche revival project. The Q25 runs on a MediaTek Helio G99 processor, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It boasts a 3,000mAh battery, a 50MP rear camera, an 8MP front shooter, USB-C charging, NFC support, and global 4G LTE bands. It even keeps the signature LED notification light and physical trackpad cursor for old-school navigation. The phone runs Android 13 out of the box, with regular security patches promised, though major Android version updates aren’t guaranteed.
Zinwa will offer the Q25 in two options: a $300 DIY kit for enthusiasts who want to rebuild their own BlackBerry Classic, and a fully assembled $400 version ready to use. Shipping is expected to start in August. Zinwa is also teasing future revivals of other BlackBerry fan favorites, including the Passport and KeyOne models.
Of course, there are legitimate concerns here. Zinwa isn’t exactly a household name, and privacy-minded users might hesitate to trust a niche vendor with their data. Plus, without strong commitments to long-term software support, this may remain a nostalgia-driven novelty rather than a practical daily driver.
Still, for die-hard BlackBerry loyalists and keyboard lovers, it’s a fun and unexpected return. In a sea of nearly identical slab phones, the Zinwa Q25 dares to be different — even if it’s banking on the past. If it does well, it might just spark a tiny revival of QWERTY culture in 2025.
