The Zinwa Q27 is a smartphone that combines modern features with classic BlackBerry design. In fact, it looks a lot like the BlackBerry Classic that was released in 2014. But the Zinwa Q27 is an Android phone with a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, 12GB of RAM, and support for 5G networks, among other things.
But it stands out from most modern smartphones thanks to a relatively small 4 inch, 1080 x 1240 pixel AMOLED display positioned above a thumb keyboard. First announced nearly a year ago, the Zinwa Q27 is now available for pre-order for $420 and up. Note that a ship date hasn’t been announced yet though.
Zinwa has been selling BlackBerry-like phones with modern features and Android software for a few years… but up until recently the small Chinese outfit has been doing that by actually scooping out the guts of older BlackBerry phones and replacing them with new mainboards.
The Zinwa Q27 isn’t using repurposed hardware. It’s a brand new device with a new mainboard, case, and other key components. It’s available with 256GB or 512GB of storage and has a 4,000 mAh non-removable battery that supports 15W wireless charging and 33W fast charging with a USB 2.0 Type-C port.
Other features include NFC support, a 50MP rear camera and 16MP front-facing camera, a microSD card reader, and a notification LED light. There’s dual-SIM support thanks to a SIM card slot and eSIM support. And the phone ships with Android 16 featuring support for Google Mobile Services.
The Zinwa Q27 measures 140 x 74 x 11mm (5.5″ x 2.9″ x 0.4″) and weighs 192 grams (6.8 ounces) and comes in black or white color options.
