is there a good android phone with physical qwerty keyboard?

[walterkurtz]

hi! i switched to android two months ago from blackberry. i bought an HTC ONE and am mostly pleased with it. there is however one obvious and painful flaw with it (and all other popular phones): the virtual keyboard. i can't get used to it. every single day i curse the keyboard. every single day is filled with frustration. i need to talk and type on my phone more than any other feature. i am tempted to go back to blackberry, and give up all of the cool modern apps that i have on my ONE. still, i can't get instagram on a blackberry and as a photographer that is deadly. (yes i tried sideloading...it barely worked). anyway, is there such a thing as an android with physical keyboard? i mean a good one? i know they are out there, but does anyone have and love a particular model? i am with t-mobile, and love them, but am not afraid to switch carriers for the right device.

bonus question: is there a game or app i can download to my ONE that will help teach me how to type on this f-ing touch screen? I HATE IT!!

please note: i am using swift key. i have tried the google keyboard and it is good. i have also tried fleksy. but swift key is far better IMO. still, nothing compares to the BB keyboard.

thank you!!!

 

[Oofa]

There is no Android phone with a physical keyboard that is as good as any BB physical keyboard. There are older Androids that have a full keyboard but I don't know of one that will be as up to date as your One. I used a Samsung Galaxy Epic for a few years that had a slide out keyboard but it certainly is no HTC One when it comes to specs or just about anything else. The Motorola Photon also has a physical keyboard but they run on older systems. You might not mind that. I would just give it time. It took me a while to get used to Android and iPhone when I switched from BB.

 

[srkmagnus]

Have you considered any of the third-party keyboard apps in the Play Store? Although your issue is with the virtual keyboard, third-party keyboard apps can make your typing experience more pleasant by assisting with better prediction/correction. I use Swiftkey and it's been great. It's a paid app, but has a 30-day trial period so you can see how it feels/works for you.

Otherwise, there is no mobile phone with physical keyboard that matches the specs of the HTC One that is currently available.

 

[walterkurtz]

There is no Android phone with a physical keyboard that is as good as any BB physical keyboard. There are older Androids that have a full keyboard but I don't know of one that will be as up to date as your One. I used a Samsung Galaxy Epic for a few years that had a slide out keyboard but it certainly is no HTC One when it comes to specs or just about anything else. The Motorola Photon also has a physical keyboard but they run on older systems. You might not mind that. I would just give it time. It took me a while to get used to Android and iPhone when I switched from BB.

thank you. yes i should have specified: i am looking for a current model, with current hardware specs AND physical keyboard. i am no phone maker, but why on earth does this not exist? i know i am not the only one that wants this. is it a pipe dream?? will someone buy blackberry and put an android OS on a blackberry device? oh woe is me!!!!

 

[walterkurtz]

Have you considered any of the third-party keyboard apps in the Play Store? Although your issue is with the virtual keyboard, third-party keyboard apps can make your typing experience more pleasant by assisting with better prediction/correction. I use Swiftkey and it's been great. It's a paid app, but has a 30-day trial period so you can see how it feels/works for you.

Otherwise, there is no mobile phone with physical keyboard that matches the specs of the HTC One that is currently available.

yes it's in my original post. i am using switfkey (paid or pro or whatever they call it) and i have tried google keyboard and fleksy. i am sure i will continue to improve with practice. but i also thought i would have adapted by now. sad.

 

[FishenFool]

yes it's in my original post. i am using switfkey (paid or pro or whatever they call it) and i have tried google keyboard and fleksy. i am sure i will continue to improve with practice. but i also thought i would have adapted by now. sad.

I too came from a physical keyboard device (Palm Pre Plus) and it does get better with time. For one thing Swiftkey learns your habits over time. I also use a touch screen stylus for typing when I am having a bad day & having difficulty with typing accuracy.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[petaf]

I personally would jump on an HTC One with a slide out keyboard, oh yeah. Sigh.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[walterkurtz]

I personally would jump on an HTC One with a slide out keyboard, oh yeah. Sigh.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using AC Forums mobile app

yes please!

 

[dsm3]

I have the new NEC Terrain. I came from a Blackberry 9700 and I have had very few issues with this phone. None with the physical keyboard. It is the closest thing to a BB that I could find.

 

[walterkurtz]

thanks will check it out!

 

[beckytigeress]

Hi, i was wondering if the nec terrain is a good phone or not? and if it has any issues? I live in the usa and i'm not sure if i should buy it i wanted to be sure that it is a good phone

 

[B. Diddy]

Hi, i was wondering if the nec terrain is a good phone or not? and if it has any issues? I live in the usa and i'm not sure if i should buy it i wanted to be sure that it is a good phone

Welcome to Android Central! You might have better luck getting an answer by starting your own thread in this forum: General Help and How To - Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com

 

[Geodude074]

I realize this thread is a few months old, but I'm still putting in my two cents.

The LG Enact was the last Android phone that I heard of that comes with a QWERTY. The drawback is that it's only available on Verizon.

The last Android phone that I used personally with a QWERTY was the Motorola Photon Q, which was only available on Sprint.

It's sad to see QWERTY's dying out. I loved texting on my Photon Q. No one's going to believe me, but I could regularly text upwards of 50 WPM on my Photon Q. I had a race with a coworker once who loved using Swype - he could Swype around 45 WPM, while I texted on my QWERTY around 50 WPM. Nothing else comes close to pushing physical buttons. Plus you save screen space every time you're browsing and need to text something.

I truly miss my Photon Q. If there was an unlocked GSM Android with a QWERTY, I would pick it up in a heart beat.

 

[mrsmumbles]

I'm grateful for the touch screen. I hate pressing physical buttons now.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 2

 

[MBEnterprises]

I agree I would jump at the chance to buy a decent phone with physical keyboard. I am STILL using an HTC Touch Pro 2 (I think called a Tilt or Leo in the states) running a very custom ROM WM 6.5.
I need a phone that syncs well with outlook - mail, calendar, tasks, notes and I also save all SMS's for legal reasons
I do also have a Samsung Android phone, but hate Samsung Kies - it really just doesn't cut the mustard

 

[Urban Hippie Cowgirl]

Have you seen the HTC Desire Z (also marketed as T-Mobile G2 in the US)?

 

[jjfad]

Looks like they just announced the LG Optimus "F3Q":
Sony Xperia Z1S and LG F3Q device launches scheduled for January 22nd on T-Mobile | TmoNewsTmoNews

Just like the Galaxy Blaze and "Blaze Q" (i.e., Relay), the F3Q will probably be released under a different name. But I am hoping it has a similar 4" form factor and awesome battery.

 

[NickTShow]

I use the Motorola Droid 4. The slide-out keyboard is the best in the business. Check one out for yourself; I cannot understand why ANYONE would prefer to be rubbing on glass all day.

 

[brian4591]

Ummm, the BlackBerry Q10 would work for you.

It has a physical keyboard
Runs android apps (has android app stores directly on phone now)
And bonus.... Has HUB, Peek and Flow!

 

[Rukbat]

but why on earth does this not exist?

Watch any teen-ager (the largest market segment) typiing away on a virtual keyboard. That's why.

Besides, with OTG, you can connect any USB keyboard to the phone.