BlackBerry Passport-inspired Android phone P26 reportedly opens pre-orders October 3

Android keyboard-phone nostalgia may be getting a more literal revival. Android Authority reports that Zinwa Technologies is preparing to sell a fully assembled BlackBerry Passport-inspired handset called the P26, with pre-orders set to begin October 3 and shipments expected around late October.

The reported launch would mark Zinwa’s second BlackBerry-style Android project. Android Authority says the company has already been selling DIY kits and an Android-based BlackBerry Classic refurb for more than a year, and has spent months working on a Passport restoration with updated internals.

What the assembled P26 is expected to include

Because Zinwa has not fully detailed the assembled version, much of what is known appears to come from the company’s existing P26 DIY kit, as described by Android Authority. That kit points to a MediaTek Helio G99 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, along with a 3,900mAh battery and a USB-C port replacing the original phone’s older connector.

Android Authority also reports that the retrofit keeps the Passport-style physical keyboard and 3.5mm headphone jack, while adding a 50MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. The outlet further reports that Zinwa showed the keyboard’s embedded touchpad working in a separate video.