Crowdfunding Review – One of my favorite phones is the Palm Treo 650, which has a tiny QWERTY keyboard built in. That was in 2005, two years before the iPhone changed the smartphone landscape forever. I love that little phone with a built-in keyboard. Would I want another phone with a physical keyboard? That’s what I decided to find out when I saw the Unihertz Titan Slim Android smartphone that was currently seeking funding on Kickstarter.
What is it?
The Unihertz Titan Slim is an Android smartphone with a built-in physical QWERTY keyboard.Here’s a slimmer/narrower version Unihertz Titan Pocket Reviewed by Julian last year.
What’s in the box?
- Unihertz Titan Slim Smartphone
- screen protector (it came pre-installed on mine)
- USB-C cable
- Headphone 3.5mm to USB-C Adapter
- SIM tool
- AC adapter
Design and Features
Unihertz Titan Slim Android smartphone At first glance, you might think it’s an old-school BlackBerry. The phone has the form factor of a modern touchscreen smartphone, but the keyboard that sits below the display has a strong retro vibe.
In the first image above, I’m holding the phone’s display may look huge, but in reality, it’s only 4.2 inches (768 x 1280 resolution), for someone like me who’s used the Max version Two iPhones, which feel small and cramped.
The keyboard is also small. really small. I remember loving the Treo 650’s keyboard, but my thumbs must have been smaller then. Can you type on the Titan Slim’s keyboard? certainly. It works fine and has great haptic feedback.
The keys have a faceted shape to help your thumb feel each key, but there are no special bumps on the F and J keys so your thumb knows the home row. Yes, I am a typist.
In addition to the display and keyboard, there’s a fingerprint scanner on the front of the phone, above the T and Y keys. I was very surprised by how well it worked for me as I always have issues with the fingerprint scanner.
Note that when you tap the fingerprint scanner button, it doubles as the HOME button.
The bottom edge of the Unihertz Titan Slim houses a microphone, speaker, and a USB-C charging port.
You’ll find the 48MP camera lens and flash along with the Unihertz logo on the back of the phone.
On the right side of the phone there are volume keys and a power key.
There are dual nano SIM card slots on the left side. The red button is a multifunction button. If you’re in the camera app, it acts as a dedicated camera shutter button. When you’re outside the camera app, pressing and holding the button will toggle the flash as a torch, and double-tapping the button will take a screenshot.
On the top edge of the phone, you’ll find another microphone and an infrared port. Using the pre-installed ZaZaRemote app on your phone, you can use the Titan Slim as a universal remote control for your IR compatible device.
While the phone has a plastic case (I think), it feels well-made and sturdy. It doesn’t creak or crack or rattle when I squeeze and shake it. The narrow width is actually very comfortable to hold in the hand. But the screen and case are fingerprint magnets.
android
The Unihertz Titan Slim runs on Android version 11, which is a version of the current version. The last security update on the phone I reviewed was from September. When I asked Unihertz about OS updates, I didn’t get a clear answer, which means I don’t expect the phone to be updated to Android version 12 at any point in its lifespan.
I’m glad to see that this phone has few extra apps. Apart from the stock Android, the only additions are an IR app, an NFC app, an FM radio app, a notebook app, and a few others.
camera
Don’t buy the Unihertz Titan Slim for its camera. Here are some samples. Not terrible, but not great either.
Make and receive calls with the Unihertz Titan Slim
This isn’t a 5G phone, so that’s it…but other than that, I’ve had no problem making and receiving calls on the T-Mobile network using the T-Mobile SIM on my iPhone. Speaking of T-Mobile, you need to know what carriers you can use with this phone.
Titan Slim works with Verizon and T-Mobile networks. But since it’s not certified by Verizon, you may not be able to use it to activate your new SIM card. You can activate a new SIM card with another Verizon certified device and use it in the Titan Slim. Previous users of our product have proven that it works.
For AT&T users, there are compatibility issues in some regions due to the carrier’s recent policy changes. Please check with your carrier before purchasing, or switch to another carrier such as T-Mobile or Verizon.
Battery Life and Performance
With its 4100mAh battery, this phone has very good battery life.
Performance is ok. I wouldn’t say this phone is screaming, but for normal day-to-day tasks, the speed of opening and switching apps feels fine to me.
what do I like
- Physical QWERTY keyboard for those who like these things
- good fingerprint scanner
- Multifunctional side key
what would i change
- Make sure it will receive OS and security updates
final thoughts
If you’re looking for an inexpensive smartphone to surprise your friends, the Unihertz Titan Slim could be an interesting option. I had so much fun, but I’m not ready to go back in time and I’d love to stick with my iPhone 🙂
The Unihertz Titan Slim campaign ended on 6/9/22 and they have passed their $50,000 funding goal. You can pre-order the Unihertz Titan Slim, starting at $230. Rewards are expected to start shipping in September 2022 after the Unihertz Titan Slim campaign ends.visit their crowdfunding page for all the details.
price: $230.00
where to buy: crowdfunding
source: Samples for this review provided by single hertz.
