In 2025, BlackBerry is staging a comeback: from reviving classic phones to booming IoT and cybersecurity growth. Discover what this means for tech and investors.
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Split-screen showing a modernized BlackBerry Classic phone alongside a dashboard in a connected car powered by BlackBerry QNX — highlighting both hardware nostalgia and software growth.
BlackBerry Stages Unlikely 2025 Comeback
Once a smartphone icon, BlackBerry has quietly reinvented itself. In 2025, the company’s BlackBerry comeback is fueled by two key developments: nostalgic device revivals and a booming enterprise software business.
📱 Retro Phones Reimagined
- Zinwa Q25 Launch: Chinese firm Zinwa Technologies is reviving the iconic BlackBerry Classic as the Android-based Q25. Featuring a physical keyboard, a high-res 50 MP camera, 12 GB RAM, and Android 13, it will debut in August 2025. Price: US $400 assembled, or US $300 as a retro kit world-today-journal
- Rumors of 5G Keyboard Phones: A UK startup is reportedly working on new BlackBerry-style phones with QWERTY keyboards, 5G, Android 15, AMOLED displays, and generative AI. They’ve even reportedly licensed key patents—though plans remain unconfirmed
💼 Enterprise Software: The Real Growth Engine
- IoT and QNX Expansion: BlackBerry’s QNX software powers infotainment and safety systems in over 255 million vehicles. Its IoT revenue hit US $53 million in Q1 2025 with an 81% gross margin, thanks to new auto design wins
- Cybersecurity & Cylance Sale: After selling Cylance to Arctic Wolf for US $160 million, BlackBerry now focuses on its core cybersecurity consultancy and solutions. Annual recurring revenue is climbing steadily
- Strong Financials: With three straight quarters of positive free cash flow and EBITDA forecasted between US $50–60 million for fiscal 2026, BlackBerry is on firmer financial footing
🔍 Why It Matters
- Diversified Growth: From hardware nostalgia to software dominance, BlackBerry has multiple growth pillars.
- Investor Confidence: Institutional investors, like BlackRock, have increased their holdings significantly—highlighting strong market sentiment
- Auto and IoT Boom: As connected and autonomous vehicles surge, QNX’s real-time OS becomes increasingly vital
- Cybersecurity Demand: Growing cyber threats fuel demand for BlackBerry’s security services beyond legacy phone tech
Key Milestones in 2025
| Area | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Retro Devices | Zinwa Q25 launches August; potential new QWERTY 5G phones. |
| IoT Growth | QNX used in hundreds of millions more vehicles; IoT revenue strong. |
| Cybersecurity Shift | Cylance divested, focus on consulting & recurring revenue. |
| Financial Recovery | Cash flow positive; robust EBITDA outlook. |
🔮 What to Watch Next
- August: Will Zinwa Q25 successfully reignite interest in physical keyboards?
- UK Startup News: Who really is behind the rumored 5G QWERTY BlackBerry revival?
- Q2‑Q4 Financials: Sustained growth in IoT and cybersecurity will prove depth of the comeback.
- Patents & Licensing: Will BlackBerry partner with hardware startups or license its IP more broadly?
✅ Final Take
The BlackBerry comeback in 2025 transcends nostalgia. With renewed hardware ventures, explosive IoT and cybersecurity momentum, and strategic financial moves, BlackBerry is re-emerging—not as a phone maker, but as a software powerhouse with a legacy twist.
