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Enlarge ImageJosh Miller/CNET
For some BlackBerry users it can be hard to make the journey from physical to virtual keyboard. Some just can’t do it. Or refuse to.
Samsung has apparently noticed. And so it’s introducing a Keyboard Cover case for its new phones. It adds actual physical buttons to the bottom, turning it into a sort of jumbo version of the iconic BlackBerry.
The cover will be compatible with the new Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. It comes in three colors: black, silver and gold. It arrives in September for $80, which works out to about £50 or AU$110.
Have a look through the slideshow below for our hands-on impressions of the case.
Punch up the Galaxy Note 5 with this keyboard case (photos)
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It seems like an odd match. A phablet with a 5.7-inch screen paired with a keyboard that elongates the phone that much more.
But in our quick test spin it worked well enough. We were able able to quickly and comfortably type out a few sentences of text. Below the keyboard there’s a set of hard buttons that duplicate the home screen and navigational buttons from the bottom of the screen that the case covers up. The keyboard uses capacitive touch technology so there’s no Bluetooth or battery charging required.
At its launch event for the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, Samsung also announced a few other accessories, including additional cases and accessories for wireless charging.
In addition to the phablet versions of the keyboard case, Samsung also says versions that fit the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are coming soon.
This article has been updated with additional details.
