Sure, going full-size touchscreens might be the new trend, but touchscreen keyboards will never beat physical keyboards. In fact, one of the original and best-selling Android devices of all times was a full-qwerty phone, the Motorola Droid. For those of you who don’t know, a “QWERTY” keyboard is a nickname for a device with a full physical keyboard. The name comes from the first 6 keys on the top row of every standard keyboard.

Check out our comprehensive list of of the seven best QWERTY phones of 2012.

Droid 4 (Verizon)

November 6, 2009 — the original Droid was released, and Motorola sold over 1 million devices in the first 74 days. That number passed even the original iPhone in sales for the first 74 days. Over 2 years later, on February 10, 2012, Motorola Mobility released the Droid 4. The new smartphone is powered by Android 2.3, but is upgradeable to Android 4.0 in the near future. It is the newest QWERTY phone on the block, building on the success of the original blockbuster device, the first Droid. The new Droid 4 features a fantastic 5-row keyboard, with backlighting. For me, it’s the best keyboard on any mobile device to date, and comes packed with a great responsive tactile feel and some handy shortcuts. It didn’t take me long to develop some serious muscle memory with this device, and, after a while, I found that I didn’t even have to look at the keyboard, which really enables me to take my productivity to a whole new level.





Specs

Price: $200/$650

$200/$650 Display: 4.0-inch 960 x 540

4.0-inch 960 x 540 CPU: 1.2 GHz Dual-Core

1.2 GHz Dual-Core OS: Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread (4.0 Upgradeable)

Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread (4.0 Upgradeable) Keyboard: 5-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard

5-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard Storage: 16 GB Internal with microSD slot

16 GB Internal with microSD slot RAM: 1 GB

1 GB Battery: 1785 mAh Li Ion

1785 mAh Li Ion Rear-Camera: 8 MP / 1080p Video

8 MP / 1080p Video Front-Camera: 1.3 MP / 720p Video

1.3 MP / 720p Video 4G?: Verizon 4G LTE Capable

Verizon 4G LTE Capable Release Date: Buy Now!

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B006FXY9LC” /]

Droid Pro (Verizon and Sprint [Motorola XPRT])

The Droid Pro has been out for over a year now, and, although it didn’t take over the market, so to speak, it is a business man’s (or woman’s) delight. With a design that really embodies the look and feel of a Blackberry, it’s powered by Android, which is clearly the superior option for smartphones. Furthermore, the phone will not cost you a buck, as long as you sign up for a two year contract. Finally, this device is a Global Ready device (Verizon), meaning that you can take it with you wherever you go. And best of all, it works on two of the best carriers in America (Verizon and Sprint).

Specs

Price: Free/$399

Free/$399 Display: 3.1″ 480×320

3.1″ 480×320 CPU: 1GHz Snapdragon processor

1GHz Snapdragon processor OS: Android 2.2 (Froyo) OS with Motorola Application Platform

Android 2.2 (Froyo) OS with Motorola Application Platform Keyboard: 4-Row “Candy Bar” Form Factor

4-Row “Candy Bar” Form Factor Storage: 2GB Internal + 2GB microSD (Expandable to 32GB)

2GB Internal + 2GB microSD (Expandable to 32GB) RAM: 512 MB

512 MB Battery: 1420 mAh

1420 mAh Rear-Camera: 5 MP / DVD-D1 Video Capture

5 MP / DVD-D1 Video Capture Front-Camera: None

None 4G?: No, Global Device in over 200 countries around the world!

No, Global Device in over 200 countries around the world! Release Date: Released

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B004AM5AWM” /]



Samsung Captivate Glide (AT&T)

Moving into the AT&T category, the Samsung Captivate Glide is a great 4G device that costs slightly less than its competitors. In addition, the Glide is a powerhouse, thanks to its dual-core processor, and has a great array of specs, which helped Samsung’s QWERTY phone gain its spot on our list. Needless to say, the phone sports a truly beautiful QWERTY keyboard, with 4 dedicated buttons that work with the Android OS (home, menu, back, and search). Although, at first, the battery may seem below par, the 4″ display won’t be hogging as much power, compared to the display of a Galaxy Nexus or Note.

Specs

Price: $149.99/$499.99

$149.99/$499.99 Display: 4″ 480 x 800

4″ 480 x 800 CPU: NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz Dual-Core Processor

NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz Dual-Core Processor OS: Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread

Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread Keyboard: 4-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard (With 4 Android dedicated buttons)

4-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard (With 4 Android dedicated buttons) Storage: 8 GB Internal / Up to 32GB microSD slot

8 GB Internal / Up to 32GB microSD slot RAM: 1 GB

1 GB Battery: 1650 mAh Li Ion

1650 mAh Li Ion Rear-Camera: 8 MP / 720p Video (4X Zoom)

8 MP / 720p Video (4X Zoom) Front-Camera: 1.3 MP

1.3 MP 4G?: AT&T HSPA+

AT&T HSPA+ Release Date: Buy Now!

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B0068PZ4IE” /]

HTC Status (AT&T)

Are you a Facebook fanatic? The HTC Status from AT&T lets you instantly share those “priceless moments” with all your friends. With one push of a button, the HTC Status helps you stay in the center of your social circle. In addition, the HTC Status boasts a candybar form factor, 5MP Rear camera, and HTC Sense.

Specs

Price: FREE/$349.99

FREE/$349.99 Display: 2.6″ 480×320

2.6″ 480×320 CPU: 800MHz MSM7227

800MHz MSM7227 OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread (Plus HTC Sense)

Android 2.3 Gingerbread (Plus HTC Sense) Keyboard: 4 row candybar style qwerty keyboard

4 row candybar style qwerty keyboard Storage: 512MB internal / 2GB microSD (Expandable to 32GB)

512MB internal / 2GB microSD (Expandable to 32GB) RAM: 512MB

512MB Battery: 1250 mAh Li Ion

1250 mAh Li Ion Rear-Camera: 5 MP

5 MP Front-Camera: VGA

VGA 4G?: No

No Release Date: Buy Now!

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B00749TZQU” /]

Samsung Epic 4G (Sprint)

For those of you wondering, this phone is very similar to the Samsung Captivate Glide. However, if you are a Samsung fan, the Captivate Glide is a few specs up on the Epic 4G. Either way, this device is 4G capable, and serves as one of Sprint’s best full QWERTY Android devices. Packed with an older version of Android, the Epic 4G is built to suit power-users for just $99.99 (with a “Mail–in Rebate via Reward Card”).

Specs

Price: $149.99/$499.99

$149.99/$499.99 Display: 4″ Super AMOLED 480 x 800

4″ Super AMOLED 480 x 800 CPU: 1 GHz Hummingbird

1 GHz Hummingbird OS: Android 2.1

Android 2.1 Keyboard: 5-Row Slide-Out QWERTY Keyboard with 4 dedicated Android buttons.

5-Row Slide-Out QWERTY Keyboard with 4 dedicated Android buttons. Storage: 1 GB internal with 16GB microSD card included.

1 GB internal with 16GB microSD card included. RAM: 512MB

512MB Battery: 1500 mAh Li Ion

1500 mAh Li Ion Rear-Camera: 5 MP / 720p Video

5 MP / 720p Video Front-Camera: Yes

Yes 4G?: Yes, Up to 10X Faster than 3G

Yes, Up to 10X Faster than 3G Release Date: Buy Now!

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B003ZDO2H6″ /]

myTouch 4G Slide (T-Mobile)

Moving on into T-Mobile territory, the myTouch 4G Slide is going to be your best bet if you need an affordable full QWERTY device. This device packs 4G capabilities, dedicated Android buttons (in addition to the full keyboard), an above-par battery life, and a sweet camera/camcorder. For the time being, the dual-core processor is also top of the line equipment.





Specs

Price: $199.99/$499.99

$199.99/$499.99 Display: 3.7″ 480 x 800

3.7″ 480 x 800 CPU: Dual-Core 1.2GHz Snapdragon Processor

Dual-Core 1.2GHz Snapdragon Processor OS: Android 2.3.4

Android 2.3.4 Keyboard: 4-Row Slide-Out QWERTY Keyboard.

4-Row Slide-Out QWERTY Keyboard. Storage: 8GB microSD card included (Expandable to 32GB)

8GB microSD card included (Expandable to 32GB) RAM: 768 MB RAM

768 MB RAM Battery: 1520 mAh Li Ion

1520 mAh Li Ion Rear-Camera: 8 MP / 1080p Video

8 MP / 1080p Video Front-Camera: Yes

Yes 4G?: Yes.

Yes. Release Date: Buy Now!

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B00301F4ZW” /]

LG Optimus Slider (Virgin Mobile)

Despite the incredibly outdated screen size and resolution, the LG Optimus Slider is a good QWERTY option for Virgin Mobile customers. Most of its main specs are sub-par, but the device itself looks pretty good, and it’s a great choice for the users who don’t need quad-core processors or 1080p video capture.

Specs

Price: $199.99/$499.99

$199.99/$499.99 Display: 3.2″ 320 x 480

3.2″ 320 x 480 CPU: 800 MHz Processor

800 MHz Processor OS: Android 2.3

Android 2.3 Keyboard: 4-Row Slide-Out QWERTY Keyboard.

4-Row Slide-Out QWERTY Keyboard. Storage: 8GB microSD card included (Expandable to 32GB)

8GB microSD card included (Expandable to 32GB) RAM: 512 MB RAM

512 MB RAM Battery: 1500 mAh Li Ion

1500 mAh Li Ion Rear-Camera: 3.2 MP / ? Video

3.2 MP / ? Video Front-Camera: No

No 4G?: No

No Release Date: Buy Now!

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B0060NG6M2″ /]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro

Revealed well over a year ago, but launched only in October 2011, the Sony Ericsson Xperia pro is an attractive device that comes in three stylish color options and packs a full QWERTY keyboard, complete with a full set of arrow keys and a long space key. The Xperia pro ships with Android 2.3 but Sony promised a timely update to Ice Cream Sandwich, which you’ll be able to properly enjoy thanks to a decent 3.7-inch screen that packs a 265 ppi pixel density. Under the hood, you’ll find a 1Ghz processor and 512MB or RAM, along with a nice 8MP camera. The keyboard of the Xperia pro is well-designed, with spaced-out keys that make it almost impossible to push two keys at once. Overall, the Sony Ericsson Xperia pro is a respectable, even not cutting-edge QWERTY phone that we can recommend to all keyboard fanatics out there.

Specs



Price: $299.99

$299.99 Display: 3.7″ 480 x 854

3.7″ 480 x 854 CPU: 1Ghz

1Ghz OS: Android 2.3 (upgradeable)

Android 2.3 (upgradeable) Keyboard: 4-Row Slide-Out QWERTY Keyboard.

4-Row Slide-Out QWERTY Keyboard. Storage: 8GB microSD card included (Expandable to 32GB)

8GB microSD card included (Expandable to 32GB) RAM: 512 MB RAM

512 MB RAM Battery: 1500 mAh Li Ion

1500 mAh Li Ion Rear-Camera: 8 MP

8 MP Front-Camera: Yes

Yes 4G?: No

No Release Date: Buy Now!

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B005DIPRSE” /]

So there you have it folks — these are, currently, the best QWERTY Android phones of 2012. While there aren’t any crazy 4.3, 4.5, 4.6, or even 5.3-inch QWERTY sliders yet on the market, you can be sure that a smart manufacturer will come along and deliver such devices. 2012 is the year that Android will really take off. With new entrants ZTE, Huawei, and others looking to assert their position and grab some market share from Samsung, Motorola, LG, Sony, or HTC, you can be sure that we’re going to see increased competition, in terms of the quality and diversity of the devices that come to market this year. This will translate into better quality devices, better internal hardware, and lower prices. Stay tuned, as we will be updating this article with any new information regarding the best QWERTY Android phones of 2012!

Seriously though, if you work for one of the companies mentioned above, you would be wise to build a QWERTY device with the following specs:

QWERTY Dream Phone of 2012:

4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display

1280×800 Resolution

4000 mAh battery

1.5GHz Quad core processor

2GB of RAm

64GB internal memory

5 row QWERTY keyboard

12MP camera

less than 10mm thin

Manufacturers – make it now! Of course the image above is a cross between a QWERTY device and a Galaxy Nexus. Anyone want one? Yes, yes you do!

Any thoughts?