GoKawiilCNET editor recalls 15 years of unusual phone designs including BlackBerry Passport
A longtime CNET phone reviewer reflects on more than 15 years of testing devices, recounting how industry leaders like Apple and Samsung endured while BlackBerry, HTC, LG and OnePlus faded out. Among the oddities highlighted is BlackBerry's 2014 Passport, a square-shaped phone with a physical keyboard, which the reviewer still keeps in storage.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The retrospective illustrates how quickly mobile hardware trends and market leaders can shift, with once-dominant brands disappearing within a decade. It also suggests that unconventional design experiments, even failed ones, leave a lasting impression on industry observers and can shape how later devices are judged.
- A CNET journalist has covered phones for over 15 years, testing devices from major and now-defunct brands.
- BlackBerry, HTC, LG and OnePlus are cited as brands that have largely vanished from the mobile market.
- The BlackBerry Passport, a square phone with a physical keyboard from 2014, is highlighted as one of the most unusual designs tested.
Source: cnet.com — Andrew Lanxon, 2026-10-04
Published there as: “I’ve Tested Phones for 15 Years and These Are the Most Bizarre I’ve Seen”
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