New Differences (Detailed) Between Key2 and Key2 LE
I am calling this "new differences" because I don't believe anyone has mentioned these yet. I currently have both a Key2 and Key2 LE with me. Neither have been activated with a SIM - both are connected to WiFi and are connected to my Exchange Server. I have been trying them both to see which would be a better fit for me to keep and I haven't sorted that out yet. In the meantime, I thought some of these new differences would be helpful to anyone who is considering which phone to buy:
- Interestingly the Key2 LE appears to have better WiFi signal connected to the same router. It's 1 bar up compared to the Key2. I believe I have read that some believe their cellular reception on the Key2 LE was slightly better than the Key2 (although the Key2 is ok on its own) so perhaps they made improvements to the antennas on the Key2 LE. It's worth noting that the antennas appear to be different between the 2 phones, as you can see an antenna "line" on the outside of the Key2 towards the top (on the side) whereas the line is not there on the Key2 LE. So there likely is a difference between the two.
- The speaker on the Key2 LE is significantly louder than the Key2. I am guessing perhaps it was in response to some who say the Key2 speaker isn't loud enough.
- Surprisingly the vibrate mechanism in the Key2 is MUCH more refined than the Key2 LE. I actually thought my LE was broken so I went to Best Buy to check their display model and I can confirm that the vibrate feel on the Key2 feels a lot better than the Key2 LE IMO. The LE vibrate just feels cheap (when pressing any buttons that switch menus, etc, where there is a vibration haptic feedback) vs the Key2 which feels richer. This might sound ridiculous if you haven't tried both phones but even my wife agreed and she doesn't normally notice these things.
- The battery definitely lasts a little longer on the Key2 but I would say it's not more than about a 10% gain. On standby the phones appear to deplete at about the same pace - it's the usage where the Key2 LE doesn't quite last as long but it's not a huge difference.
- The keyboards on both phones are surprisingly different in that it is absolutely noticeable. I would describe the Key2 keyboard as "spongy" and widely spaced out while the Key2 LE keyboard has very short travel and is much tighter. Very noticeable differences when they are both next to each other.
- The screens are definitely NOT identical between the two, as the same brightness and setting does not make them close to identical. I would say that the Key2 screen is a little warmer, while the Key2 LE screen is brighter at the same brightness % but is colder. I believe the LE has a sliding scale to make the colors warmer/colder while the Key2 does not have that option. I suspect it's because they saved on screen cost on the LE and then provided the sliding scale to help users tweak the LE while it isn't as necessary on the Key2.
- The weighting of both phones is VERY different. You will see that most people believe the LE spreads its weight more evenly than the Key2, making it easier to hold for extended periods, but I have found that in fact the weighting is DIFFERENT for each phone in that in some positions the Key2 is easier to hold while in others the LE is easier to hold. So if you're standing and just holding the phone horizontal then the weighting on the LE is much better - that's what most people are commenting on. BUT if you're lying in bed, for example, and you're holding the phone more vertically then the Key2 is actually easier to hold because the Key2 is more weighted towards the top while the LE is more weighted towards the bottom. So the LE actually feels heavier when holding it vertically while the Key2 feels heavier when holding it horizontally, which I am assuming is the more common way to hold it.
- While I definitely think the LE has a less slippery back for holding it (it's quite noticeable), it's actually easier to grip the SIDES of the Key2 vs the LE. Meaning that the sides are actually more slippery on the LE while the back is more slippery on the Key2. So each phone is more slippery than the other depending on how you're holding it at the time.
- The speed of the Key2 is definitely better than the Key2 LE but it's only noticeable when using both. The Key2 feels like there is no hesitation doing anything while the LE takes just a little longer when using the hub for messages, etc. It's very minor but noteworthy when comparing both.
It's pretty interesting that most professional reviews of the Key2 just focus on the specs differences, which are pretty minor, while not paying any attention to the details. Overall I would say that each phone has its pros and cons. For example, if I had a choice I would take the speed, extra battery capacity, screen, vibrate mechanism, and less slippery sides of the Key2 with the keyboard, less slippery back, and better reception of the LE. With any luck they will combine all of this when making the Key3!
As for me, I'm honestly torn between which is better for me. The LE's compatibility with Verizon will probably seal the deal for me but if it wasn't for that then I might stick with the Key2 (without the capacitive keyboard turned on due to the bugs) despite the fact that I like the LE's keyboard a lot more than the Key2. The extra speed, battery capacity, better vibrate mechanism, along with the better weighting when lying in bed are big pluses from my perspective in favor of the Key2. But the Verizon factor will likely trump things for me...
I hope this was helpful for anyone trying to sort out which one to buy...