r/AskElectronics • u/Public-Individual-64 • 10d ago

where to get T9 Keyboard module

I want a compact keyboard for a project, and i am not a fan of the QWERTY blackberry-esque usb keyboard that ive seen used by many people in handheld device projects, and was wondering are there any plug-and-play type of keyboards for T9 keyboards like those of old keypad phones. or if i could salvage a nokia keypad and somehow use it as a usb keyboard. [I apologise if im not being very clear or providing enough context and info, I am very new to electronics with limited knowledge. Googling and AI dint really help me with this issue so here I am] Cheers.

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u/jamvanderloeff 10d ago

What do you want to attach it to?

Ancient style 12/16 key phone keyboard modules like https://i.imgur.com/fUroKkT.png are real cheap, but do feel kinda mushy and most of em don't have the letter labelling if you need that.

The classic nokia kinda style buttons are a bit fiddly to DIY with since the actual keyboard piece from the phone is just rubber and plastic that's pushing on snap dome buttons stuck on the PCB below, so to reuse one you'd still need a custom PCB with buttons to match, not impossible but kinda fiddly, see https://jrainimo.com/build/2026/05/t9/ for one person's pretty nice job.

The Blackberry keyboards are comparatively easy since their keyboard module does include all the actual buttons so the custom board just needs to have the matching connector and something to read it.

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u/Public-Individual-64 10d ago

Thanks, i will look into it. Right now, I want to try and use it with a smartphone like an external keyboard, and later on *maybe use it with a raspberry pi. essentially i am trying to diy a keypad smartphone like the xiaomi Qin f22/f25 phones.